The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-17
ORIGIN OF THE BARRIERS SIGN.
One of the Trade Gives Story or Two as to
What Legend and Superstition Say Of 1t.

Very few people nowadays are acquainted
with the history of the BARRIERS pole. I'm
important as it may seem at first glance.
among the hundreds of men who daily un-
dergo the tedious operation of shave the
number is, doubtless, small, who know why
the national colors have been so univer-
sally adopted as the well-known sign, and
not only the customers but many of the
BARRIERS themselves are ignorant of the orr
gin of the variegated posts that ornament
their doorways. A veteran artist In the
tonsorial line was recently induced to talk
on this subject to reporter and his con-
versation developed some rather curious
facts connected Herewith. Il have been
chasing the razor over mems faces for near
ly thirty years." he began, "and 1t was
long time before / ever found out just what
the true meaning of the colors on a BARRIERS
pole was. was working away out West when
first began the business and we used to hear
some funny stories about it. and some that
it would take more faith than possess to
believe. There was one fable that went
the rounds which we'll remember. Away
back in the times long gone by, 1T was said,
there was an old colored man who ran
barber-shop in connection with his bed
room, and in it he would make many an
extra dime now and then, being the only
established barber in the town. He was an
old bachelor, too, so the story runs, and
very superstitious.
Among his customers was a man as old
and of the same race, who bore a reputa-
ton In the little town OF having an insight
into the future now and then.
and he would occasionally stir up his
neighbOrs, who would believe almost any
thing he would say, with some startling
revelation. He took great interest in the
village barber, and IN his efforts to make
business more of a financial success he tried
to persuade the, old man to put up
was to decide what sort of a sign to adopt,
and the old barber was told not to be un-
easy, for he would see in his dream vision
that would point out the way very clearly.
Sure enough he did, for regularly. during
three consecutive nights. there came to his
bedside young girl wrapped in a red.
white and blue robe, and each time she told
him, he said, to adopt a sign that would
always remind him of the one who had adj
vised it, but at the same time one that
would in no way betray the secret to the
public. The superstitious old man adopted
the coloring of the robe. but disregarded
any resemblance to a human figure when
he made his sign. and the final outcome of
1T all was wooden post with the three COL
Ors painted in spiral shapes.
Now, that is a rather fairy tale, admit,
but it is one have heard repeated in sew
eral localities, and have no doubt but
what to people who believe in ghosts
and spirits it would seem quite, quite
theory that is a little better adapted to
everyday life and one that certainly rec
ommmends itself to a sensible person as far
more plausible. There is nothing OF the
fabulous about it, for it is based on part
nership that was formed between two bar
bers. They had carried on their establish
ments separately until a time came when
they desired to consolidate. One had pre-,
viOusly had q red sign up over his door, and
the other faded out blue one, and when
their signs caused no little discussion. 1t
was agreed to unite the two styles. and by
some means the painter induced the part
ners to combine them on white ground,
probably to preserve the harmony of the
colors and at the same time make more
attractive sign. And SO it is said that the de-
cislon of those men, that was so long In be-
ing formed. established the custom that has
been SO universally adopted by their fol-
lowers in the trade.
But the origin of the BARRIERS pole il
hardly to be attri buted to either Of those two
stories. The real cause for adopting the
three colors is not known, SO far as have
ever been able to ascertain, except that II
first employed them. You know that years
ago the barber had many other things to dc
for his customers than to shave their boards
and clip their hair. He was expected to
pull teeth, apply cups and leeches, and
bleed his patients, for in one sense they
were his patients; and. in short. he was a
doctor as we'll as barber. i often take a
good deal of pleasure in reminding some
practicing physician, with whom am vel
acquainted, that in one sense he owes his
profession to the man who trims
his mustache. 1t is q thing they
all try to resent, but one that they CAM
deny. Well, when BARRIERS were doctor.
and dentists as well; they organized and
agreed to adopt the three colors as indIca-
tive of their trade. There was no specla
purpose in it, only such a one as man has
when he chooses a private trademark, fol
they were aiming at a sign that would. by
its common acceptance, be recognized
everywhere it would be used. And to this
day it remains the same as it was then, and
probably will so long as BARRIERS are 6
necessity as well as luxury"