The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-18
ODD NOTIONS OF BARRIERS.
shaving as nm Art-Iiow On Apprentice
Iewrps the Trade.

Learns the Ifaue.
There are two superstitions yet found
among BARRIERS Years ago BARRIERS were
among the most superstitious OF work
men. II he cut a man on Monday, the
; barber was sure he would cut seven men
before Sunday. II the first customer in
the morning complimented him. he would
get little bu, grumbles and curses for the
rest of the day If he didn't receive at
least one tip above the regular fees on
Monday. the week would tie a bad one.
= These beliefs are rapidly disappearing.
There are two curious facts about razors,
though, that still give rise 10 general su-
perstitions. and probably always viii. 1t
is noticed that after long continuous
use it is difficult to give razor an
edae. TIE knowing hand will quietly
lay 1t away with the remark that the
razor is tired" and needs rest.
After letting it "sleep' few days
that Is. simply not using 10, the razor
il found 10 he in good condition. Few
BARRIERS attempt to explain this. But the
exclamation is simple. The edge Of q
razor consists of series OF microscopic
teeth. Long continuous Use wears these
down. despite stroppings and It needs
the oxidation which time only can pro-
vide to bring out again tire microscopic
roughness. Another peculiarly Of the
razor is that, though IN splendid coudi-
ton when last used, it sometimes POSI-
lively refuses TO take an edge when put
on the hone in the morning. \ few
hours later it viii take an edge bcauti-
fully. This is due TO the same principle
OF oxidation. BARRIERS viii sometimes
say razor is "bal!sy," by which they
mean that it refuses TO take an edge al
though not made tired by long pre-
vious work; Some razors. because Of Pc
culiarities in the grades Of steel. are
more apt to be ''balky than others.
DO BARRIERS allow superstition5 10 AZ
feet their method OF shaving was
asked of a Broadway veteran.
There is only one method Of shay
ing" said the barber: there never has
been but one, and there never will be
more. The barber rubs the iathor into
your stub until it clings TO the face itself
To accomplish this he has first sroncod
your face with water t. remove skin
secretions. When first pu.on the h,hcr
s,,cl,s am ton of thc st,Ih and doc. nlt
,o,,cb tho slim much Rubniro brine, il
;,to tbe sl,;o II ol-o eoftens th. le-,rJ
and = borber always lathors you before
he strops his razor, so as To give t}le
lather time to get in It's work. Then
,rhor no sha,os v,u r. l.. alO,y- with lbe
,,roin Tbot j. every Iisfipcf uoriio, ~
I'm. face :, sbavad jn fl,, lr.rfio4 tfa
hair orov-s II tLis u,l.. wore not f,l.
lo,,.ed the torohesf skim world AN
Iour lotor SHOW, obra-,,rs and ar,n
,io,s would come Arrr fine face +,
o,co shaved tbc barber sfaves if
o,o,n fer clo.ora-. Tbi, second shave
MAJ sofelv be aooiu-, tre a,iin Most
forcs cam stand tne second shave agaiust
the Grain. but there are some men with
SIT boards. 100. who's skin f. ,o tender
that thcy can only be s!iayal one way.
/ The barber can never know positively
from, the anprarance or touch OF a skin
whether or not il can stand the second
shay. That Is something the owner Of
the face must discover by experience
:, when he slaves a stranger. unless the
/ is size he has tou.h skin. the barber
ask. after tie first shave. ii the man de-
/ ,irr- il close The razor is placed nearly
I N.u vith the face The free hand draws
EYER, bt Il skin tight before he shayes
3,oi H. some BARRIERS pick up the skin
between their fingers, others merely press
| it tight Practically. though, every bar
/ Der the world over SLAVES the same way.
lie has no room therefore. 10 bring
| in superstitons, so bound is he by the
recognized principles Of the art, except
IN such little details as beginning the
shave on the right or left side Of the face,
shaving the upper lip before or after the
chin, and other things of that kind.
Every barber has some little maxims of
/ his own about these unlmpcrtant items,
+ and some believe rhat bad luck attends
/ the man who doesn't shave every face IN
precisely the same manner regarding
/ these litrle details"