The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-07-28

| fight for what others more favored can
have for the asking"
"a Socialist, said Jack to himself,
with the natural contempt of bank
clerk.
Therefore" continued the barber,
beginning on Jacks chin, sit is for
tunate that this life is but one of n
cycle; that the Karma of today is but
preparation for another life; or,
perhaps, Nirvana, who knows?"
''By heavens Buddhist" ex-
claimed Jack to himself.
The barber turned his limpid eyes
full upon him.
"Not exactly" he said gravely. 81
am Theosophist.
Jack gave little start and then a
cry of pain.
II have cut you. or rather" said
the barber, apologetically, ''you have
cut yourself. 1t is nothing-a mere
scratch. No, sir, Theosophy, 1 con-
ceive to be a civilized Buddhism with
none of its faults and all of its virtues.
You understand the doctrines of Bud
dha? Ignorance, according to Bud
dha, is the cause of our existence
our existence is hopelessly miserable,
misery is its very essence. To be sure,
there is another life, life upon life,
but who can regulate the succession?"
"Who, indeed?" said Jack closing
his eyes.
He was getting weary.
"Our future condition is determin-
ed by the blind and unconscious con-
catination of cause and effect. AT
the reincarnation man may become
either god or the vilest imaginable
object. That canary in the cage may
have once been a sybarite, trifler."
Jack opened his blue eyes in amused
contemplation.
"Do you really believe such rub
bish?" he asked, with smile on his
face.
Certainly" replied the barber,
gravely. 81 have already travelled
part of the way to Nirvana. 1 have
twice achieved Dhyana, during which
/ saw my past stages of existence. L
was Carthagenian general once, and
ages ago was tiger. L have ban
ished desire, love, hate, all the human
passions. / am negation, with no
attachment for existence.
"Yet you exist?" ventured Jack,
feeling that he must say something.
81 have disposed of my business,
said the barber, quietly. 81 have sold
everything except the bird; | shall
give him his liberty before / go. You
are the last man shall shave"
"Ah, indeed?" said Jack, making
an effort to rise.
"Pardon me-I have use for you"
the barber said; ''you are necessary
for my entrance to Nirvana. / had
fancy" pursued the barber, running
his thumb along the edge of the razor
and smiling, ''to shave a certain NAM
Der and leave to il the determination
of the sacrifice to Buddha. By in
spiration l hit upon n perfectly just
and equitable plan. The third of last
July was my birthday, and from that
day began to keep count of the num-
Der of shaves. / set apart the num-
Der of one thousand and marked the
thousandth for sacrifice. You have
the luck to be the thousandth shave,
sir"
But" said Jack, and his tongue
seemed to thicken in his mouth.
"Oh, there can be no mistake" said
the barber, ,cheerfully. THAT would
not have done at all. See now, it is
the fourth of Septem ber-nine weeks
today. The count by weeks runs as
follows: One hundred and two, ninety
two, seventy.two Ia bad week, sir,
one hundred and nine, one hundred
and forty, one hundred and twenty
one, one hundred and forty-two, one
hundred and one, one hundred and
fourteen. had very good run of
custom yesterday, or l should not
have been able to make mp the num-
Der. Just nine weeks-I regard that
as significant.
Was it Jack Ashton who only few
hours before had been contemplating
death with stoical resignation? Here
il was nova quick, almost painless
death. What made his head buzz so