Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-17

Heroic stoicism OF the vIciims-For-
teen Seconds.
From the Pail Mall GszetteJ
1t was the first night of the shaving
contest between Teddy" Wick, of Chel-
sea, and William Lloyd. of Fulhsm. and
strong hopes were entertained by the spec
tstors that the contest would not be q
bloodless one. The curtain of the Imperi-
al theates in the Aquarium was down, and
ss the spectators fled into their seats the
men turned up the collars of their coats
and the women shivered. The referee,
short and round bodied gentleman, looked
grave but calm. "The contest" he eaid
to the Pail Mall repre- sentative, taking the
blush white articles of sgreemsnt from
the inside pocket of his top coat, sis for
twenty-five pounds eide and the chsmpi-
onstip. Lloyd Is the challenger, and un-
derstaud that if Lloyd Is defeated Wick
will 60 to America to meet all corners In q
tonsorisl combat The referee is to be the
sole judge of points, and there is but one
stipulation in the articles of agreement
namely, that shall make difference be-
tween cuts arising from inefficiency and
thoee which may be due to inequalities of
the surface. 1t Is time for the show to bs-
gin and must take my place" The refe-
r,s 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
unveiling of the stage. The signal was
given and the curtain was raised. The
spectators looked upon q row of ten bar
ers' chairs. Behind these, at q small ts-
BILE, sat the refares. At his right hand, on
the table, was stop watch. In front of
him WAS some paper. He was bueily en-
gagged in writing. The occupants of the
back seats and of the gallery spplsuded,
but to the applause the referee paid nc at
tention, evidently believing that ne was
entitled to 1t.
The applause having come to an end, the
referee stepped to the footlights, which
were on a vacation, and read the articles
of agreement, flashing with the hope that
the beet man might win. As this specta-
tors had heard this before At prizs, dog
and perhaps cock hghts. they s2plaude6.
The referee said that the men were to
shave sgsiust each other for sn hour each
night until December Is. by which time,
in his opinion, the question of tuperiori-
ty would be established beyond the ghost
of doubt The referee retired and sat
down at his table. Then the orchestra,
consisting of pianist, fell to. The strains
were low and mournfuI-the sort of music
that is supposed to denote the immediate
proximity of the villain and the extreme
peril of the heroine. There WAS g tramp
of many feet, and q body of City or sixty
men marched In In an irregular manner
upon the stage They formed q semi cir
Gle behind the referee. and almost filled
such parts of the stage as were not occu-
pied by the Tyrolsse Alps, the referees
table and the referee and ten BARRIERS
chairs. Suddenly the orchestra burst
| forth into livelisr air, and Mr.. Wick and
Mr.. Lloyd strods upon the stage. To be
perfectly accurate, Mr.. Lloyd strode and
Mr.. Wick tripped. The champion. ss Mr..
Wick describes himself. is rather short,
but not at all pursy. His ctesks are az
his upper lip IL that brand of mustschs
| WHOM only patience, perseverance,, time
| and brilliantine csE develop into that CON
| dition of robustness which would with.
/ stand q single tug. To defacs Its contour
| by an absent minded chew would be I'm
| possible. Mr.. Wick was supple In bis
movements, and displayed nothing that
| could be said to spprosoh nervousness.
| Mr.. Lloyd is much taller aud stronger
looking than his adversary IL the men
/ were opposed to each other, armed with
| axes, no sane person would back Mr.. Wick.
The lstter's opponent wears no hair upon
/ bis face, though he looks as II, were IL In
| the interest of his occupation, be could
raise both whi.kers, beard and mustschs
BE did not teem 90 much ct home undel
the public gaze as his opponent Bott
men were clad in large white aprons. Ac
companying them were ten young men
| who were also clad in white aprons. The,
carried towels, soap, soap boxes and shaw
ing brushes Half of the contingent wer
to act as lathersrs for Mr.. Wick, the othe
half for Mr. Lloyd. The two principal
looked at the row of chairs and said the,
were too clese togsther.
Two rows were made of the chsirs. Tn
army of victims looked at tie chair,, tn
assistants, the principals, the spectator
| and ct each other. Some of them grinped
but most of them preserved q grave de
meanor, as If they thoroughly understoo'
the gravity of their situation. All of th
victims wei 9 Young. None of them SCENE
to have passed the thirtieth milestone
| while the cheeks of not few had ssldol
been caressed by 9 razor. II sftervar
transpired that most of the men were Gu
ton era of The combstsnis, and were Jul
, | as deeply interested ss the latter in the n
suit. Suddenly one of the lsihsre,
shouted, "Now step up. gents-" Tt
chairs were instantly filed. Towels wei
thrust under the chine of the first ten, an
they were well and truly lAthsred. the te
were. "GoI" shouted the referee In tor
: devoid of . single tremor. Two rszo
were fourished sloft. Each desceDds
upon the left cheek of q victim. The o
. chestra dashed into theme that breathe
q fame and slaughter. The spectato
: stamped their feet upon the floor, ana q
battle ragged With unexamplsd ferocit.
| Wick quickly demonstrated that his toue
was the more delicste, and the rapaoity
his movements threw bis admirers In
!, spaems of enthusiasm. Lloyd was mo
deliberate. and showed that he possess
. n dovn-cut that wss certain 70 save u1
d if there were no protuberanees I'm :
, vsy. Wick finished his ihrst mar. VIII
Loyd was. scrhping the chin OF. b
q Wicf sprapg to ths,-neSt chair and
:, tsckSd his second subject With . -oeaeri
y that. promised gore No gore aeF, he