The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-12
THE RAZOR AND THE SHEARS.
A TonsoriaI Artists Views on the Business
and Its Prospects.


"There are getting to be a great many white
men in my business" remarked an intelligent
colored "tonsoral artist" to a Journal reporter
yesterday. when I began, about ten years
ago, white barber was a novelty. There were
only few, and they were Germans. Now every
other shop has white men exclusively, and in
many cities there are more of them than there
are of my people, but suppose we have got to
stand it,"
Chow do you account for t?" asked the re-
porter, as the artist carefully deposited brush
full Of lather in his off eye.
"My idea is that white men are getting lazier
every day, They don't want to do downright
hard work, so they are hunting something easy.
Hundreds of them now walters in res
taurants and in beer saloons. 1t used to be that
white people wouldn't have anybody
wait on them except 'coons," now it
is different. There are mighty few
good white BARRIERS AS rule, they are SLOW
emily and careless. They don't keep themselves
clean, and spend most of their time MASKING.
Still there are exceptions, of COURSE"
"What wages do BARRIERS makeq' asked the re-
porter.
sometimes they get paid by the week-from
$40 to S14, but the usual way is to pay them
fifty or sixty cents on the dollar they earn, the
boss furnishing all the materials, such soap,
towels, oils, bay-rum, etc. In this way popu-
lar barber in a well-patronized shop can earn
about $15 week, which is pretty good pay.
The most of them, however, don't earn more
than SO or $l2 1t don't make much difference,
for. as rule, they don't save anything. Their
money is either gambled away, spent for whisky,
or for red neck-ties and loud jewery."
"How long does it take to learn the trade9"
ALI lnno A allhU
work in a shop, shining boots and brushing off,
and at the end of SIX months he is put a
chair, and then the drop-in customers suffer.
There are a good many old-tlmers who can't
shave man without hurting him, but when a
cub gets on to him he is terribly punished.
When cub gets to working regularly he begins
to put goose grease on his hair and stand ont in
front OF the shop, looking for DANES That's the
way with all of then.'
Are there many first-class barbersp
"NOt very many. There fewer really good
workmen in this business than in almost any
other, ana there is pretty good reason why
there should be. In the first place. the business
is peculiar. Yon have TO study human nature
carefully to understand your customers Some
men want you to talk to them, and some don't.
A business man comes in cross and Grabbed, and
he soon gets you the same way, so that when
thenext gentleman gets in your chair you apt
TO treat him discourteously. No matter how
careful you are, will always abuse
you. razor that is easy on one mans face
will hurt another, aud some men want a close
member all these things, especially about your
own regular customers. / want to tell you that
BARRIERS get lots OF cussin and abuse that they
don't deserve"
1.-The bosses make money don't they2"
Eyes, as a rule. A good shop, well located, is
good business. In a number Of cities men have
got very rich keeping barber shops, but there is
not much of chance here, the opposition is too
great The hands are not liable to get rich,
either But still man can make respectable
living out of 1t and not work very hard either
Much obliged Call again. Brush off. Next2
The barber who gave The above points is an
exception to his class. He is sober ard INDUS
trious young fellow, and exceedingly shrewd
and observing. He spends his spare time in read
ing books and papers and can discuss any cur
rent issue with intelligence and force. But there
are very few like him.