Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-09-22
RARE OLD RELICS
IN A QUEER SHOP.

there Is a barber who Is charac-
ter. He and bis shop are both curiosi-
ties. Not content with making a ca
reer at shaving for over half a century
without stopping, he has gathered to-
gether the most remarkable collection
OF war relics.
Certain persons have had greater col
lectioDs, probably, but they are persons
who have had more advantages than
Ben Youells. Collecting is the luxury
he allows himself. It is his fad, Where
he ever got all these things even he
couldn't tell you. AS soon as you talk
to him you see he has the true spirit
OF the relic wOrshiper, not the money
grabber.
Hundreds Of the curios are packed
away In the dingy little barber shop
down on the river. Curios that o great
museum would tingle to get It's fingers
on. No system IN employed in their ar
rangement. They are just heaped and
slowed away, crammed and jAmmed i'm
10 dark corners and unlabeled shelves.
So easily is fame hidden away under
a busheI measure that few folk in
Eas$oa know Of the wonders Of the bar
her shop collection: fewer still know
that he holds the record Of the United
States for BARRIERS profession. For
over half q century he has piled the
razor and scissors on the heads Of men
entirely great and those entirely small.
The other chief attribute of barber
loquaclty--was vouched for when
.Youells went into the peppermint pole
profession after having served years "a
q sea captUin.
He has outlived AFT bis sea habits, ex-
cept his ability to spin yar9S,
Only two men are living IN Easton
who began careers with him. He haH
shaved Jacob Reeder and william Busch
this half century.
YoueIls doesn't believe In letting bis
name and profession part, Half dozen
sons are BARRIERS, and whether he slip
ulated II or net each Of his daughters
married q barber.
Easton is probably the only town that
has q barbers' trust, but the Youelll
certainty monopoli1e the trade. They
firmly believe that not to be shaved by
a Youell is not TO have been shaved
properly.
That IL one Of his records,
Another Is that he 10 the living he
ginning Of four generations, and when
he chooses he can whistle nearly hall
q hundred children and grandchildren
TO his side. This in itself is careeFi
WhAp invitations went out for a fam
lily dinnAF on the golden wedding -four
years ago ~ direct descendants sal
down TO table.
Death SCENE to have forgotten the
Ycuells. In 81 years OF married lif'
death has only entered the family once
taking grandchild. Nine children ara
living, and each is q grandparent.
Youells iS 40 vigorous as q man Of
so; his rs years he treats as playthingsl
they have never added a feather
weighttO his mind orheart.
SurelySOmewhere among his cOlieel
ton he VIII and Ae has picked up q
charm for everlasting life or droE
from Ponce de Leone spring Of ever
lasting youth. BE may NOT know ii
name, but it must be theret
He hos charmed life. Once steam
err ON the Delaware exploded-people IA
Easton tell you of It yet, Ben YoueliI
was on It, and so terrible was the con
cussion that he was violently pitched
over to the bank Just near his little
shop. The only comment YOnells made
ON the accident was characteristic; III
It had only thrown me little further
he said, "it would have put me in my
chair in front the shop"
Added TO his great record as a barber
ana his charmed life. he - assessor o.
the SECOND ward and collector Of value
and marvellous skill.
Does IL take the climate Of Easton h
grow such mea?
I was looking Tor the dial for thu
state house, and thought Youells nigh
know something Of II. He didn't, bu
he knew 30 much else and had so mucl
else that the dial was forgotten. III
was the man who knew that the oil
tree planted in the Pennsylvania lbs
=. -. =. 49, 4 AaaAnA "A