The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-22
BEARDED WOMAN
She Gets Close Shave Every Week In a
Quaker City Barber Shop.
Philadelphia TELEGRAPH.

Hnlladelphla Telegraph.
A woman caused a sensation in down.
town barber shop last Thursday afternoon,
the thought of which still makes cold shiv-
ers chase each other up and down the
backs Of the six customers who were
mixed up in it,
Four o'clock had just struck The rest
ful atmosphere Of the shop was disturbed
only by the Snip of scissors, swish Of
sharpening raZors and occasional remarks
by barber who insisted on talking poll
tics to a customer who was stone deaf.
A figure darkened the doorway port
ly, middle-aged woman with severe de-
meanor, pompadour, spectacles and a tulle
boa.
Afternoon, Mrs. shafer," remarked the
head barber.
"How do Mrs. shafer hung her hat
and boa on hook, and sat down among
the walters" with a sigh Of content
CHANGING at the dog cared periodicals on
table she selected an alleged comic
weekly, and was soon solemnly studying
it's contents.
The six waiting customers stared at her
with respectful open mouthed amazement
For five minutes there was dead silence
The walters" dwindled to three men and
Mrs. Shafer. Then the woman non
chalantly cast aside the paper, took of
| her spectacles. removed a complicated
| structure Of lace and ribbons around her
neck and opened the top buttons Of her
shirt waist.
| The waiting customers stared, then,
with a great coughing and shuffling of feet
| seized magazines and newspapers and
pretended to read The Bashful Man
grasped his coat and dived for the door.
You're next!" shouted the barber.
The reply of the Bashful Man was lost in
the hurry of his fight.
"Next''
Madame, you're next!' The saloon
keeper bowed to Mrs. Shafer.
"This mans next" She indicated the
dry goods clerk.
| II prefer to watt - ~
Mrs. Shafer thanked him. seated herself
In the vacant chair, adjusted her back hair
into the notch Of the head rest, and put
her ankles on the foot rest.
Tonsorial art was forgotten as all
watched the operation-the lathering OF
the fair chin, the clean shave of the razor
hte application of the hot towel, witch
hazel and pearl powder.
"Brilliantine," began the barber, alb
sent mindedy. Then he bit his tongue and
was silent.
Il don't want my clothes brushed, -
Mrs. Shafer remarked to the coored boy
as she put on her hat. Boa and spectacles
adjusted, she paid her Is cents and lef
the shop.
whats the matter with you fellows ??
remarked the proprietor "She's been q
steady customer for six months The poor
thing can't help 1t that she has a beard
At first used to shave her once month
then every two weeks Now she has to be
shaved every week. We get dollar fol
every visit to a private house. She
thought this was rather steep, so that now
she comes here. She's not the only wo-
man in town I shave, but the first who
doesn't mind coming into a shop.
1.-The trade will grow too Wher
these athletic, outdoor girls grow old they
will need shaves, I'm afraid Why, out II
Chicago they are getting ready for then
already. Several shops run by worher
have opened up there lately"
Every day now the barber shop ii
crowded with men waiting to see the per.
Torrance with Mrs. Shafer repeated