Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-03

willing as possbla There was college pro
lessor in here one day not long ago who
stuffed me with what he called a scientific
explanation Of razors' fits Hesaid that if /
would look at the edge Of razor through q
microscope would see that it looked like a
cross cut saw, with teeth projecting on either
side. By use these teeth were bent out Of
shape; but if the razor was put away for a
while the teeth would get back into adjust
ment again and the tool would once more ap-
pear sharp. OF course, chat all sounds very
| well, but stick to my theory just the same.
And l ought to know, for I've seen more
razors, and handled 'em, than that bald
headed old professor ever dreamed Of"
sit seems to me" said the reporter, upon
whom the tonsorial artist was operating,
''that the razor you are using upon me at
this moment must be suffering from no small
degree of irritation on some account OF other,
judging by the way it hurts"
The baroer paused for 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.
sits 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
charm won't shave another. OF course, a
difference in the toughness and thickness of
the beard makes difference in the sort of
razor required, but am not speaking of that
at all If razor doesn't happen to like you
it won't shave you well under any circum-
stances. Now, you observe, the razor am
of %o1-n <o
bought it for fifty cents of man whom it
didn't like. It's a good one. and, though l
should hate to part with it, might let it 20
to you, sir, for So The handles broken, but
you could easily have another put on and it
wouldn't cost 50 much. Did you say toner
Your hairs getting a. tri6e thin on top"
Thanks, no." replied the customer
"Ive been thirty years in the business
went on the barber, accompanying his words
with a brief shampoo, land what I don't
know about the ways Of razors isn't worth
knowing There was something the professor
l was speaking about told me, however, that
hadn't heard before, though don't guaran-
tee that it is correct, mind you What he said
was that the edge Of a cold razor, seen
through microscope, was 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 r<zor into hot wa
ter, SO as to make shaving easier, as of course
it would be, with straight edge than with q
crooked one.
cts funny thing about razor that buy
ing one is always perfect gamble, even for
an expert. A first rate blade is an accident,
and often fifty cent razor will be better
than another for So. 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. 1t 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 to dark straw color, and it is by this
color that the workman must judge Of the
degree Of temper If it is shade too light
the steel will be too soft, if a shade too dark
it will be too hard and will crumble So it
happens that razors of the same brand always
vary and really fine one is prize
But no man can tell good one when he
goes to buy with any certainty unless he is
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 this
country are made in England, though deal
ers have put their own names on them l
should advise any man who shaves himself
to have a razor for each day in the week
Then no one of the seven will ever get tired,
and if they are all honed once year it VIII
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 to show them that, and
always have their lather thick and rub it in
well, they would be saved great deal of dis
tress. Washington Star.