Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-17

The baroer paused for moment in the
scraping performance, and extending one
thumb drew the edge of the blade slowly
across the nail in a manner that sent a cold
SILVER down the newspaper mans backbone.
Its sharp enough he remarked, "but I'll
try another. Perhaps this razor did not like
you. You see, there's no doubt Of the fact
that razors have their personal preferences.
The blade that will shave one customer to a
charm won't shave another. OF course, a
difference In the toughness and thickness OF
the beard makes n difference in tho sort Of
razor required, but am not speaking Of that
at all. II razor doesn't happen to like you
IL won't shave you well under any circum-
stances. Now, you observe, the razor am
using Mt present takes 10 you first rate. |
bought II for fifty cents off a man whom IL
didn't like Its good one, and, though |
should bate 20 part with IT, might let il go
TO you, sir, for 81. The handles broken, but
you could easily have another put on, and il
wouldn't cost so much. Did You say 'tonicP
Your hairs getting trine thin on top"
Thanks, no. replied the customer.
i've been thirty years In the business 4"
went ON the barber, accompanying his words
with brief shampoo. "and what | don't
know about the ways OF razors isn't worth
knowing. There was something the professor
| was speaking about told me, however, that
| hadn't heard before, though don't guaran-
tee that IL j. correct, mind you. What he said
was that the edge OF cold razor, seen
through microscope, was a wavy line, but
when the blade was plunged into hot water
the steel expanded and the edge was made
straight, like IA string drawn taut, and that
was the reason why IL was good thing in
cold weather TO dip your razor into hot wa
ter, ~ rs 10 make shaving easier ms of course
IL would he, with straight edge than with "a
crooked ono.
"Its funny thing about razor that buy
ing one is always "a perfect gamble, even for
an expert. first rate blade is an accident
and often IA fifty cent razor viii be- better
than another for 81. You see razors have to
be hand made from beginning to end and the
most skillful workman can't be sure OF get
ting two just alike. IL is in the temper draw
ing process that the quality OF the razor is
determined. Laid upon plate OF hot sand
the blade changes gradually from "A light
yellow 90 a dark straw color, and Il is by this
color that the workman must judge Of the
degree Of temper II IL j. shade too light
the steel will be too soft, If "A shade too dark
it will h. too hard and will crumble SO il
happens that rnzors Of the same brand always
vary and n really fine one Is prize
But no man can cell a good one when he
| goes 10 buy with any certainty unless he is
| given an opportunity 90 try IL ON IA hone. In
that case II he Is an expert he can Judge
Ninety per cent OF all the razors used in this
country are made in England, though deal
ers have put their own names on them.
should advise any man who shaves himself
20 have razor for each day in the week
Then no one Of the seven will ever get tired,
and II theyare all honed once a year il will
be enough. The chief trouble,with beginners
at shaving is that they don't know how TO
strop their razors. II they would get some
one that knew how % show them that, and
always have their lather thick and rub il in
well, they would he saved great deal Of dis
tress Washington Star