The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-05
HIS HAT NOT IN The WAY.
20 Isarbsr Esd no Dtftiouity In Trim
naipg the nair Under IL.

pressed and the blood moved slug
g1shly, that large, heavy man past
middle age entered the atelier of the
learned barber and threw himself
heavily into his chair. To the bar
ber's polite and CHEEKY salutation he
nodded q sleepy acknowledgment,
but said nothing. 1t was evident
that he was tired and absentminded,
for he thrust his arms into the
sleeves of monsieur's apron without
removing his coat and leaned back
In expectation of receiving the bar
ber's ministrations, regardless Of the
fact that his hat remained firmly
fixed upon his head. The learned
barber regarded him with amuse-
ment for a moment, but said moth
ing. Taking his shears, he began to
trim the mans hair. The latter re-
manned unaware of his hat until no
leaned his head back against the
chair, when it was pushed over his
eyes.
"The devilr' he exclaimed then.
"I must be getting weakminded.
Why didn't you call attention to my
hat, monsieur?"
AS he spoke he removed it, reveal
ing a pate innocent of hirsute adorn-
ment except tho fringe On which the
barber had been operating.
Pardon me, monsieur" said the
learned barber politely, "but your
concern is unnecessary. There is
really no need of removing your hat.
If you will take my advice, you will
replace it on your head. You are
heated from your exercise, and to
sit bareheaded in this cool room is
reckless. Keep on your hat, / beg,
and avoid a cold"
But" exclaimed the fat man,
show in thunder can you cut my
hair under my hatp"
"Oh," said the barber, "that is
very simple, monsieur. have done
it thousand times"
The fat man still looked incredu-
lous, but said nothing and replaced
his hat on his head. Then he settled
himself comfortably again, and mon-
sieur continued his work. Itrequired
moro STOPPING and greater care than
usual, but he appeared to find no
difficulty in performing the opera
ton, and when he had finished tho
result recommended itself to his pa
tron.
This is wonderful and highly
agreeable" he said. Heretofore /
have almost invariably caught cold
in the barber's chair, and I have
come to dread having my hair cut.
Hereafter / will know what to do" !"
When the learned barber related
this experience TO the Harlem doc
tor on the next visit of that gentle
man, the doctor said:
Il should have liked to witness
your performance. 1t must have
been odd"
1T WAS not so extraordinary, ="
said the learned barber. II used to
do it often in Paris, and there was
one distinguished member of the
Paris Jockey club who used to say
that he thanked heaven that he had
bald head, so that he might witness
the cunning of my hand in trimming
the remnants of his hair when he
had his hat on. Nevertheless must
admit that / do not like to do it. /
would not object if it were not that
the average baldheaded man is pain
fully aware of his infrnity and ex-
tremely sensitive about any refer
ence to IL. i never venture TO refer
to the subject in the presence of the
unfortunate. At the same time the
baldhceded man is in constant fear
Of drafts and is in misery when he
Is near an open window. Yet 1t is
necessary TO have air, and cannot
allow my other patrons TO suffer
from a close and overhestei atmos-
| phere because one is unfortunate
enough to have lost his hair.
must say, however, that never
feel quite comfortable about taking
the full price from a baldheaded
man, because necessarily tho effort
expended on his head is much loss
than that required on the normal. 1t
was only my fear of wounding this
genSlcman's feelings that restrained
me from returning half tho fee he
gave mo. But know hc would have
been hurt by the mere suggestion
1t would have been like referring to
the hunchback hump. Poor fellow,
he can't help it. IL is cad enough
that nature should have been Sc
cruel TO him. Really, monsieur, ]
could almost weep with pity when
ever I see bald head. 1t makes mt
feel bad here"
And tho learned barber placed his