The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-12-11

"Shave2 Yes, SIR" said the barber,
in voice quite in keeping with his
looks.
"a pleasant day." said Jack, drearily,
as the barber lathered him deity.
Exceedingly pleasant, said the bar
Der. "The weather is one Of the few
things we can enjoy without price"
The idea struck Jack as original, and
he smiled for the first time in three
days.
''In this world" pursued the barber,
''where a man has but one life, and that
of humble origin, he has to fight for
what others more favored can have for
asking"
"a Socialist" said Jack to himself,
with the natural contempt of a bank
clerk.
Therefore, " continued the barber, be-
ginning on Jacks chin, ''it is fortunate
that this life is but one of cycle; that
the Karma of to-day is but preparation
for another life; or perhaps Nirvana, who
knows!"
"By Heavens Buddhist" exclaimed
Jack to himself.
The barber turned his limpid eyes full
upon him. "Not exactly" he said,
gravely. ~ am Theosophist d"
Jack gave little start and then cry
of pain.
~ have cut you, or, rather" said the
barber, apologetically, "you have cut
yourself 1t is nothing mere scratch.
No, sir, thcosophy, l conceive to be n
civilized Buddhism, with none of its
faults and all OF its virtues. You under
stand the doctrines of Buddha2 Ignor-
ance, according to Buddha, is the cause
of our existence; our existence is hope
lessly miserable, misery is its very es-
sence. To be sure there Is another life,
life upon life, but who can regulate the
successionl"
"Who, indeed2" said Jack, closing his
eyes. He was getting weary.
-"Our future condition is determined
by the blind and unconscious concatena-
tion of cause and effect. At the reincar-
nation a man may become either a god or
the vilest imaginable object That
canary in the cage may have once been a
sybarite, a trifler."
Jack opened his eyes in amused CON
temptation. "Do you really believe such
rubbish?" he asked, with smile on his
face.
"Certainly, ,"replied the barber, gravely.
II have already Travelled part of the way
to Nirvana. Ihave twice achieved Dhyana,
during which | saw my past stages of ex-
istence. l was Cathagenian General
once, and ages ago was tiger. have
prepared myself for Nirvana by CON
temptation and thought. l have banished
desire, love, hate, all the human passions.
l am negation with no attachment for
existence"
"Yet You exist?" ventured Jack, feel
ing that he must say something.
~ have disposed of my business,
said the barber, quietly. 81 have sold
everything, except the bird; shall give
him his liberty before l go. You are the
last man ! shall shave"
''Ah, indeed" said Jack, making an
effort to rise.
The barber gently but powerfully re-
strained him.
pardon mel have use for you," he
said, 'you are necessary for my entrance
to Nirvana.n
81 had fancy" pursued the barber,
running his thumb along the edge of the
razor and smiling gravely, "to round out
some perfect number and leave to it the
determination of the sacrifice to Buddha.
BY inspiration, | hit upon perfectly Just
and equitable plan. The third of last
July was my birthday, and from that day
| began to keep count of the number of
shaves. ! set apart the number of one
thousand and marked the thousandth for
sacrifice. You have the luck to be the
thousandth shave, sir"
"But," said Jack, and his tongue
seemed to thicken in his mouth.
"Oh, there can be no mistake,p said
the barber, cheerfully. "That would
not have done at all. See now, it is the
fourth of September-nine weeks to a
day. The count, by weeks, runs as fol-
lows 102, %, 70 Ia bad week, sir, 109,
140, 121, 142, 101, ia. had very
good run of custom yesterday or / should
not have been able to make up the num-
Der Just nine weeks-I regard that as
Was it Jack Ashton who only few
hours before had been contemplating
death with stocial resignation Here it
was nova quick, almost painless death.
What made his head buzz 50 and the
canarys pipe seem like clarion trum-
pet!
A chill like ice passed down his spine
and then hot flush like fever. His
voice was steady as parsons as he said:
There is only one drawback to your
plan. YOU have made a mistake in your
calculations-thi is not the thousandth
shave!n
For the first time the barber's eyes
showed a gleam of anger.
''Impossible" he said, sharply. II
have gone over the sum too often to
make a mistake, although l am not an
expert at figures
II am, said Jack, calmly. 81 am
bank clerk and never make a mistake.
tell you, your count is wrong-it is nine
hundred and ninety y-nine. What do
You still doubt me3 Give me a piece of
paper and will convince you in a min
ute"
1T is very strange" muttered the bar
Der, as he laid down the razor, and
opened a drawer in search of piece of
paDer