The morning times., 1895-11-10
SHAVED BY 1 CHINAMAA
Peculiar Methods Employed in a
Bon-TOn Celestial Barber Shop.
PRETTY TOUGH ON OUTSIDERS
Moy Cheong Is the Barber, and He
HowIs Next" Like the American
TonsoriaI Artist-He Nevef Gives
Change-His Profession Considered
the Highest In Chinatown.

There is nothing more remote from the
American idea or Oriental luxury than
the operation of shaving, as it is performed
by Chinese barber.
The Celestial Empire may be able to give
Uncle Sans people pointers, rich and racy,
as to how tea should be made aud shirts
laundered, but when it comes TO tonsorial
tips we must look elsewhere.
One of the most Interesting and curious
places in Chinatown as that part OF the
city in the neighborhood OF the Botanical
Gardens, inhabited largely by Celestials.
is called is the Chinese barber shop. open
from Saturday night until Monday morning.
IL is in the same building with the joss
house, the restaurant and Quong Sang
Lungs supply store, and the laundry men
and tea merchants, who, daring the week,
shave at any barber shop, flock there once
a week to get their faces shaved and their
heads touched up.
Moy Cheoug is the barber and is one of the
wealthiest members of the Chinese COM
munty. He is looked upon by the laundry
men as man of great sagacity, and with
two or three other prosperous Cinnamon
is really the head OF the colony. His bust
ness Is regarded as one OF the highest
professions OF the country, and IL is thought
to be quite an honor to be able to
afford a shave in his place.
a Chinese friend his desire TO be shaved
by Mr.. Moy Cheong. the celestial replied
In more or less distressed English that
the gentleman wouldn't shave white peo-
pie for any consideration. He finally
promised, however, TO take the reporter
TO the shop some time and let him see how
the favored followers OF Confucius got
their face scraped. Accordingly, after
a delay OF several weeks the matter was
no 10 inrrnhnpAd
to the yellow skined assemblage Just as
veteran of the ironing board was being put
through.
THE BARBER SHOP.
The room is ON the first floor OF the
building i'll the back part, and is devoid
of anything like the ordinary furniture
OF a barber shop. One " OGDEN table, on
which the raZors are laid, three or four
wooden chairs and some tea boxes com
prise the only furniture i'll the room. There
are no mirrors, ana the only " alladornments
are the usual flaring pictures OF Joss and
some posters printed in Chinese.
Several Chinese were sitting around the
room smoking long, bamboo pipes, and
eating Hige f. Gun, peculiar rruit i'm
ported from China. Most of them were
waiting to get shaved, and their converse
tion sounded like a tariff discussion,
between a hyena and a buzzsaw. lDquir-
ing as TO the well-being of their "Laki,"
Chinese for sweetheart, would bring
broad smile 10 their faces, but at the sug-
gestion that the Laki might be .'Hockwee,'
celestial synonym for black, the smile
would deepen into frown and the offended
Mongolian would turn away.
The working costume OF Mr.. Moy Cheong
consists mostly OF an undershirt and
pair of pajamas. pair of felt slippers
were on the table, but the wielder OF the
Misunderstanding instrument with which he
sorapes the face evidently preferred to work
in his bare feet. After polishing off the
shirt wringer in the chair, Mr.. Cheong sur
prised the reporter by telling him that he
was next" After taking look at the
array of peculiar knives lying on the table,
the seeker after knowledge of peculiar Gus
toms demurred a trifle, but finding that
the artist didn't understand his hesitancy,
he resig ned himself to his fate and Slid into
the chair. The wondering looks on the
faces of the group changed to grins of
amusement and the barber himself gave
one the impression that he anticipated some
hilarity.
CHINESE SKIN is TOUGHER.
1t might be well to state that the skin of
the average Chinese differs materially
from the cuticle of a Christian. 1t is
tough and smooth, and there are no pim-
pies or eruptions on it through which
raw-edged instrument of torture can glide.
The barber didn't take this into considera-
ton He didn't ask if the razor hurt;
didn't say the hair needed shampooing, and
didn't suggest hair oil. All he used was
water. Even lsther doesn't figure in the
layout of Chinese barber shop.
After dipping his hand in a bowl OF
water and wetting the reporters face,
neck, and ears, he selected keen-bladed
instrument resembling an oyster knife and
began operations. The old fellow was in
a talkative humor, and In his knock-kneed
English he volunteered Information and
answered questions. Every once IN
while he would change razors, having
different knife for each portion of the
face.
II bling desc knives flom China" said
Moy, as he scraped away at the reporters
Hnarting face. "Cey no make 'em In dis
county,
"Did you shave people In China, Moy?"