Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07
QUEER WAYS OF RAZORS.



''When / say that razor has good temper"
said the barber, Il mean something more than
that the steel has been hardened by fire and
water to just the right point. In my opinion a
razor has disposition like human being. 1t
may be amiable and always do its work
smoothly-though never did see a razor yet
that wasn't subject to off-spells once in a
while-or it may be sulky half the time and re-
fuse to cut properly, even if $he best of tools
when in a good humor. And what you've got
to do is TO humor it. There's no use trying to
drive a razor that doesn't want to shave;
you'll only put yourself out, maybe cut
the customer, and make the razor so
angry that it won't work again for goodness
knows how long. The thing to do is to put
it right away in a drawer, without disputing
the matter, and give 1t rest Take 1t out
again at the end of a week, and, ten to one, it
will be in prime condition and as willing as
possible. There was college professor in here
one day not long ago who stuffed me with what
he called a scientific explanation of razors fits
He said that if / would look at the edge of a
razor through microscope would see that it
looked like cross-cut saw, with teeth project
ing on either side. By these teeth were
bent out of shape; but, if the razor was put
away for a while the teeth would get back into
adjustment again and the tool would once
very well, but stick to my theory just the same.
And ought to know, for I've seen more razors,
and handled 'em, than that bald-headed old
professor ever dreamed Of"
CASE IN POINT.
"Itseems to me, said The STAR reporter, upon
whom the tonsorial artist was operating, that
the razor you are using upon me at this mo-
ment must be suffering from no small degree
of irritation on some account or other, Judging
by the way it hurts"
The barber paused for a moment in the
scraping performance, and extending one
thumb drew the edge of the blade slowly across
the nail in manner that sent cold shiver
down the newspaper mans backbone.
GOOD RAZOR, BUT
''Ifs sharp enough" he remarked, 'but I'll
try another. Perhaps this -azor 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 a difference in the sort of razor required;
but am not speaking of that at all. If q
razor doesn't happen to like you it won't shave
You well under any circumstances. Now. you
observe, the razor l am using at present
takes to you first rate. bought it off a man
whom it didn't like for fifty cents. It's a good
one, and, though should hate to part with it,
l might let it go to you, sir, for S5. The
handles broken, but you could easy have
Did you say tonic? Your hairs getting q
triflc thin on top"
Thanks, no." replied the customer.
ooNETHINa ABOUT RAzoRs.
'srve been thirty years in the business" went
on the barber, accompanying his words with q
brief shampoo, land 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 guarantee that it's cor
rect, mind you. What he said was that the
edge Of cold razor, seen through a micro
scope. was a wavy line; but when the blade
was plunged into hot water the steel expanded
and the edge was made straight, like string
drawn taut, and that was the reason why it was
good thing in cold weather to dip your razor
into hot water, 50 as to make shaving easier, as
Of course it would be with q straight edge than
with a crooked one.
SELECTING RAZOR.
It's funny thing about . razor that buying
one is always q perfect gamble, even for an
expert. A frst-rate blade is an accident, and
often 80 cent razor will be better than
another for 81. You see, razors have to be
handmade from beginning to end, and the
most sklliful workman can't be sure Of getting
process that the quality Of the razor is deter
mined. Laid upon a plate of hot sand, the
blade changes gradually from a light yellow to
dark straw color, and it is by this color that
the workman must judge Of the degree of tenn
per. II it is . shade too Light the steel will be
too soft; If shade too dark. it will be toe
hard and will crumble. So it happens that
razors Of the same brand always vary, and q
really fine one is prize.
TELLING RI THE HONE.
But no man can tell q good one when be
goes 10 buy with any certainty unless he il
given an opportunity to try it ON hone In
that case, if he is an expert, he can Judge
Ninety per cent Of all the razors used in thi,
country are made in England though dealer,
here put their own names on them. I should
advise any man who shaves himself to have 9
razor for each day in the week. Then no one
Of the seven will ever get tired, and il the,
are all honed once q year il win be enough
The chief trouble with beginners at shaving il
that thew don't know how to strop their razors
II they would get some one that knew how Il
show them that, and always have their lathel
thick and rub it in well, they would be saved
great deal Of distress NextT'
SILK WITHOUT WORMS.