The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-30
AN INSIDE BARBARIAN.

He thought he recognized me the mo-
ment | entered the door, but l refused
to encourage him in that belief. 1t was
a strange town to me; all the people
were strangers. and l was so far from
home that I doubted if man, woman or
child in that locality had ever seen me
before.
The barber smiled tenderly as he
pointed TO the chair, and then led right
off as familiarly as if he had shaved me
every day for a month past. While mix
Ding lather he remarked on the weather
the crops. the panic, and other matters;
and although l did not pretend to hear
him, he was not to be beaten.
II hope you will do well here" he
said as he pushed my head over and
daubed the lather on the right cheek
commencing at the butt of the ear.
Silence on my part.
"This town needs another dry goods
sto. e" he continued, after a moment
"and l shouldn't wonder if you just
coin money"
Long silence.
Perhaps Ii was the silence which con-
WINGED the barber that he had made a
uIll}ssLhe, Dul nc WAS uUl ulSCOut GEeu
AS he lathered the left cheek he sud
denly said
There are three or four lawyers
r. now, but as Christopher Colum.
bus said, There's room at the top ri
the heap and think you'll be full OF
business all OF the time"
lie was looking right down into my
fac, and through the foam of latheI
he might have detected a faint smile,
a frown, or some other expression
which hurt his conceit. He instantly
suspected that he had made another
mistake. | was looking into the glas:
ON the wall and saw his countenanct
change Some BARRIERS would not
have pursued the subject further, but
he was the only barber in the village.
and he thought he had certain rights
which | was bound to respect. He
might have reasoned that was mulisf
and obstinate, and need coaxtng and
fattering, or perhaps he theorized thai
was timid and hesitating, and wanted
encouraging. At any rate he soon at
tackled me again, saying:
This is nice village, but l never
saw so much sickness in my life as we
have had this year. Our doctors don't
seem to know enough to manage the
diseases, and I'm glad you're going to
open an office. l am pretty healthy
as a general thing, but If l get sick
I'll give you my custom in preference
to any one else."
Still watching the glass, saw a self.
satisfied smile ripple across his face
For about half a minute he was dead
sure in his own mind that he hat
boxed me up. Then a shade of suspic-
ion crossed his face. Silence some-
times gives consent, but in this case,
arter scrutinizing my face sharply for
an instant he interpreted 1t to mean
that he had blundered again. He was
vexed. | had no right to sit there and
treat his round-the-corner queries witt
such contemptuous silence. He would
pay me for such conduct l saw the
spirit of resolve creep into his face,
as he said:
Il was saying the other day that this
town was able to support another
blacksmith shop Old Jones is good
hearted, but he knows no more abou,
shoeing horse than coon does about
sailing a canal boat"
His eyes glistened, and he took no
pains to keep down the chuckle of sat-
isfacoon bubbling up into his throat.
He regarded 1t as fine shot-a crushel
and If he hadn't been shaving my
chin at that time he would have beer
unable to suppress laugh.
His rszor crossed the chin, scraped
ur oAd down, and skipped round to the
jugu.ar yeing before the barber's smile
% Ia hnA L.
catch start of surprise or look of
displcasure, or something to guide his
opinion; and as he had been unsuccess
full, he renewed the lather on the left
cheek and sighed drearily. / hoped he
was man Of determination, and trust
ed he would not give up. Fearing that
ne would, | was about to speak, when
ha Un4led blandly, and remarked:
u c1T tell a school teacher the min.
Qt9 RET eyes on him!" 49,.
Lather and silence.
And it's funny, too," ne continued,
"1nat | have shaved every professor il
the Normal School here the very first
morning of bis arrival, and have told
each and every one that he was a pro-
fessor before he had said a word tc
me-"
Silencc and shave.
We'll, | suppose teaching Is q good
paying business" he went on, as he
looked my face over to see If he hat
Skipped a spot, 'and | am willing to
help you all can. | haven't any chill
dren-am not married-but If ever !
get married and have children, III
send them to school to you"
His persistence and fattery deserved
encouragement, bu was determined tc
hold out to the last ditch. He shu,
UP his razor with quick, vexed mo.