Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-22
ODD NOTIONS OF BARRIERS.
Shaving rs an Art-Bsw an Apprentice
Learns the Trade.

There are two supersutions yet found
among BARRIERS. Years ago BARRIERS were
among the most superstitious Of work.
men. II he u a man on Monday, the
barber was sure he would cut seven men
before Sunday. II the first customer in
the morning compiimented him, he would
get little but grumbles and curses for the
rest of the day. II he didn't receive at
least one tip above the regular fees on
Monday, the week would be a bad one.
These beliefs are rapidly disappearing.
There are two curious facts about razors,
though. that still give rise to general SUI
perstitions. and probably always will. 1t
is noticed that after long continuous
Use 1t is difficult TO give a razor an
edge. The knowing hand will quietly
lay il away with the remark that the
razor is tired" and 'needs rest"
After letting it ''sleep" a few days
that is, simply not using it, the razor
is found to be in good condition. Few
BARRIERS attempt to explain this. But the
explanation is simple. The edge of a
razor consists of a 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 the microscopic
roughness. Another peculiarly of the
razor is that. though in splendid condi-
ton when last used. il sometimes posi-
lively refuses to take an edge when put
on the hone in the morning. A few
hours later il will take an edge beauti-
fully. This is due to the same principle
OF oxidation. BARRIERS will sometimes
say a razor is ''balky," 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 superstitions to af-
feet their method of shavingi' wa
asked Of a Broadway veteran.
There is only one method Of shaw
ing" said the barber; ''there never has
been but one, and there never will be
more. The barber rubs the lather into
your stub until it clings TO the face itself.
To accomplish this he has first sponged
your face with water to remove skin
~secretions. When first put on the lather
sticks on top of the stub and does not
touch the skin much. Rubbing brings it
into the skin. 1t also softens the beard,
and a barber always fathers you before
he strops his razor, so as to give the
lather time TO get in its work. Then
when he shaves you it is always with the
grain. That is. every distinct portion OF
your face is shaved in the direction the
hair grows. If this rule were not fol.
lowed the toughest skin would, an
hour later, show a~brasions, and erup-
tons would come. After the face is
once shaved. the barber shaves it
again for closeness. This second shave
may safely be against the grain. Most
faces can stand the second shave against
the grain, but there are some men with
stiff boards, too, whose skin is SC tender
that they can only be shaved one way.
The barber can never know positively
from iRe appearance or touch Of a skin
whetfSr or not it can stand the second
shave. That is something the owner of
the face must discover by experience.
So when he shaves a stranger, unless he
is sure he has a tough skin. the barber
asks, after the first shave, If the man de-
sires il close. The razor is placed nearly
fiat with the face. The free hand draws
every bit of skin tight before he shaves
over it Some BARRIERS pick up the skin
between their fingers, others merely press
il tight Practically, though. every bar
Der the world over shaves the same way.
HE has no ROOM. therefore, TO bring
in superstitlons. so bound Is he by the
recognized principles Of the art, except
m such little details as beginning the
shave on the right or left side of the face,
shaving the upper lip before or after The
chm. and other things of hat kind.
| Every barber has some little maXims of
his own about these unimpurtant items,
aud some believe that bad luck attends
the man who doesn't shave every face in
precisely tho same manner regarding
these little details
How 10 men learn to be barbers?",
was asked ot a barber who shayes law
yers and bankers in Wall street.
You We got to pay for It, said the
barber "liere and there you will find
a laTber who keeps a sort Of school. and
charges a round price TO give lessons.
They allow the learners 10 practice when
they gain a little defines on the chins OF
unsuspecting chance customers. Gener.
ally. though, a boy who wants to be a bar
her is bound out to a regular barber for
two years. The barber exacts S25 or more
a year and the boys entire service. In re-
turn he boards and lodges him. and makes
him a good barber. My own experience
Is fair sample case. ! was only IA when |
was bound 10 a barber not in this city.
| paid $25 cash down, and got half a
bed and poor board. They put me on
lathering first Lathering looks easy, and
is easy, too; but you've no idea how
awkwardly a new man will go about il.
So. when there were no customers around
my boss would have one of the workmer
lie down In a chair and set me 70 lather
ing his face. There is a knack in getting
over a soapy face deity and quickly
Sometimes you use your fingers. Other
times the palm. An ever pressur,
is required that isn't easy to get
II you press too hard you make !
uncomfortable for the man you're lather
ing. The boss stood over me in thes'
lessons and taught me the points, one a
a time. Then | lathered the face Of
customer while the boss got ready Il
shave him. For several months ! had Il
stand behind the boss chair while h,