Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-08
ODD NOTIONS or BARBERs.
Shaving as an Art-aou an Apprentice
Learns the Trade

]
men Il he cut uan on Monday. the
barber was sure he would cut seven men
before Sunday Il the first customer in
the morning complimented him he would
get little but grumbles and curses for the
resi- OF the day II he didn't receive al
least one tip above the regular fees on
Monday the week would be bad one
These beliefs are rapidly disappearing
There are two curious facts about razors,
though that still give rise to general su-
perstitions and probably always will 1t
is noticed that after long continuous
use il is difficult TO give razor an
edge The knowing hand viii quietly
lay il away with the remark that the
razor is tired" and needs rest. .
After letting ii sleep" a few DAYS
that is SIMPLY not using ii, the razor
is found to be in good condition Few
BARRIERS attempt to explain TINS But the
explanation is simple The edge of a
razor consists OF a series OF microscopic
teeth Long continuous use wears these
down, despite stroppugs, and it needs
the oxidation winch time only can pro
vide to bring out again the microscopic
roughness Another popularity of the
razor Is that, though in splendid condi-
ton when last used. ii sometimes posi-.
lively refuses 10 take an edge when nut
on the hone in the morning A few
hours iatef 1t will take an edge beauti-
fully This Is due to the same principle
Of oxidation BARRIERS will sometimes
say razol is 'baky, by which they
hat rttFl tol- Il.
though not made tired bv long pre-
vlous work. Some razors, because of pc
cullartIes IN the grades OF steel, are
more apt to he 'baky than others.
lic harbers allow supersuuuus to af-
feet then method OF shavlng2 was
asked OF Broadway veteran.
There Is only one method of shaw
ing. sand the barber. there never has
been but one. and there never will be
more The barber rubs the iather into
your stub until 1t clIngs to the face itself.
10 accomplish this lie has first sponged
your face with water To remove skin
secreuons When first put on the lather
sticks on top OF the stub and does not
touch the skin much Rubbing brings it
int the skin 1t also softens the beard,
and a barber always fathers you before
he strops his razor, so as to give the
lather time &c get in its work Then
when he shaves you il is always with the
gram That is. every distinct portion Of
your face is shaved in tie direction the
haIr grows If this rutt were not fol
lowed the toughest skin would. an
hour later, show abrasIons, and erup-
lions would come. After the face is
once shaved the barber shaves it
again for closeness. This second shave
may safely he against the grain Most
faces can stand the second shave against
the grain, hut there are some men with
stuff boards too, whose skin Is SC tender
that they can only be shaved one wav
The barber can never know positively
from the appearance or touch OF a skin
whether OF not it can stand the second
shave That is something the owner of
the face must discover by experience
So when he shaves a stranger, unless he
is sure he has tough skin, the barber
asks. after the first shave. If the man de-
slres it close The razor is placed nearly
fiat with the face The free hand draws
every Oit OF skin tight before he shaves
over 1t Some BARRIERS pick up the skin
between their fingers others merely press
1t tight Practically though every bar
beE the wol{d over shaves the same way
He has no room therefore, 10 bring
in superStItons So bound is he by the
recognized principles of the art except
IN such little details as beginning the
shave on the right OF left side OF the face
shaving the upper lip before OF after the
chm. and other things of that kind
Every barber has some little maxims of
ms own about these unlmportant items
and some helieve that bad luck attends
the man who doesn't shave every face in
precisely the same manner regarding
these little details
How DO men learn to be barbers?"
was asked OF a barber who shaves law
yers and bankers III Wall street
You We got to pay for it, said the
barber Here and there You will find
a barber who keeps a sort of school, and
charges a round prce to give lessons
They allow the learners to practice when
they gain a little defines on the chins of
unsuspecting chance customers. Gener-
ally though a BOY who wants to be bar
her is bound out TO regular barber for
two years The barber exacts $25 or more
a year and the BOYS entire service, In re-
turn he boards and lodges HIM. and makes
hun a good barber Nv own experience
Is a fan sample case. | was only Ia when
was bound to a barber not in this city
| paid $25 cash down and got half a
bed and poor board They put me on
faLherng first, l.atherEng looks easy. and
Is easy too, but you've no idea how
awkwardly a new man will 90 about it,
So. when there were no customers around
my boss would have one OF the wOrkmen
lie down in chair and set me to lather-
ing his face, There is knack in getting
over soapy face deity and quickly
Sometimes you use your fingers. other
times The palm An even pressure
is required that isn't easy to get.
II you press too hard you make it
uncomfortable for the man you re lather-
ing The boss stood over me in these
lessons and taught me the points, one at
time Then | lathered the face of a
customer while the boss g0t ready to
shave him For several months had to
stand behind the boss chair while he
was shaving and watch every motion of
his hand and wrist for a barber only
uses the hand and wrist in shaving.
Then, after shaving an imaginary face or
two under the ewes OF a barber to show
me the way razor Is held and moved. |
was put to practice on the faces Of the EN-
ployes: My boss stood over me and
watched every motion Then he made
me shave him trembled so that cut
him. 1t was a long long time before
they lei me touch customer, and then
only when some good natured fellow who
! came often and knew me invited me to
try my hand upon his chin Once in the