National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-29
WHAT THE BARBER KNOWS.
Some Points In Human Nature That
DO Not Escape Their Attention.


Chicago Mdl
/ havo barber who has boon an ox-
tensivo traveller aud who has looked into
tho faces of many distinguished mon.
Like tho average barber, ho is volublo.
don't object 10 this. II a barber Is n
good talkor and has boon q student Of
the pages OF humanity, why not listen 10
him tho same as you would your pastor,
If you have ono. AS put my head back
on the chair Of this barber last, ho said
that he was afraid ho could not give mo
as good q shave % he was In the habit Of
doing. II 10 not necessary to explain
what led him TO unravel this story
II am going 10 get out Of the business
pretty soon, | hope. am getting tired Of
II; In fact, IL seems TO DO getting tired of
me. I used TO DO a snilor, and ! wns q
soldier in tho Indies. in hor malosty's
service II knew this TO DO so). make no
no prctonsions TO courage, but | mover
know what IL was TO falter, and, az for
nervousness, | never In my life know what
| that moaut until began handling razor.
Some BARRIERS will tell you that IL IL tho
fault Of the barber himself II his hand Is
unsteady. We'll, IL Isn't. Lot mo explain.
II Is tho kind Of a customer barber has
which creates that feeling. You know
have had this same chair In this sam
place for sevon years and more. In that
time / have acquired O trade, My GUS
toners arc men whose business keeps
| them on the strain. For tho most
part they arc members Of the board
Of trade, and bank cashiers, and
bookkeepers. They como 10 hero
out OF tho excitement Of their bust
moss. Thoy are in mental culver. IL
becomes contagious after you havo gone
over dozen such faces and rubbed
dozen such heads In day. have han
died them so long that know whom any
thing is unusal. A member Of tho board
OF trade does not have to toll inc when he
is long or short don't road the papes
to Hnd out whether there Is q corner on
wheat or pork. OF course. may not
know what tho commodity Is, but I do
know whether IL hos been up or down.
Tho bookkeepor Of ono OF the biggest
banks on - street was In here ahead OF
you. know something was wrong with
him, and he finally told me that he had
been bothered all day over ono Of his &c
counts until his head was like top"
Such faces, I vonturod to remark, must
BIO difficult to shave.
"Yes, they are. Now, IL mechanic OF
anybody who does physical work, comes
in, IL is o sort Of relief 10 shave such u
faco Talking about roliof reminds mo Of
what man on the board said 10 mo to-
day. He camo over hero nftor the board
had cleared, and happened TO say that
supposed no felt relieved that the day.
worry was over. uo look at me and said
No; 1t isn't that. Tho worry ia TO come.
, says he. ! asked how that was, and he
said: Well, as long as ON In that nois,
md hurrah and nxrifnnnnt \ liyn In, 4
, and enjoy II. When il Is over and wall
/; away the stiffness nnd quiotude distract
mo, and sometimes it almost drives IN,
, mad"
|. "Do you know any of tho peculiaritie
9 or traits Of any Of your customers---sucl
, as you havo discovered from coming ii
: contact with them in your business "
/ II think so. After you have shaved
4 ono faoo continuously for several yenri
f, there Is sort Of confidence that SPRING.
4 up between tho man and tho barber. Tn
!, man who trusts his throat In your han,
!, three or four times week for sove,
!, years had as lief toll you his secrets o
: not, and some of them do it, But barber
!, who get such customers know enough L
|. keep their mouths shut"
"What become of the barber who move
: gots shop Of his own; he grows old til
same rs other men, Of course, but he can
continue his business, can her"
y "No, they 20 away from tho place wher
they have been known. have ofte
=. thought Of that myself. I am not q sen
e timontalist, you know, but thoro IL some
IS thing sorrowful to mo In tho last days
:. q barber who has not been thrifty. II
gets out Of tho way OF those he know. II
:. goes of to himself and that Is tho last yo
~ hear of him. Ho seldom gots into an
l L.. -
;. he is of all mon tho most miserable Thor
70 YOU arc"