The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-20
RUBIN RAN OFF.
Five Cent Barber Shops
Did Not Pay.
A BIG SYNDICATE BROKEN.
Alack and Alas for the Fond Hopes
of the Tamale-r1an and the
Scavenger.

The great Scent shaving syndicate is
broken.
For this reason BARRIERS are happier to-
day in San Francisco than the most expect
ant politicians of the winning side.
1t was Count Paulo Benefit. alias To-
masio Rubini, who caused CONSERVATION in
tons0rial circles only few months ago.
He did it by establishing barber-shop on
Sacramento street. near Montgomery. and
hanging out sign to the effect: Shaving,
5 cents. Haireutting Is cents"
He employed three artists to toy with
customers at these hair-splitting rates, and
was doing business like clearinghouse
when it occurred to the Count. as he was
called. that he might become monopolist
in corporation entitled ''The San Fran
cisco Five-cent Shaving Company"
For few scrapes he enlisted the services
Of an eminent Police Court practitioner,
known as Counselor Worth, who drew up
articles OF incorporation. which. however,
were never filed in the Office of the County
Clerk. But stock was issued and sold. the
alleged capital stock being placed at the
modest sum Of $4,000. the par value being
$40 per share.
Contemporaneously with the organization
of the corporation branch shaving mills
\
byways of the city. with the Turing red sign
of cut prices displayed to entice the tramp
and thrifty citizen alike.
The tamale monopolists took blocks of
the stock on the representation that it
would yield greater returns on the capital
invested than the substitution OF seagulls
for chicken in their husky articles OF CON-
meree.
Others. mainly of the Latin quarter, also
succumbed to the Establishments of the
Count and placed their ducats on the hazard
OF the shave.
Among the spectators were MANY con-
hdlng but wlthal strong members of the
local Scavengers' Union. Those honest
and odorous sons of toll delve hard for the
argentiferous metal which they collect, and
are consequently careful in their invest
ments. When they place a stake il is con-
sldered straight tip by others who know
OF their judgment and general astuteness.
Their confidence in the scheme of the
noble fnancier gave courage to many a
picturesque Neapolitan fisherman who goes
into the deep waters of the Pacific after
elusive plscatorial specimens aud also in
search of the truculent and silent crab.
They took stock. and in turn the Society
for Peddling and Otherwise Disposing of
Italian Art Relies" fell into the maelstrom.
The Count was so highly elated at his sue
cess that he called q meeting between be
and himself. and after heated and pro-
tracted debate he was chosen president,
vice-preSident. secretary. treasurer and
board of directors. He also constituted all
the various committees and reported to
himself.
He had promised the stockholders dlvi-
dend at the expiration Of the first three
months after the corporation was formed.
The returns showed the fnancier that the
treasurer had collected $3.50 on account of
the sale of stock. That was all right. He
had that in the treasurer's own strong box
The executive committee reported that
twenty one scent shops had been estab-
ished, but the earnings had not been suffi-
cient To enable the individual managers to
pay their help even the modest sum of SO
a week, and further that the landlords who
owned the premises of twenty of the twety-
one places were clamoring for rent
There was no money coming in to the
syndicate. or corporation. save that which
the CouSt was collecting as treasurer. He
saw an approaching climax and that an
accounting would be demanded of him by
the irate stockholders, or at least stock
holders who would be irate as soon as they
were apprised OF the condition of affairs.
TO solve the whole business Rubini re-
solved to save himself at all hazards. It
was the work OF moment, and the grand
hirsute enterprise Of this c0astwise town
was to be left in jeopardy.
Rubini saw disastrous financial pillows
ahead Of him. La Malta was on all sides
and there seemed no possibility of escape
from its vengeance; yet he fooled il.
lie gave grand banque1 to the principal
stockholders on Wednesday evening last at
Montgomery street Italian restaurant.
There he explained in the dulcet tones of
bis race the brilliant prospects in store for
the society.
They ate and drank and drank again. and
cheers were given for the Magnate Benefit,
alias Rubini, who showed as on a map how
easy 1t was 10 make money.
The night following there was to be dis
tribution OF the net earnings at an Office des-
ignated as facing on Washington street, in
the Montgomery block.
The Count was not present. nor could he
be found.
1t was thereupon resolved by those pres
ent to ostracize the Count and also to dis.
incorporate The San Francisco Five-cent
Shaving Society"
There was no trouble about the motion
going through, and now the only trouble
was to tnd the able operator who had skip
ped with the original funds.
u. Pardini, Broadway barber, had q
rough experience.
"The custom that the prices naturally
brought" he remarked, "was undesirabe
we mad TO employ everything from q scoop
shovel TO an odorless excavator to get n
patron In trim TO be operated upon. Then
1t was good deal like shaving the bar
that had not been on the ways for two
years. tell you five cents for shave will
not go heres but that la-de-da fellow was a
good one. We may get him yet"
The Count Is described as being just elk
feet tall. well proportioned, wearing
dark heavy mustache and having a thick
curly head OF hair. He is man whom the
ladies appear TO worship, and il Is limited
that he has disappeared with one Of San
Franciseo's fairest daughters.
AS barber he did not appear to rank
very high. but as bold Lothario and acute
financier he will live in the minds of the
colony and in the memory of union BARRIERS
for decade or more.