St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-03-03

THE MEN WHO TALK.
Cast0mefs. Net Ba rlers. the Cauo>
Of Conversation, says Oae
Of the Latter.

Of COnversation, Says One
Of the Latter.
The little barber was inclined to b
1acomu nnicative and confined his al
tention strictly TO shaving his Gus tom
err TIL rather unusual mood bothere
the Gu ;tomer. and after several incl
fectual attempts to engage the it'll
barber in conversation. he asked:
why don't you say something NOR
than yes and 'no?' Usually you ar
perfectly willing to talk and especial,
so when the man you are Shawn,
wishes TO be let alone.
That's right" retorted the little bar
ber as he made vicious dab with hi
lather brush and managed to insert tn,
tip of it in his victims mouth. That
right. Of course. we BARRIERS alway.
want to talk-not. It's just yon peopl,
that come in here expecting to be en-
tertained while you lie back in tn,
chair that cause BARRIERS to keep up ;
conversation while they are shaving
you. It's funny idea that everybody
seems to have that a barber is a sor,
of an encyclopaedia anxious to fur
nish information on every conceivable
subject. The truth of the matter is tha,
the barber would rather that there
should be no conversation. 1t takes his
mind off his work and then, unless he
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 it rather
strong. but it is mild. One day last
week there was man 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 bet. and / accommodated him.
l bet that great majority of men who
came in during the day would begin
the conversation, while he took the OPP
posite view. We each had a piece of
paper, and after we had noted down
81 men he handed me the money and
went out without a word. Out of that
q all but four had started the con-
versation and had done their best to
prolong it.
"The first man had a small package
wrapped up in newspaper in his hand
when he entered. As l was lathering
him he asked: DO you know what
there is in that package? FASTENED
to assure him that was no mahatma
and was willing to let it go at that.
Well. I'll tell you.' he said. It's .
couple of pieces of gaspipe that have
been subject to electrolysis and are
curiously worm And with that he
started to talk about the thing, and tell
what great scheme he had to prevent
and what a fortune he
would realize from it. He was still
talking about it when the boy helped
him on with his coat and then he talked
to man sitting 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 the man who knew all
about prize-fghting. had to listen to
the history of every prize fighter of
he past 25 years. And it was only
when a man in the next chair turned
md called him down for slipping up
On date that he stopped talking. At
hat. he waited until the man who had
'alied him down left the shop and then
informed me that he could prove what
lie said.
~
wise guys came in and wanted a sham
'oo. He was pretty near the limit. |
There wasn't single subject that he
wasn't thoroughly informed on-in his
'wn estimation. And he wanted ev-
rybody in the place to know what he
lnew. He could give you more misin-
ormation in less time than anybody
ever met before. One of my regular |
ustomers came in then and as he ap-
cared good-natured l smiled at him.
Who told you about it . he asked. when
e saw me smile.
About what" says l.
"'Why, my little adventure with that
oupet you picked out for me- he an
wered, and then he went on and told
le all about it.
1T kept up that way all morning.
eligion. politics, sport. business and
you could think Of. And I
ad to appear interested in each SUBJ
ct. Out of all the men who came
NO two talked on the same subject.
ii but four began the conversation.
alf OF them went out dissatisfied be-
ause l had dared to disagree with
leir views, and the other half probably
t me down as fool. And yet you
" that the barber always wants to
Tx. Come in here some day and sit
n awhile and then wonder why l
mt care to do rapid-fire converse
on turn with every man that sits in
le chair.
" Pay at the desk. Thank you, sir.
ext. Y. Sun.