The Detroit times., 1911-08-30
HAS YELLED 'NEXT!'
y $4,000 Times
Venerable Barber Has Shaved Many
Fotables in His Long Career as
Shaver and Clipper.

az PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30.-Within
"a Jew weeks. Thomas NJ. M, Leonard
I'M oldest barber in Philadelphia,
! VII observe the hfty-nrst anniversary
softhe day when he began to scrape
pchns and yell Next"
lie has shaved John l.. Sullivan and
fofmer Governor Pennypacker. And
ING" after fifty-one years or experience
apd Judgment, Leonard says he would
r9her shave prizehghters than politi-
clans.
& He is II years old, and Is still shaw
Ing In South Penn Square shop.
When bearded oficeholders from the
city hall break away from the usual
barber chair conversation about the
great men he has scraped, and the
changes In the style OF goatees since
he FIRST stropped razor before the
war.
Merit" he yells, just as he has
done $4,000 times. according TO MS
estimate, In the last half century
Nice sunburn you've got there.
Down to Atlantic Cityi Fishing?
Is "Oh, yes. I've been In the chin-pol-
fishing business for fifty-one years.
started when I was 20 years old, and
except for three months In a Trenton
shop. I've always worked I'm Phiiadel-
phia.
shaved Many Notsbies.
srve shaved governors, senator's,
judges and congressman. I've shaved
Gov. Stewart, Gov. Pennypacker, Sen
ator Bayard, Congressman Bingham,
naa Uf
al Anthony Drexel and many other
notables.
II shaved Judge Kinsey when his
honor was . young law student. Col.
William b. Mann. former district-at-
torney, sat In my chair and always
kept everybody laughing.
Senator Cameron, the secretary OF
war under Lincoln, used to come into
my shop, and holy Mosesl but he was
hard TO shave. He had beard and
he wanted Il all on. remember how
he used TO tramp into the shop. with
long cane that he grabbed by the
middle and pounded on the floor. He
wanted everything just right
"One night John l. Sullivan came
over from New York 10 see sparring
match at the old Miller Garden. on
rine-st. After the fight he and his
:. siends had q party, and John l. didn't
ut up very early the next morning.
, onward noon he came In to get shaw
a. He lay just as quiet In the chair
md never asked question nor an
. wered one. either.
I I've also shaved Philadelphia Jack
.tBrien. Prize fighters are easier to
shave than politicians. They are more
free and easy"
eonard gave his razor a few back
ward fiips across the horsehide strop.
Yes, styles have changed In fifty
fears. There used to be more chin
!, shiskers and goatees. Then there
es a time when side whiskers were
, e real thing. Then. twenty years
{ go. every man who could do II start
? ! Van Dyke. You don't see many
J n these any more.
< and haircutting! They used to
ave a style Of curling the hair under
8 round the edge The volunteer fire.
. en- used to sport big spitcurl over
tch ear, rowdy style"
~ FIremen Ran All Lathered.
Z Here Leonard stopped to take big
ugh.
That reminds me OF one OF the
! olunteer fremen had In my chair
nee. He was George Magee, son OF |
prmer Sheriff Magee. and he was al
iember of the Empire Truck. He was |
Z tretched out In the old gooseneck |
hair, and had his face plastered
nth lather.
Suddenly. 'clang. clang." the fire.
ell rang. George jumped out Of that
hair and out the door, without even |
, ,rabbing for towel"
But say. Uncle Tom" interrupted |
man In the waiting row, you never |
old US what a gooseneck chair is"
I'm just coming to that" replied |
leonard. Styles In barber shops |
ave also changed. The gooseneck
1hair was an old straight-back chair |
nat just tipped. The razors were as
zrge as battle axes; two OF them |
ysould weigh quarter of pound.
The hours, too, have changed. i
hat would the unions think now of |
, Is1p that was opened from o'clock |
IL morning TO 10 o'clock at night, |
ga days week, and from to IL on |
sturday? Then Sunday morning we |
shaved from In the morning to noon. !
arbers worked on an average OF 100 |
hours week In those days.
.:oh yes, ! suppose have a good |
memory, I, remember when the watch |
man used TO walk up Chestnutst., yell |
ing2
ZEN o'clock and all's well"
TT 10 Just plain. hard work. too: no
massaging, nor singeing. nor fancy |
stunts"
shaved 10000 chlns.
According to Leonard's estimate. he
has shaved $4,000 chins In his fifty
one years beside the chair. In the
same period he has used the scissors
on $1,000 kinky, red and other heads.
Tonsorial statisucians have calcu-
lated that a bafber averages 600 |