The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-16
PING PONG NOW.
Sporty Barber Turned Over a New
Leaf

Sporty Barber Turned Over a New
Leaf.
There is a barber in the north central
part of the city who used to be full OF
gossip about prize fighters. He could
tell you who anyone fought in 1873,
their weights. the number of rounds and
how the knock -out blow was landed. In
fact. he was something of handy man
with the mitts himself, he admitted UNI
der pressure. He had a back room that
was kept clear. so that he could retire
with few friends once in a while to
give an exhibition of the manly art. His
chief stock in trade. when 1t came to an
encounter. was his reputation and his
ability to initiate a windmill in action
How he got his fame. like many other
fighters, by his ability as a talker. was
a hard thing for the boys to understand
after ii was all over. because. like all
fighters. Mr.. Barber one day met moro
than his match.
A minister was In the habit OF calling
at the shop for shave. and although tho
boys usually let up on the fight talk when
the clergyman was present, they We're
sometimes so interested and the barber so
laxative that the conversation went along
and the minister got IN on the grand
wind-up of some of the gossip. He even
dipped occasionally. while the barber was
putting on the talcum powder. and he
expressed an interest in the art. from
the point OF view OF self defense. that
made the crowd think a little more OF
him.
One day during the dull afternoon. just
after the clergyman had been given MS
scrape and was reaching for his hat. the
barber winked to the other men and caus-
ually asked the minister If he would like
to put on the gloves for few minutes
and get some idea of how the thing went
He hesitated a little, saying that he
feared he would not be able to make
1t even interesting for them. but the
crowd. seeming fun. joined In the per-
suasion and the barber was soon joy
fully putting on the mitts and the crowd
took good seats, where they would not
miss any details.
The barber was evidently as fit as a
cello. He danced around the ring TO
warm UP a bit, and when the man with
the watch called "Ready-go," the barber
was ready with swing that would al
most take the roof off a church. But
the church was not there. and the min
lister was untouched. for he had ducked.
This was a surprise TO Mr.. Barber. lie
felt that to sustain his reputation ne
would have to put the minister out with
one blow. so he got ready again for
singer
II was singer. all right. and it landed
right on the tip OF the BARRIERS nose. The
minister saw what he was up against
and determined to get there first. The
clergyman TODD advantage Of the moment.
and while the barber was yet wondering
whether Il was an accident. there came
another blow that closed the shop for
nearly a week. His strong right landed
on the BARRIERS jaw. and for once Inc the
talking machine refused to work. The
barber lay i'm a heap in one corner. Inc
minister took of his gloves calmly. with
the remark that 1t was warm work ana
that the manly art of self-defense Is one
that paws well for all the little troubles
1t occasions.
In an hour or two they got the barber
on his feet and he looked anxtously about
him. The minister had gone.
Did you see me hit him? he asked
You meant we'll was the reply. but
he got there first
Since then the barber has cut OF his
supply Of weekly sporting papers and
now he talks about ping. pong and cro-
ouet. The minister. ne learned later Is
one of the best amateurs in the city. and
could make a good living in the ring II
he ever left the pulpit.-Detroit Free
Press.