The morning call., 1892-04-04
A SHAVE WITHOUT WAITING.
Some OF the Feats Performed by the
Champion Barber.

Champion Barber.
Boston Globe.
James S. Pitt of Cambridgeport claims to
be the champion barber of the entire earth.
He not only makes claims. but he keeps
offering 10 put up good money in defense OF
the same. He has lathered and shaved aman
and run 100 yards in minute and IS sec
opds. Says he can shave 10 men an hour in
first-class shape--no cutting of the skin
right in his shep any day. Says that
with two men 10 lather customers
for him, he can shave % an hour
Asked to explain how he attained cham
pionship CELEBRITY with the razor, Mr.. Pitt
told how lie worked ten years at lathe
saving down in New Brunswick. and a man
had TO get move on to cut out $1,000 la;heS
in a day with an assistant lie never
served ans time at the trade Of barber,
fell right into 1t naturally.
Mr.. Pitt came 10 Boston from st. john,
y. B., some four years ago. Before leaving
the provinces he won SlO0 from Jack
Magee, shaving a man and running 100
yards inside Of minute. In this case the
patients were lathered before the Ontest
began. He was, too somewhat of an all-
round athlete and had defeated T.. II. Eagles
on skates at one. two and three miles.
"Why. dear sir" exclaimed the champion
barber, al can go out of the shop any day,
without training. and run leo yards in IL 4-5
secnndSP
Well. lie came to Boston. Soon after
there appeared in print an interview with
Mr.. William Smith, described as n bar Der
of impressive demeanor and extensive
ay0irdupuis, in which he declared that he
was about as speedy as they made them, In
fact. lad shaved ten men aud run 100 yards
in 1917 minutes. He went on TO say that
Pitt wasn't "in ii, and he would wager
any amount that he could shave three men
to Pitts one and do ii as often as the SUBJ
jects held out.
Ptt says he rut up forfeit but never
heard from Smith.
Then on the scene came Mr.. Fred Merritt
Of Lynn. He does not claim to be a light
ming barber, but thought he could beat some
of The wonders" and he told a little story
like unto this:
lie was working in the depot Low ell
once on time. 1t was l o'clock in the
afternoon and the northern express. thir-
teen ears attached. had received the bell 10
Start. The engine was moving slowly when
into the barber-ShoD rushed = man, iearf3
into a chair and cried, SHAVE me- quick.
He surmised that the man in the chair
wanted TO catch the moving train He shaved
tie patient clean a a whistle in litfy, aud
the last he saw of the stranger he was
jumping on the rear platform Of the last ear
Of the train.
Mr.. Pitt says he had challenge in the
| newspapers open TO the world, but he never
heard from Merritt.
Dub DcIcihbfi ~, 1871, MI III louuu n
victim Of his skill in Que Mr.. John Suther-
land of New York. The contest was de-
cided at Union Hall in S0mrrvlle. 1t was
for $3.50 side and the championship OF the
world. The conditions were 10 shave a man
and run 100 yards. The barber who cut his
patient lost, even IL he made the best time.
Pit won, performing the feat In minute
| 45 seconds. Sutherland was ahead 10 sec
Opds in time. but he cut his man.
William Finn Of Naiiek, not only barber
! bat sprintcr, didn't think this last was
much OF feat to brag Of, aud he offered,
| through the press, TO shave give a close
| haircut and run hall-mile while Pitt did the
| have been clean gift OF haircut TO the
| champion. Mr.. Pitt says he placed for
felt, but Pitt didn't come to time.