Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-15
ODD NOTIONS OF BARRIERS.
Shaving NJ an Art-Hew an Apprentice
Learns he Trade.


men. II he cut a man on Monday, the
barber was sure he would cut seven men
before Sunday. If the first customer in
the morning complimented him, he would
get little but grumbles and curses for the
rest OF the day. II he didn't receive at
least one nip above the regular fees on
Monday, the week would be a bad one.
These beliefs are rapidly disappearing.
There are Two curious fact5 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 it away with the remark that the
razor is tired" and ''needs rest"
After letting it ''sleep" a few days
that is, simply not using il, 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 popularity of the
razor is that, though In splendid condi-
ton when last used, it 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 il 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 shavingl" was
asked Of q Broadway veteran.
There is only one method Of shaw
ing" said the barrier; there never has
been but one, and there never will be
more. The barbey rubs the lather into
your stub until il clings TO the face itself.
To accomplish tbs he has first sponged
your face with water to remove skin
secretions. When first put on the lather
sticks on top o. the stub and does not
touch the skin much. Rubbing brings IL
into the skin. 1t also softens the beard,
and a barber always fathers you before
he strops his razor, so as to give the
ather time TO get in its work. Then
when he shaves you il is always with the
grain. That is, every distinct portion Of
you face is shaved in the direction the
hair grows If this rule were not fol-
lowed the toughest skin would, an
hour later, show abrasions, and erup-
tons would come. After the face is
once shaved, the barber shaves it
again for c~loseness. 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 the appearance or touch OF a skin
whether or not it can stand the second
shave. That il 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, II the mar de-
sires il close. The razor is placed nearly
fat 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 shayes the same way,
He has no room, therefore, 10 bring
In superstitions. 50 bound Is he by the
recognized principles of the arr, 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 tie
chin. and other things Of that kind,
Every barber has some little maNums OF
his own about these uuimportant items,
and some believe that bad luck attends
the man who doesn't shave every face IN
precisely the same manner regarding
these little details
How 10 non learn 10 b. barbers?"
was asked Of a barhcr Sho shayrs law.
yers aud bankers M Wall street
You We got To pay for n, said the
barrier Here and there you wall find
a iarlar who keeps a sort Of school and
charges u round price 70 give lessons.
They allow the learners 10 practice when
they gain a little dizziness on the chius oi
uilNu- 'AlllN 1iailAf Hun''Ah''o' 'NtNA
ally. Though, a Toy who wants 10 be- a bar
her is bound out to a regular barber fo
two years The barber exacts S25 or NOR
a year and the boys entire service. In re
turn he boards and lodges him. and make
him a good barber. My own experienc
asa fair sample case. ! "a only Ii when
WINS found 10 a barber not in this city
] paid $25 cash down, and got half.
bel and poor board. They put me o.
Iathering first Lathering looks easy. an
is easy, too; but you've no idea hoS
awkwardly a new man will 60 about Il
So. when there were no customers aroun,
my boss would have one of the workmel
lie down in a chair and set me 10 lather
ing his face. There IL a knack in gettini
over a soapy face deity and quickly
Sometimes you use your fingers, othe
times the palm. An even pressur
Is required that isn't easy 10 get
II you press too hard you make !
uncomfortable for the man you're hthcr
ing. The boss stood over mo in thes
lessons and taught me the points, one a
a time. Then ! lathered the face Of
customer while the boss got ready :
shave him. For several mouths I had
..stand behind the boss chair while b
wa shaving and watch every motion :
his hand and wrist-for a barber onl
uses the hand and wrist In shaving
49,