The San Francisco call., 1897-10-25
RAZORS FLEW
AND Blood RAN
1t Was No Fight, Only
a Shaving Contest Be-
tween BARRIERS.
The Chin-Scrapers Had a Merry
Time at Their Second
Annual Picnic.
They Thronged Harbor View All
Afternoon and Evening, and There
Was Lots of Fun.

There is nothing small about the bar
bers. When they start in to enjoy them
selves they only ask for plenty of room
and unstinted time. They had both at
Harbor View yesterday. tGrand mid
day, moonlight and midnight picnic, -
said the posters. Business engagements
prevented them from including the re-
mainder of the twenty-lour hours.
About all the big and little shavers in
town were present, and there were ladies
enough 10 go around, with perhaps two or
three extras. H. A. Wolfe, who was
sort OF Pooh Bah for one night only, and
seemed TO be running the gate and every
thing inside OF il, was not satisfied. Not
half here that l expected" he grum bled.
If both halves OF his expectations had
been realized the pavilion would have re-
duired imitation.
There was dancing, of course. That
was mainly what they were there for.
There was no quick shave music. The
ladies rested their heads fondIy upon the
left lapel OF the razor-rushers and while a
very brassy brass band blew out with
grand solemnity such airs as Rosy
O'Grady" and Johnnie Took the One l
Wanted" they trod in stately, If ecceh-
trio, procession about the polished
floor. Only one or TWO inadvertently
shouted Next as the music ceased and
they were frowned down with becoming
severity. 1t is not well to talk shop at a
picnic.
During the early part of the afternoon
there was an air OF suppressed excitement,
mngling Familiarity with the "Rosie
OGrady' and Hot Time" airs. 1t had
been boldly announced that razors would
be flying, not with hostile intent. but in
friendly competition between knights of
the striped pole. There were men there
who could ''do business" with refractory
beard in less time than it would t. ke the
wearer thereof to look At the CLOCK. These
meI, il was believed, would do funny
things to all existing records, and each
lady fair cherished a nope that it might
be the wearer OF her token who cleaned
the glorious victory, TO say nothin of the
S..
1t was nearly o'clock when Mr. Wolfe
caused the cornet-player to sound a chal-
lenge and the announcement was made
that after the next dance the great shaving
contest would take place. 1t was about
two minutes later when Floor Manager
Brandmen made the same announcement
with the same little speech. 1t is little
difficult to make ones self heard in room
full OF BARRIERS. Some funny things have
been said about their conversational
powers.
The dance preceding the contest was q
long one. 1t started in as lancers, then
broke into a schottische, strolied about in
waltz measure, and promised to do a lot
of other OLD things, when the leader, who
is not a barber, ran out OF WIND and
brought the light fantastic up with a jerk.
Three regulation barber chairs had
been provid ed in anticipation of rush,
and il WAS supposed the affair was to be
run off N heats.
Come up here, you barbers," shouted
Wolfe.
And the BARRIERS came not at sll.
In front of the barber chairs, which
were on the stage. were many upturned
faces. Tonsoriaiists who had spent half
day honing up their weapons tried to look
as though they were not painfully aware
of the weight of the raZors in their inside
pockets. Stage fright had taken possess
sion of the barDer. and their feet were
eaden. The stage manager pleaded and
coaxed until il looked as If the con est
would be called off Tnen Frank Bartlett
clam bered up OH the stage. pulled off his
coat and took position behind chair.
Z. Salvador. whose following among the
Spanish BARRIERS Is great, followed and the
contest was assured.
In answer 10 a call for volunteer SUBJ
iects big mau with a fuzzy, blonde beard
hurried o the front. at don't cost
nodings," he whispered TO friend as he
took his place. Then there was another
snag encountered. The big blonde was
apparently the only unshorn man in the
crowd who was brave enough to face
man lighting With razor for glory while
his best girl viewed the fray. AT last O.
Sine was persuaded to take the chair.
SINE did not have much of growth of
whiskers, but he made up for it in acreage
and the judges decided it would take as
long to travel over his broad countenance
lightly as it would to wrestIe with tne
jo-j OF the other man. Slime was ac-
cepted.
In spite OF The judges decision it was
considered by the contestants that there
was some choice in the subjects, and
to-s.up was had. Bartlett won and tri-
mphanl ly picked SINE.
He's got me and he is glad of it."
shouted Sine.
81 won't DO anything to you said Bart