Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-09
Daily kennebec Journal.
Local Matters.
BARBER CHAIR ACCIDENTS.
Sudden Movements Are Likely TO Result
Seriously at Times.

Did it ever strike you,' asked the
little barber, how easy it would be for
the man that shaves you to kill you!
The man in the chair sat up quickly
and looked carefully at the barber
who was feeling the edge of the razor
with one finger The barber smiled To
reassure his customer, and said:
1t seems a queer question. | Know,
but it is a wonder to me that there are
not a number of people killed in that
way every year. 1t would be the easl-
est thing in the world for the barber
as he welded his razor TO make one
sweep with it and sever the jugular
vein and you would be dead almost on
the instant. Suppose, for instance.
that the barber should go insane.
There would be nothing to prevent him
going such thing, and YOU would
have no warning nor no opportunity IL
save yourself.
There is always a chance of a seri-
Gus accident happening to the man III
the chair have seen number Of
such accidents and have a horror %
even nicking the man | am shaving.
In fact such an occurrence makes me
feel out of sorts for the rest Of the day.
1t was only few days ago that Ialmost
had an accident that gave me a great
fright and completely unnerVed me. !
was shaving a young man, and il
passing from one side " the chair to
the other button Of my waistcoat
caught in his hair. II pulled tritie
and he moved his head suddenly just
a. | went to put the blade 10 his face.
| came within an ace of Slashing him.
ana only a quick jump back saved him.
The perspiration stood out on me as
though it We're a warm day in the
middle Of summer. and | had to call
one of the other men to finish shaving
my customer.
But the worst accident l ever heard
of in barber shop occurred in the
West. one Of the patrons OF the place
was business man whose little eight
year-old daughter was lying at the
point of death. Her father put in most
Of his time at her bedside. one after
noon, while she was asleep he Went in
to get shaved. He was 50 exhausted
through lack of sleep that he fell
asleep Immediately after he had taken
his seat in the chair. He dreamed that
him that his child had died. With u
cry Of alarm he started up just as the
barber laid the razor against his neck.
Into the flesh ii sank. He was not yet
thoroughly awake, and as he imagined
that someone was holding him back
from his child he threw out his hand
to free himself. and his fingers closed
over the blade of the razor So dazed
was he that he could not realize what
had happened. but sat there in the
chair, with the blood streaming from
his throat and fingers. The man who
had done the cutting was the first TO
act. although half crazed. He hurried
for a doctor while we staunched the
flow of blood the best we knew how.
Even as the doctor was at work sew
ing up the wounds a messenger came
in to say that the little girl had died
suddenly in the greatest agony, calling
for her father just before she died. He
was under the influence Of ether at the
time and did not know. but afterward,
when he heard of the circumstances
attending her death he insisted that he
had heard her call as he lay there
asleep in the chair and that il was her
cry that had caused him to make his
sudden movement. For years after the
accident he continued to be shaved in
the same shop where it had occurred.
and it was never mentioned. He car
ried a remiu er Of it for the remainder
Of his life. In addition to the scar on
his throat the fingers of his right hand
We're an drawn up and useless
sudden movements while in the
barber chair are always apt to be at
tended with serious results and | could
I recall dozens Of Instances where it has
/ been only the merest chance that has
| prevented serious if not fatal mishaps.
| Nine times out Of ten. where the per-
son getting shaved receives a nick and
| lays the blame on the barber he should
thank the Wielder of the razor that it
was no worse. The probabilities are
that ii was quick action by the barber
that prevented a bad cut. \ slight
| nick often would have been case for
the doctor or coroner We're i'll not for
the Watchfulness of the barber Here.
yesterday, | happened to draw blood
from young fellows face near his ear
and he made a great fuss about it. I'M
til | showed him that it was only the
sudden withdrawal of the razor which
resulted in the slight nick that pre-
vented him losing Il good part Of his
ear. Then he was grateful and thank
ed me, besides promising 10 he moro