The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-11
THE BARRIERS MISTAKE.
an'o a Cyclone wAeA Expect
'@s ss Meet OnIy a Geatls
xephyE.

i"ere IL q barber In the north ram
'trai part OF the city who used 20 10
tuii OF gossip about prize fighters ue
could tell you who anyone fought IN
1878 their weights. the number of
ROUNDS and how the Knockout hIow
was landed. In fact, he was some.
thing OF a handy man with the mitts
himself. he admitted under pressure
says the Detroit Free Press. He had
a oacH room that was kept clear. 40
that he could retro with a few friends
once in awhile to give an exhibition
OF the manly art. His chief stock in
trade, when 1t came to an c~ncounYer
vas his reputation and his ability To
Initiate q windmill In motion. How he
got his fame. unless. like many other
nghters, by his ability as a talker. was
a hard thing for the boys TO under
stand, after II was all over. because
X all fighters. Mr.. Barber one day
met more than his match. Z
A minister was In the habit of call
Ing at the shop for a shave. and. al
though the boys usually let up ON the
hight talk when the clergyman was
present. they were sometimes SO inter-
ested and the barber 30 laxative that
inc conversation went along and the
minister got In on the grand wind-up
OF some OF the gossip. He even dipped
In 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 his scrape and was reaching for
his hat. the barber winked to the
other men and casually asked the min
lister II he would like to put on the
gloves for a 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 at "a
a cello. He danced around the ring
TO warm UP q bit. and when the man
with the watch called: "Ready-go.'
the barber was ready with a swing
that would almost take the roof OF .
church. But the church was not there
and the minister was untouched. for
he had ducked. This vas a surprise
for Mr.. Barber. He felt that to sus-
tain his reputation he would have to
put the minister out with one blow, SC
he got ready again for a stinger.
1t was a stinger, all right, and II
landed right on the tip Of the BARRIERS
nose. The minister saw what he was
up against. and he determined to gel
there first. The clergyman took ad.
vantage Of the moment. and while the
barber was yet wondering whether II
was an accident. there came another
blow that closed the shop for nearly
a week. His strong right landed or
the BARRIERS jaw. and for once the
talking machine refused TO work. The
barber lay in a heap in one corner
The minister took of his gloves calm
ly. with the remark that 1t was warm
work. and that the manly art OF self,
defense is n that pays well for al
the little trouble 1t occasions.
In an hour or two they got the bar
Der on his feet and he looked anxious,
ly 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 on
his supply OF weekly sporting papers
and now he talks about ping-pong ant
croquet. The minister. he learned
later. was one OF the best amateurs II
the city. and could make a good liv'
ing in the ring. II he yer left thu
pulpit.