The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-09-27
SHAVING THE "WIDDER."
THE EXPERIENCE tF st. LOUIS BARBER
WITH BOLD BEN.


"Your hair is getting long again.
wouldn't you like to have it cutP' asked
the barber, softly. No; the reporter
wouldn't spare the time just at present.
When he came in again, perhaps. 81
thought you would like to have it
trimmed off a little behind:it looks bad,
continued the barber. No; all the st
Louis Globe Democrat reporter wanted
Was shave. aud he would like to have
it as quick rs possible as he had an
important engagement with "A prominent
banker, and it only lacked five minutes
of the time set for the meeting. Plenty
of time" said the barber. II will fix
you up in less time than that"
NO." said the reporter, Il don't want
you to shave me too fast-I'd rather give
you ten minutes than fye."
"All right" said the barber, Just as
you say, captain. But when a customer
is in hurry can give hlm as qnick Il
shave as any body. l once shaved Ben
Butler in two minutes and thirty six ST.
conds, when bad chair in the Parker
house shop. School street, Boston"
Whom did You say you shaved?
asked the reporter.
"Beu Buter-ths workingman's can
didate tor the presidency, yon know. II
Was during the war-just about the second
year of the rebellion l think. Butler
had come on to Boston from the front 10
consult with Gov. Andrew about the
Massachusetts, troops. and he put up hi
the Parker house. had never seen
him in my life, but every body knew his
face, for there was scarcely n window i'll
the city that didn't have his picture in
ii those days. had just put my apron
ont was early in the morning-wheu
he came into the shop putting aud bl"w-
ing and without soyiug word took my
chair. / started to NIX tie lather, when
he gro~led at me aud said:
"'See here; don't want any of that
contounded sutf un my face
"'Dou't You want shave, sir?' snid.
"'Wnat in thunder and lightning do
you suppose | came here for? Oi course
1 waut shave, he said, and l want Onc
devilish quick, too. ! never use lather
Just go ahead aud shave me as am.
| 4, ,uTi.ko,t onytbino ~, ,,,,r E,o.9i
asked again, for l thought had misuL'
derstood him.
"'Yes. without anything on my fac z
How ofteu must l tell you that? | had
only three minutes to spare when cane
IN here, and now you have wasted nearly
thirty seconds. Let me- get ont OF here
IN two minutes aud half aud I'll Civ,
you ST. Come on.'
Well. sir, l hardly knew how to be
gin, for bad never shaved anybody thai
way before ia my life, bat he fastened
that queer eye of his on me aud electri
fel me with it. 1 went to work on bit
fac. I have shaved 'longshoremen, hod
carriers, cowboys, book-agents. life-in
surance solicitors, lightning-rod men
lawyers, and newspaper reporters, but
never saw or felt, since or before,a cheel
that could equal his in toughness.
Il dulled my razor the first stroke
gave him, but as he was in such a hurr!
I did not stop to houe it. When 1 haC
shaved halt of his right jaw noticed
that the razor lifted the stubbles out b,
the roots and said:
"'Do hurt you?
"'Never mind; go ahead; aiu't
chicken, he answered, with II growl.
"Well, I went ahead Just a-plowing ~
the stubbl,s by the roots. but my cou
science wouldn't let me go ON that way
so reached for the strop.
Hone your DANCED razor on m
chin he yelled. 4 don't want any bab
business. That's the way l do 1t q
home,
$50 l houed the razor on his chin. an
/ swear to you it beat any grindslone
ever saw. ......