Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-19
SHAVING FOR A WAGER.
Forty Men Scraped in Fifteen Minute
and Fifteen Seconds.

William Lloyd OF Fulham, and strong hopes
were entertained by the spectators that the
contest would not be a bloodless one. The
curtain of the imperial theater in the aqua
rum was down, and as the spectators filed
into their seats the men turned up the COL
lars of their coats and the women shivered.
The referee, a short and round-bodied gen.
tleman, looked grave but calm. THE con-
test" he said to 1.-The Pail MALI represen-
tative. tai ing the bluish-white articles of
agreement from the inside pocket of his
coat. lis TO- EDS a side and the champion
ship. Lloyd is the challenger. and I under
stand that IL Lloyd is defeated Wick will 20
to America to meet all corners in a tonsorial
combat. The referee is to be the sole judge
of points, and there is but one stipulation
In the articles of agreement-namely. that
1 shall rake a difference between cuts
arising from ineficiency and those which
may be due to inequalities Of the surface
1t is time for the show to begin, and
must take my place" The referee climbed
the steps leading to the stage, showed the
curtain to one side. and was lost to view.
The occupants Of the back seats and of the
gallery began to stamp their feet by way OF
informing the management that the proper
time had arrived for the unwilling OF the
tain was raised. The spectators looked
upon a row Of ten BARRIERS chairs. Behind
these. at a small table. sat the referee. Al
his right hand, on the table, was stor
watch. In front of him was some paper
He was busily engaged in writing. The &C.
cupants of the back seats and the gallery
applauded but to the applause the referee
paid no attention. evidently believing that
he was entitled to II.
The applause having come to an end. the
referee stepped to the footlights, which were
on a vacation, and read the articles OF
agreement. finishing with the hope that the
best man might win. AS the spectators had
heard this before at prize. dog and perhaps
cock fights. they applauded. The referee
said that the men were to shave against
each other for an hour each night until De-
cember Is, by which time. in his opinion
the question of superiority would be estab-
lished beyond the ghost of a doubt. The
referee retired and sat down at his table
Then the orchestra, consisting of a pianist
fell to. The strains were low and mourn
ful-the sort of music that is supposed &c
denote the immediate proximity of the vii
lain and the extreme peril of the heroine
There was a tramp of many feet, and a
an irregular manner npon the stage. They
formed a semi-circle behind the referee, and
almost filled such parts of the stage as
were not coupled by the Tyrolese alps. the
referees table and the referee. and ten bar
bers' chairs. Suddenly the orchestra burs;
forth into a livelier air, and MIR. Wick and
Mr.. Llyod STROBE upon the stage. To be
perfectly accurate. Mr.. Lloyd strobe and Mr.
Wick tripped. The champion. as Mr.. Wick
describes himself, is rather short. but not
at all pursy. His cheeks are as smooth as
a handicapped table, and upon his uppe:
lip is that brand Of mustache which only
patience, perseverance, time and brilliantine
ness which would Withstand a single tug
To deface it's contour by an absent-minded
chew would be impossible. Mr. Wick was
supple in his movements, and displayed
nothing that could be said to approach me-
vousness. Mr. Lloyd is much taller and
stronger looking than his adversary. If the
men were opposed to each other. armed
with axes. no sane person would back M
upon his face. though he looks as If. were 1,
in the interest Of his occupation, he could
raise both whiskers, beard and mustache
He did not seem SO much at home under
the public gaze as his opponent. Both men
were clad in large white aprons. Accompa.
nying them were ten young men. who were
also clad in white aprons. They carried
towels. soap, soap boxes and shaving brush
es. Half of the contingent were to act as
latherers for NJ. Wick, the other half for
Mr.. Lloyd. The two principals looked at the
row of chairs and said they We're too close
together.
Two rows were made of the chairs The
army of victims looked at the chairs, the
assistants. the principals, the spectators
and at each other. Some of them grinned
but most of them preserved a grave de.
meano-, as IL they thoroughly understood
the gravity of their situation. All of the
x-irfiv 90
to have passed the thirtieth milestone
while the cheeks of not a few had seldom
been caressed by a razor. 1t afterward
transpi-ed that most of the men were GUS
toners Of the combatants. and were Just as
deeply interested as the latter in the result
Suddenly one of the latherers shouted
NOW, step up, gents. The chairs were
instantly filled. Towels Were thrust under
the chins of the first ten, and they were
well and truly lathered the ten were
Go" shouted the referee in a tone devoid
of single trenor. Two razo-s were fou.
rished aloft. Each descended upon the lef,
cheek bf a victim. The orchestra dashed
intoAa theme that breathed flame and
slaughter. The spectators stamped their
feet upon the fioo-, and the battle ragged
with unexampled ferocity. Wick quickly
demonstrated that his touch was the more
delicate, and the rapidity of his movements
threw his admirers into spasms Of enthu.
siasm. Lloyd was more deliberate AND
showed that he possessed a down-cut tina,
was certain TO save time IL there Were ne
protuberances in the way. Wick finished
his first man while Lloyd was scraping IN,
chin of his. Wick sprang to the next chat,
and attacked his second subject with :
CELEBRITY that promised gore No gore few
however. Llyod shaved his third man IN
thirty seconds. Wick polished off his fiftf
In fifteen seconds, but the cheeks of tn,
subject were downy. The moment "a mar
was shaved he was told to leave the chair
and lose no time about it. The towel tina,
had rested upon his chest was taken away
and another was thrust into his hand
With the latter he was expected to wipe IN,
soap away. No water was used One mar
objected to wiping his face with a towel
and used a handkerchief Another locke
at the towel suspiciously as If he had neyel
with his soap-decorated face when IL wa.
wiped for him. 'One down another come,
on, was the word The Contestant.
sc-aped at top speed for ten minutes anf
were never kept waiting. The orchestra tif
not stop to take breath Several of m,
spectators mounted the stage and excite
ment was running high when the refer,
called "Halt!' The contestants held thei,
hands
The referee came to the front and s.it
that Mr.. Wick had more men than Mr.
Lloyd. and that unless both men had :
supply there could be no contest The snac
tators said, Hear! hearv and the reSere,
added. Il move that the men who are her.
to be shaved be divided evenly" This Wa,
carried by the spectators. Mr.. Wick sait
he was satisfied. and the battle was renew
ed. The pianist pulled himself together q M
thumped out a warlike strain. Both mer
worked with terrific earnestne~s. AMI m,
STOCK OF subjects was getting low when :