Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-11
TALKATIVE BARRIERS
THEY ARE VALUABLE BECAUSE Gus
TONERS DEMAND IT.

According TO One OF the Much abus-
ed Profession. II Is the knight of
the Razor. Not the Victim of IL. Who
Ia Bored by the Flow of Words.
The little barber was Inclined TO be
uncommunicative and confined his at
tention strictly 10 shaving his custom
or. This rather unusual mood bothered
the customer. and after several inef-
fectual attempts 10 engage the little
barber in conversation be asked:
why don't you say something more
than yes AMI 'noT Usually you are
perfectly willing TO talk and especially
so when the man you are shaving
wishes 20 be let alone"
That's right" retorted the little bar
Der as be made a vicious dab with his
iather brush and managed 10 insert the
tip OF IL In his victims mouth. That's
right or course we BARRIERS always
want 10 talk-not. It's just you people
that come in here expecting 70 be en-
tertained while you lie back in the
chair that cause BARRIERS to keep up
conversation while they are shaving
you.
Its a funny idea that everybody
seems 10 have that a barber is a sort
of encyclopedia. anxious 10 furnish in
formation on every conceivable sub
ject- The truth OF the matter is that
the barber would rather that there
should be no conversation. IL takes bis
MIND on his work. and then. unless be
agrees in every particular with the
man In the chair. the latter is very apt
70 take OfIense and quit the place
That may seem drawing il rather
strong. but ii Is mild. one day last
week there was a uan in this chair
who made about the same remark that
you did just now. and told him just
about what have said TO you. he
wanted TO make a bet. and accommo-
dated him. bet that the great ma jor-
fly OF men who came In during the day
would begin the conversation. while he
took the opposite view.
We each had a piece OF paper. and
after we had noted down % men be
handed me the money and went out
without word. Out OF that % all but
four had started the conversation and
had done their hest TO prolong H.
The first man had q small package
wrapped up in n newspaper in his hand
when be entered. AS ! was lathering
him be as.ed. DO you know what is in
that packaCeT
Il FASTENED 10 assure him that I was
no mahatma and was willing TO let il
20 at that
We'll. I'll tell you he said It's a
couple Of pieces OF gaspipe that have
been subject 10 electrolysis and are Gu
riously worn
And with that be started 70 talk
about the thing and tell what a great
scheme be- had TO prevent electrolysls
and what n fortune he would realize
from IL. He was still talking about il
when the boy helped him on with his
coat. and then be talked 10 a 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 10 escape from him.
Next came a man who knew all
about prizefighting. | had 10 listen 10
the history OF every fighter of the past
% years. And il was only when man
in the next chair turned and called him
down for slipping up on date that he
Ill the man who had called him down
left the shop and then informed me
that be could prove what he said.
Then there was one Of these real
wise guys came in and wanted sham
poo. He was pretty near the limit.
There wasn't a single subject that he
WASN'T thoroughly Informed on-in his
own estimation. And be- 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
customers came In then. and as he ap
peared good natured smiled at him
Who told you about itT he asked
when he saw me smile
About whatT says /.
why. my little adventure with tina
toupet you picked out for me- be- an
swered. and then be went on and tolC
me all about H.
1T kept up that way all morning
religion. politics. sport. business anC
everything you could think Of And
had 10 appear interested In each sub
ject. Out OF all the men who came fl
no two talked on the same subject. Al
but four began the conversation. Hal
OF them went out dissatisfied beca us,
j had dared TO disagree with thei
views. and the other half probab Sc
me down as n fool And yet you saN
that the barber always wants TO talk
Come in here some day and sit TO
awhile and then wonder why | don
care 10 do n rapid fire conversation
turn with every man thai sits in m,
chair.
"'Pay ut the desk. Thank you. sII
Next."-New York Sun.
British Guns Used by the Beers.