Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-01
ms r1asr RAZOR.
A Practical Joke That Worked Two
Ways

this city, and he smiled in peculiarly med
itafiye way as he turned over the pile of
razors on the counter from which a customer
was endeavoring to select.
What was it. puller:-
We'll it was not specially sharp, but that
was not what made me remember it particular
ly. There was an incident connected with
it which fixed the affair quite firmly in nv
memory"
What was that"
81 was away at school at the time, and was
rooming with friend in private family
Neither of US were abundantly blessed with
hirsute appendages, but both of US had am
billions in that direction, and thought that we
detected faint reasons for hope. razor
was luxury in those days, for which neither
of US had any use. There was only one in
our room and that was the property of my
roommate. 1t was a venerable relic. 1t
might have come down from the ark to judge
from appearances. 1t may have been sharp
ened in its early days,but it certainly never
was while it remained in our room"
at did your work them
Yes, we used to go through the form of
shaving every Saturday with this instrument.
1t was perfectly harmless operation. IL
consisted in covering our faces with lather
and scraping it off again. There was no
danger of our cutting ourselves. That razor
kunWu To Mt I
to borrow it, but this method of work was
far from satisfactory. | determined to own
razor myself and after long and careful
search | saw one advertised in the Youths
Companion which thought would be just the
thing. And SO | sent on for it. II happened
that | was away when it came and my room-
mate took it from the office. When | re-
turned to the room | found him in company
with a friend-one of the worst practical
jokers in the school. They were both look
ing conscious about something, but | was
too much preoccupied to notice the fact at
the time
Here's something that came for you"
said my roommate and saw from the shape
of the little package he handed me, that
the long-expected razor had arrived
''Did you open it them
mo, that was just the point. was
painfully aware of the fact that the razor
would not seem to either of them an essen
tial article for my toilet and was afraid they
might be disposed to guy me, SO said moth
ing about it, but put it away in my trunk
and locked it up. did not notice the dis
appointed looks of my companions, for was
too much elated with my new possession.
As soon the boys had left the room and
was alone | FASTENED to undo my
package. You can imagine my surprise
however, when, instead of bright new razor
pulled out of the box one which looked as
though it had come down from the ark. /
was surprised and indignant. My first thought
was that the firm had imposed upon me- A
second look at the razor, however, made it
look familiar to me. The whole thing came
over me in a moment. My roommate had
seen from the shape of the box, what its con-
ltnis WAS anu lttiiO'tu llit HtN razor
and substituted his old one. He and his COM
panion had been waiting to see me open the
package, and had doubtless planned lots of
fun at my expense, but were disappointed in
this through my fear of being chaffed. Twas
considerably mortified, but made a determined
search for the new razor which | finally dis
covered tucked away behind the bookcase
Taking this and the new razor | made
bundle of them, and, climbing into the back
attic hid them carefully away beneath the
caves. That evening my roommate appeared
denly inquired;
"Well, how did you like your new razor?"
oh" | replied carelessly, II guess it was
all right. There was no need for me to open
it. It's good firm, and think father will
enjoy the present very much"
Your father" gasped my roommate.
why certainly. hope you don't think
would buy razor for myself"
"Well, here's scrape," exclaimed my
conscience smitten roommate.
"A scrape?"
Eyes. That package you sent your father
contained my old razor"
at was my turn then. assumed the most
indignant manner and expressed the deepest
regret that the pleasure of my fathers birth
day should be marred by such an unfortunate
occurrence. What would he think of me?
Could he ever forgive me? Was there ever
such disagreeable position for fellow to
be in? If ever | saw penitent boy it was
my roommate, He FASTENED to get the new
razor but to his CONSERVATION found it gone.
He searched high and low for it but without
avail. He finally concluded that his COM
panion in the joke, in order to carry the affair
He Immediately hunted him up and demanded
its return, but the fellow disclamed all
know ledge of it with such earnestness that
my roommate was forced to believe him"
'How did it come out
"Well about a month later came into the
room. reading letter-ostensibly from my
father-and handed my roommate his old
razor without a word. He thought it had
been returned and didn't enlighten him.
"He found out about it eventually did
he2"
Yes, told him the whole thing the week
we graduated and IA more crestfallen fellow |
never saw That good many year.
ago, and | have worn out good many razors
since. That particular one, however. have
kept as a souvenir That is why have new
er forgotten my first razor"