The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-12-10
POINTS FROM A BARBER.
The Difference Between American and
German Faces-Barberine by Contract.

Inc biherehce Dctween American ana
German Faces-Barbering by Contract.
A fashionable up town barber of Ger
man extraction Ventured, with the usual
timidity of members of his profession, to
give reporter some facts about the face
and the way some people desire to be
shaved. He said: "In Germany we can
shave more rapidly than in America.
The Germans have longer and rounder
faces, which permit long swipes with the
razor. Their beard, too, is not so stiff as
the Americans. In the United States
small and angular faces prevail, so the
razor cannot travel any great length
without coming to a turning point.
Hence the razor is limited as to its sur
face capacity as far as one stroke goes.
A number of small and indefinite swipes
are made with the grain. 1t is difficult
to shave the average American against
the grain. His beard is too hard for
such task and his flesh too tender.
Once in two years perhaps, man may
request grain shave. There is no need
of a request, though, for / can tell
man who Is in the habit of shaving
against the grain. His beard sticks out
from his face. About twice year an
American atsonishes me by asking me to
don't like the long strokes, for they are
liable to cut the face.
zone of the nuisances in the barber
business is the customer who rushes in
and swears he has only two minutes to
spare to get shaved. l hurry up as rap
idly as possible and in my anxiety man.
age to cut him in several spots. The
would-be hurrying man who has worked
me like fire, then coolly stops and chats
half an hour with another customer 1t
Is dangerous to be shaved in hurry.
The barber is somewhat excited by the
order to shave quickly and is always
wondering while at work if he is fast
enough.
'We have monthly customers. Imake
on some and lose on others. For $3.50
l barber u customer one month-that is,
give him shave every day, if he wants
it, and one hair cut during the month.
Remember, bay rum, pOmade, hair oil,
vaseline, brilliantine and powder are in
cluded. Well, if he took O ten cent
shave he wouldn't get bay rum, but he
saves all these extras by the wholesale
contract. If he shaved every day at
dime it would only be about 50 per
month, not counting hair cut. The
reduction then amounts to 70 cents q
month. Now, very few men shave
every day in barber shop, and there is
where the profit comes for monthly con-
tracts.
Frequently, though, have q customer
who gets the worth of his $500 He
comes once a day regular (before he
only came three times week., and wants
a three day, under the skin shave 1
have to daily over his face the same as II
he were paying % cents shave. He is
more exacting than ever, wants more
bay rum, and appears very much afraid
he will not get his money Ssyorth Now,
that kind of n customer takes up time,
which is more expensive than bay rum.
He happens, too, to always be in at the
proper moment to keep good customers
waiting. The daisy monthly customers
drop in three or four times week, says
nothing about regretting he cannot come
every day, and requires no extra atten-
ton. Yet, if he wanted to, he could
make contract for three or four shaves
week and a hair cut for the sum of
81. 80 per month. Still he is not cheated,
for if he comes once a day on the g. 30
contract it is all right, he gets his shave.
There is no fortune in barbering now.
Competition is too great. New York
Mail and Express.