The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-12-04
NEVER LOOKS IN 4 MIRROR.
II Is IL Years Since This Man Saw His
Reflection.

Did it ever occur 10 YOU when you
have made that easily spoken answer
Il can t. to some proposition that if
you only made up your mind and put
down your foot you could as easily
say II will, and, what more adhere
to the resolution ? If you have never
thought Of this, and you have the
time and inclination to consider what
a man-or woman, either, for that
mattcr-can do when he is determined
it shall be done read this story, says
the New York Htraid.
1t is about man who, wnen he was
II years old, said to friend who had
been bantering him, that he would not
voluntarily look at his reflection in a
mirror for twenty years. Think Of
that lcngth of time 1t was just as
long as Rip Van Winkle slept, and
you know how he changed in that
period Seventeen years Of that num-
Der have come and gone and this man
of strong will says he has kept his
promise, and this, too, in the face of
all manner of devices on the part of
his friends to make him take glimpse
of himself.
This man who does not see himself
as others see him. is well known in
business circles in New York. There
is nothing about him which should
make him refrain from having as much
use Of mirror as any other man.
About 33 years old, Of the average
height and we'll built, his dark face is
an intelligent, attractive one, his mus
tache is we'll trimmed and his hair,
which is somewhat spare at the tenn
ples, is as nicely parted and as care
fully brushed as that of any Of his
fellows. His necktic, too. is tied in
the most approved fashion, and indeed
his whole appearance is that of we'll
croomcd man who spends an hour or
two every morning before his dressing
case. making sure that everything is
inst so before he presents himself to
the gaze Of the public
In the days of his youth he must
have been very handsome boy and
there is little doubt that he took as
much pleasure from his own image in
the glass as any youngstcr. 1t may
be that he was given to gazing at him
self too frequently, for it was from
this pcnchant that this resolution
grew,
He was visiting young lady one
day and she caught him looking into
a mirror every few minutes. She
knew him so well that she felt at
liberty to remark
"Tll wager that you could not keep
your eyes from mirror for an hour.
Perhaps his pride was touched by
the innocent words. At any rate, he
replied
IT can. and not only for one hour,
but for enough of them to make twenty
years.
This was seemingly so prcpostcrous
that the young lady offered to make
wager for anything he pleased, then
and there, and so the bargain was
closed. There are few who know what
arc the terms of the bet and there may
be a nice little romance hidden behind
it all. But that is not the subject of
the story. Enough it is to know that
he says that from that day to this he
has never glanced into a mirror, or, in
fact, at any surface that would cast
his reflection, and those who know
him we'll do not hesitate to say that
this is undoubtedly so.
1T was little inconyenlcnt at first,
| must admit" he said to me the
other day, "for knew my hair WASH t
parted we'll and that my nccktic must
be all askcw But after few days
the awkwardness passed away and you
may easily imagine that at this time
the last thing | ever think Of is look
ing into mirror.
He has been shaved ina barber shop
in an uptown street, off Broadway, for
many years and his peculiarly is
known to all the BARRIERS. He was in
the r.oprictor' chair one day and his
eyes were closed. The man of razors
took a small hand glass, held it close
to his face and suddenly exclaimed:
"Oh, look -
But that was an old game to his
customer. Keeping his cyclids slut,
he turned his face to one side. cau-
tiously opened one eye and then slowly
moved his head until he could see
that the barber held something in his
hand.
Il guess not" he said. a. he put
out his hand and showed the glass
aside. IL have been tried that way
too often in the last seventeen years
to be caught now.
He has gone to the same tailor for
wears and he never looks at himself as
he doncd new suit. His tailor knows
what he wants. is aware that some of
his friends would inform him if his
garments did not fit him as they
should and, in addition to all this,
feels that he is put on his honor to do
the right thing BY Il customer who