The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-02-21
TALKATIVE BARRIERS
THEY ARE VALUABLE BECAUSE GUS
TONERS DEMAND 1T.

According to One of the Much Abus-
ed Profession. 1t Is the Knight Of
the Razor, Not the Victim os II. Who
In bored by the Flow of Words.
The little barber was inclined to be
uncommunicatiye and confined his at
tention strictly to shaving his custom
er. This rather unusual mood bothered
the customer, and after several inef-
fectual attempts to engage the little
barber in conversation he asked:
why don't you say something more
than yes and no" Usually you are
perfectly willing to talk and especially
SO when the man you are shaving
wishes to be let alone"
That's right" retorted the little bar
Der as he made vicious dab with his
lnther brush and managed to insert the
tip Of II in his victims mouth. That's
right. OF course we BARRIERS always
want to talk-not. It's just you people
that come In here expecting to be en-
tcrtaIned while you lie back in the
chair that cause BARRIERS &c keep up Il
conversation while they are shaving
you.
Its n funny idea that everybody
seems 10 have that barber is Il sort
Of encyclopedia. anxious to furnish in
formation OH every conceivable sub
jcct. The truth Of the matter is that
the barber would rather that there
should be no conversation. 1t takes his
mind or his work. and then. unless be
agrees in every particular with the
man in the chair. the latter Is very apt
to take offense and quit the place.
THAT may seem drawing 1t rather
strong. but 1t Is mild. One day last
week there was a man In this chair
who made about the same remark that
you did just now. and I told him just
about what have said to you. He
wanted to make n bet. and l accommo-
dated him. bet that the great major
ity of men who came In during the day
would begin the conversation. while he
took the opposite view.
1--WE each had piece OF paper. and
after we had noted down % men he
handed me the money and went out
without a word. Out Of that 81 all but
four had started the conversation and
had done their best to prolong it.
"The first man had small package
wrapped up In newspaper in his hand
when he entered. AS was lathering
him he asked. DO you know what is In
that package?'
II hastened to assure him that was
no mahatma and was willing to let IL
go ut that
"'Well. I'll tell you he said. It's
couple Of pieces Of gaspipe that have
been subject to electrolySIs and are Gu
riously worn
"And with that he started to talk
about the thing and tell what great
scheme he had to prevent electrolysis
and what fortune he would realize
from 1t. He was still talking about 1t
when the boy helped him on with his
coat. and then he talked to n man sit
ting in one of the chairs and waiting
for his turn until the man went over to
the stand in the corner and had his
shoes shined to escape from him.
Next came man who knew all
about prlZefighting. | had to listen tc
the history of every fighter Of the past
25 years. And it was only when man
in the next chair turned and called h!E.,
down for slipping up OH date that lie
stopped talking. AT that he waited un-
til the man who had called him down
left the shop and then Informed me
that he could prove what he said.
"Then there was one Of these real
wise guys came in and wanted a sham
poo. He was pretty near the limit.
There wasn't single subject thnt he
wasn't. thoroughly informed on-in his
own estimation. And he wanted ev-
erybody in the place to know what he
knew. He could give you more misIn-
formation in less time than anybody
ever met before. One Of my regular
peared good natured smiled ut him.
Who told you about itY he asked
when he saw me smile.
"'About what? says l.
Why. my little adventure with that
toupet you picked out for me- he an
swered. and then lie went on and told
me all about 1t.
1T kept up that way al morning
religion. politics. sport. business and
everything you could think of. And
had to appear interested In each SUBJ
5ect- Out Of ali the men who came IN
no two talked on the same subject. All
but four began the conversation. Half
OF them went out dissatisfied because
had dared to disagree with their
views. and the other half probably set
me down rs n fool. And yet you say
that the barber always wants to talk.
Come in here some day and Sit Tor
awhile and then wonder why don't
care to do rapid fire conversation
turn with every man that sits In the
chair.
Pay ut the desk. Thank you, sir.
York Sun.