Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09

man pOpulaCe' cuStOmarily wear. | thought
when he stuffed it into his pocket that a
barber would have to be either exceedingly
drunken decidedly hypnotiZed-to mistake
, that fiery, awry bit of theatrical property
| for the hair bona fide human poll.
MY barber was not the proprietor of the
shop, but the proprietor's single assistant.
lie was a middle-aged man. with a strong,
| smooth shaven face. griZzled hair, sharp
brown-black eyes, and certain soldierly
way about him-he had served for many
years with an Algerian corps. Neither he
nor the proprietor was busy when we walk
ed in.
Emile l addressed him when we en-
tered, L have been recommending to my
friend your skill with the scissors. I am
| unselfish, and so I shall not claim your at
tenton. NJ. lie propretaire shall attend to
me- while you may verify my Endorsement
| by giving my friend a haircut in your best
manner
"'Oui. msieu said Emile. smiling cor
daily at my student friend. The latter
was sizing up Emile. Suddenly he dropped
something that tinkled unsteady 1t ran
along the tiled floor. He went after it and
picked it up. 1t was small and ancient
! head of the first Ferdinand it's diverse
| side.
by Jove. 1 wouldn't have lost that for
ANYTHING" exclaimed INV friend the STU
| dent picking the little gold coin up and
holding it up before Emile, the barber, be-
tween his right thumb and forefnger.
Emile gazed at the shining coin in a fas-
cinated sort of way. He bent his head
closer to trace Ferdinands somewhat worn
| and vaguely outlined head. My student
slowly drew the coin back. Emile took
step forward. his eyes glued to the coin.
My student had Emile. 1t was easy to see
| that. 1 wouldn't venture to say how it was
done, but he surely had Emile. / nudged
| the proprietor of the shop, who was mys-
titled.
"A little experiment. told him, to de-
| eide a wager between myself and my stu
| dent friend-one of Charcot's lads
He understood and nodded his head.
Emile was still gazing with queer in
tensity at the coin.
50 Look at me- said my student to Emile,
replacing the coin in his pocket. Emile
| transferred his gaze to nv students pierre
| ing eyes, and there was mournful eX-
| preston as of q whipped dog on his coun-
| tenance-an extraordinary change of ex-
preston.
Now, you may face the wall for a mo-
ment.' said my student, pointing to the
wall. Emile wheeled about and faced the
wall. My young Richmond friend thrust
his hand into his coat pocket, drew out the
atrocious wig, and fitted it over his head.
| 1t made him look supremacy ridiculous
| loutish, like yokel in one of Millet's pic
| lures. His black hair bulged below the red
| ton in the glass and then he walked over
| to Emile, who was standing facing the
wall with the rigdity of soldier at atten-
ton, and turned him around.
" Emile he said, tonight l wish to look
my best, for am to attend function of
state. l desire that no one hair shall be
| longer than the other. except in conforma-
| ton to the shape of my head, and l trust
| to your art. Begin
Emile grinned with idiotic conceit.
my best efforts. m sieu shall be yours
he replied, In a. sort of choked voice, and he
| picked out his scissors and proceeded. He
worked with great care. He stood off and
examined my student friends head from
| numerous points of view. After he had
| taken a rear view a mystified expression
stole over his somewhat drawn features.
| He had noticed the black hair protruding
below the red wig.
1.-The two quite different colors, m sieu,'
! he said, in a far-away sort of tone, are
they not
"a little hereditary popularity, Emile
| said my friend in the chair. Proceed
".Ah! exclaimed Emile, with an indrawn
breath and he proceeded He was surely
rendering that barbarous wig presentable.
When he had almost finished, my friend,
taking advantage Of Emile's stepping back
to obtain a side view, turned his head to
me, and asked:
Are You satisfied?
Quite" replied. so thoroughly salts
fed that 1 begin to doubt if you're quite
safe man to know
HE smiled contentedly, and then he
rose from the chair, Emile regarding him
Twill not m'sieu waltz he inquired,
looking hurt
Come Emile exclaimed my friend,
swapping the tranced barber sharply be-
hind the ear. Emile shook his head from
side to side two or three times, his fea-
lures relaxed. the natural CLEAN came into
his eyes and he looked around puzZledly /
explained it all to Emile. He was at first
trifie disposed to anger A bit of abb
sinthe money soothed him and brought
him around I paid my wager, and I have
returned from France a believer in hypno-