The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-13
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 as well confess that it was an accident pure and simple.
 i I had been out of town. and coming | in on the train, before I reached the office, made up my mind to step into a barber shop and get shave Now, rarely do this, as prefer to manipu- late my own razor, as I have found it saves me much time.
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 l For years I was at the mercy of the barbers, for there is one thing which I admit I cannot do and that is to hone razor; but having gone this far, I might just as we'll own up to the humiliating fact that cannot even strop one without ruining it's feather edge. I have always greatly admired a friend of mine who has made a fine art of it.
 have refused to contribute to the building of some monuments erected to public men, but if anyone ever starts fund for such purpose for a certain MT Gillette, to whom I believe belongs the honor of first having invented a safety razor. I will be delighted to do- nate small sum as an appreciation as kindly to him as did the late Mark Twain.
 1 But after having said this much, for fear that some one may think that I am advertising his brand, use another sort, the, make where the stroke is not of the lawn mower variety, but is oper- lated by the same movement used in shaving with the old-fashioned kind If I could keep razor in order I would not use any new-fangled make I hope this will appease some of my barber friends. for when I get into a chair for a haircut and they ask me- after removing my thinning locks, if I wish a shave, I always answer that I prefer to do 1t for myself, as have reliable safety a remark which never fails to elicit grunt of disapproval. and the statement Doc. you don't mean shave, but scrape."f Millions, of safeties have been sold but it does not seem to have cut down the number of barber shops, for they multiply about as fast as shoe stores and bakeries and this means that, so far as Birming gham is concerned, there is no dearth of places for the man in need of a tonsorial artist. There is one in nearly every downtown block. They are to be found on the ground floor, in the basements, in skyscrapers and in some of the clothing stores.
 
 They range in size from a couple to a score or more of chairs Some are meagerly fitted up, while others are luxuriously furnished. There are bar bers who dress for their work. White is the costume de rigeur for the bon ton variety. It is really an interesting thing to see how such simple trade has developed into a profession, for the lup-to-date barber. while no longer prac- ticing surgery on the side has to know many things to do besides cutting hair and shaving.
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 I remember the first time I ever got my hair cut in barber shop. It was like fairy land to nae. and there was a sense of awe which came over me as I took my seat in one of the chairs. I did not feel perfectly safe when they put an apron around my neck and got out long pair of shears and began to operate on me. I am sure if in those days there had been any such things as clippers that would have let out a yell.
 When was growing up boys did not patronize barber shops, as the father or mother or one of the servants at- tended to the trimming of the children S hair; but in these days the lad who has to have his hair cut at home feels that he has submitted to an indignity; and even the little lassies who have their hair bobbed prefer to have it done by barber. This is why some shops make an appeal for children's trade, and why some of the merchants establish shops in their stores
 
 Some of the more pretentious estab- lishments have manicurists, chirop- odists and other specialists to take care of their more fastidious patrons I re- member the time when a man when he went into shop either got a shave. a shampoo, or hair cut These three things and nothing more. The shave ! was dime, the hair cut and the sham poo twenty five cents each; but my what change has come over the busi- ness, for now this trinity of staples have been swamped in many extras.
 I can sympathize with the old conn try preacher who attended the Southern Baptist Convention at Jacksonville strolled into a showy barber palace and innocently took his seat in a chai, and called for haircut It came out later that the barber was a foreigner and spoke English most imperfectly. He . cut the preachers hair. gave him a shampoo, rubbed in a tonic, trimmed his beard, massaged his face after shaving , him. and doing lot of other uncalled for things
 The old man got out and handed hin a quarter The barber nearly died o ! heart failure, and with a rush O. strange words and wild gesticulation. demanded s1.75, But it never feazes
 the kindly old minister. who stated tt the crowd which had gathered, q camt Q in here and asked this man for a hair . cut, and for more than a half-hou
 have been trying to get out of his chair f hut e keu+ pTShi n ho -7 5o;-<