Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-01-07
THE BARBER'S MISTAKE.
ing TO Meet Only a Gentle
Zephyr.

There is a barber in the north cen
trail part of the city who used to b
full Of gossip about prize fighters. HI
could tell you who anyone fought In
1878. their weights. the number Of
rounds. and how the Knockout blow
was landed. In fact, he was some
thing Of handy man with the mitts
himself. he admitted under pressure,
says the Detroit Free Press He had
a back room that was kept clear, SO
that he could retire with few friends
once in awhile to give an exhibition
of the manly art His chief stock in
trade, when IL came 10 an encounter,
was his reputation and his ability to
initiate windmill in motion. How he
got his fame. unless. like many other
fighters, by his ability as talker, was
hard thing for the boys to under
stand, after II was all over. because,
like all fighters. Mr.. Barber one day
met more than his match
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
fight talk when the clergyman was
present. they were sometimes so inter-
ested 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
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 little more of
him
One day, during the duh 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 If he would like to put on the
gloves for few minutes and get some
idea of how the thing went.
He hesitated little. saying that he
feared he would not be able to make
I even interesting for them. but the
,rowd. seeming fun, Joined in the per-
luasion, and the barber was soon Joy
ully putting on the mitts and the
'rowd took good seats, where they
would not miss any details.
The barber was evidently as At as
cello. He danced around the ring
o warm up bit. and when the man
With the watch called: "Ready-go."
he barber was ready with a swing
hat would almost take the roof off
hurch. But the church was not there,
nd the minister was untouched, for
e had ducked. This was a surprise
or Mr. Barber. He felt that to sus-
ain his reputation he would have to
ut the minister out with one blow. so
e got ready again for a singer.
II was singer, all right. and II G
inded right on the tip Of the BARRIERS
ose. The minister saw what he was
p against, and he determined to get
here first. The clergyman took adj
antage OF the moment. and while the
arber was yet wondering whether II
as an accident there came another
low that closed the shop for nearly
AAAe oAiCAS iAEnA on
lie BARRIERS jaw, and for once the
liking machine refused to work. The
arber lay in a heap in one corner.
be minister took off his gloves calm
:, with the remark that II was warm
ork. and that the manly art of self
,fense is one that pays well for all
e little trouble it occasions.
In an hour or two they got the bar
IT on his feet and he looked anxious
about him. The minister had gone.
Did you see me hit him?" he asked.
you meant we'll" was the reply.
nut he got there first"
Since then the barber has cut of
$ supply of weekly sporting papers.
d now he talks about ping-pong and
oquet The minister, he learned
ter. was one of the best amateurs in
e city. and could make a good liv-
in the ring. if he ever left the
lpit