Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-14

IN the pubic parks and lining the streets
ara avenues or Washington is the greatest
arboreal collection in the world, probably.
and If all the various species were desie
nated as the trees are here in the CAPITOL
Park 1t would prove not only interesting.
but instructive to thousands upon thou
sands of people.
An Antfseptic TOnsOrtaIist.
Walking out Of the park the other day to
Sd street, which is it's western boundary T
espied a sign en- the window of a sho,
reading "Antiseptic Tonsoralist. Nv risi-
blsties were tickled, and needing shave
l concluded to patronize the place. En-
tering. l found myself in neat clean
room, containing two barber chairs, end
the equipments usual to such a business
There was fresh bals6mic odor in the
air. mulatto, with an unusually inteIIi
gent face. square, determined Jaw. pleasant
mouth and strong black eyes, arose from
a seat as 1 entered.
rs this the carbolical hirsute-removing
establishment? inquired. The man
smiled YEARLY.
Yes, SIR" he replied, turning on the
warm water at a stationary Washstand
and proceeding to wash his hands, Take
a chair. SIR
II see" he remarked politely, as he dried
his fingers, that you are like many other
gentlemen. who regard my window sign
humorOusly.''
l was struck with the mans tone and
language. l had just been reading about
the movement in France in favor Of com
peling reform in the management of bar
Der shops, and had seen a recent item
about the beginning of such a movement
In Baltimore. l Strengthened up in the
chair.
Does that sign mean what it says?"
inquired.
Precisely" was the reply. This is a
practical antiseptic barber shop"
Tell me all about it. and give me an OBJ
ject lesson" 1 said, lying back to be lath-
cred.
The proprietor took a small piece of shaw
ing soap.
"You see sir" he said 81 place this soap
In an absolutely clean cup. 1 use differ
ent piece for each customer. l take nv
brush, you see. from a steriizing drawer"
Here he pulled open a small drawer in 4
square tin box about two and a half feet
each way, with a series of gas jets under
meath it. The brush was hot and as dry
as finder. II keep my towels in this larger
compartment. When they come from the
| wash they are placed in there and left all
night at temperature Of 800 degrees. That
sterilizes them completely, as you are
aware that germ life cannot exist at that
temperature"
The Appliances In Use.
The man was getting very interesting. /
got up out of the chair.
Before you shave me-" 1 said, "show me
all your outfit. Then you can talk while
you work"
The oven-like tin box was composed of
the large compartment containing the tow
els, and on the side was series of draw
ers Three of them contained shaving
brushes; three others contained combs and
brushes, the former of aluminium and the
| backs Of the latter Of the same material
The bristles were astelean as the shining
backs.
II use all the shaving brushes and the sets
of combs and brushes in rotation" he said
I'm this" he remarked, calling attention
to a round copper boiler with a half cover
containing 'interstices, II clean my shaw
ing brushes and my razors. Now this razor
blade looks perfectly clean. I put a razor
in the boiling water minute and then
wipe 1t on a piece Of channels skim" i.
He did this and held up the skin
"You see, the skin has black streaks on
it. You can't make a razor too clean to
put 1t on a customers face"
The razor had an aluminium handle as
had all the others in the shop.
81 thought out all this thing myself" he
said, when got back in the chair 81 was
disguised with the dirt in the barber bus
mess. I was in 1t and knew what it was
worked in shops where the same rlat}ler
was used on every customer that took the
chair, and the same sponge was used on
every mans face. You know how it is to-
\ day If you travel around much. A razor