West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-11-21

4
"Shavel Yes, sir" said the barber,
in a voice quite in Keeping with his
looks.
"a pleasant day" said Jack, drearily,
as the barber lathered him deftly.
Exceedingly pleasant, said the bar
| Der. 1.-THE weather Is one Of the few
things VIC can enjoy without price"
The idea struck Jack as original, and
he smiled for the first time in three
| days.
''Iu this world, ~ pursued the barber,
"where 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 bank
clerk.
Therefore, " continued the barber, be
| ginning on Jacks chin, ait is fortunate
that this life is but one of a cycle, that
the karma Of to-day is but preparation
for another life; OF perhaps Nirvana, who
knowsm
''By Heavens Buddhism exclaimed
Jack, to himself,
The barber turned his limpid eyes full
upon him. "Not exactly" nc said,
1 gravely. ~ am Theosophist."
Jack gave little start and then a cry
of pain.
81 have cut you, or, rather" said the
barber, apologetically, "you have cut
| yourself. II is nothing-a mere scratch.
No, sir, theosophy, / conceive ia be
civilized Buddhism, with none of It's
faults and all of its virtues. You under
stand the doctrines of Buddha2 ianor
| ance, according TO Buddha, is the cause
of our existence; our existence is hope
I lessly miserable, misery is its very es.
sencc. To bc sure there Is another life.
life upon life, but who can regulate the
successionS"
"Who, indeedH" said jack, closing his
eyes, He was getting weary.
"Our future condition is determined
by the blind and unconscious concatouai
tion of cause and effect. At the reincar-
nation man may become either god or
the vilest Imaginable object. That
canary in the cage may have once been a
sybarite, a triflor,"
Jack opened his eyes in amused con
temptation. "Do you really believe such
rubbish3" he asked, with smile on his
face,
"Certainly, replied the barber, ,gravoly.
81 have already travelled part of the way
to Niryana. Ihave twice achieved Dhyana.
during which | saw my past stages of ex-
istence. j was Cathagenian General
once, and ages ago l was tiger have
prepared myself for Nirvana by con
temptation and thought. have banished
desire, love, hate, all the human passions
l am a negation with no attachment for
existence
"Yet you exist2" ventured Jack, feel
ing that he must say something.
81 have disposed OF my business" ,"
said the barber, quietly. 81 have sold
everything, except the bird / shall give
him his liberty before go. You are the
last man l shall shave"
"Ah indeed" said Jack, making an
effort to rise.
The barber gently but powerfully re-
strained him.
pardon me- have use for you," he
said, "you are necessary for my entrance
to Nirvana."
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 il the
determination OF the sacrifice to Buddha
BY inspiration, hit upon n 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
shayes. / 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" said
the barber, cheerfully. "That would
not have done at all See now, it is the
fourth of September weeks TO
day. The count, by weeks, runs as fol-
lows: l02, %, ~ "a bad week, sir, 1O9,
40, 121, 142, 101, ia. / had very
good run Of custom yesterday or / should
not have been able to make up the num-
Der. Just ninc weeks--I regard that as
significant"
Was it Jack Ashton who only few
hours before had been contemplating
death with stocial rcsignation2 Here it
was nova quick, almost painless death.
What made his head buzz so and the
canary's pipe seem like clarion trum-
petl
A chill like ice passed down his spine
and then a hot flush like o fever. His
voice was steady as a parsons as he said
"Thcrc is only one drawback to your
plan. You have made mistake i'm your
calculations-th this is not tho thousandth
shavcl"
For the first time The BARRIERS eyes
showed a CLEAN Of anger.
"Impossiblcw he said, sharply. OF
have gone over the sum too often to
make q mistake, although / ann not on
expert at figures
~ am, said Jack, calmly. 'I am q
bank clerk and never make a mistake.
ten you, your count is wrong 1T is nine
hundred and nincty-nine. What do
you still doubt me2 Give me q piece Of
paper and / will convince you in a min
ute"
''lt is very strange" " muttered the bar
bcr, as be laid down the razor, and
opened a drawer ia search of a piece Of
paper.
The cloth that the barber had tucked
under bis chin was Of cotton but IL an
.rorrd Jack q uurnooo with hound