Seward daily gateway., 1925-03-28

of ublects-Like a Reporter.
 BELLINGHAM, Wn., Mar 27.- Women are vain about their person al appearance, but men are more so, local barbers think.
 Although women may have a great CT variety of haircuts available, even with such a handicap they aren't in it with men for being sticklers when tonsure is the consideration.
 With the advent of the bob for womens hair the barber's business is becoming easier along with the increase in remuneration. More yer satility is required in plying the bar ber's trade, but this is just about offset with the improvement in me- chanical equipment, which operates electrically in most possible cases.
 Stands for Lot.
 One wag has put it that a striped pole may stand for a barber, but a barber has to stand for a lot. He meant that the barber's versatility must go farther than simply snip ping hair with scissors and razor. He must know how to pacify the customer who insists to being shaved only with a white-handled razor; another man insists on con- versation; still another who doesn't care to talk. Ability to properly accommodate a tempeTamental GUS toner brings the patron, with per haps a friend, back to the shop.
 According to the proprietor of one of Bellingham's largest shops, has better barbers than most of the coast cities With few exceptions, local barbers are married and own homes in the city. Barbers salaries in the city range from $32 to $50 week.
 Study Human Nature.
 Local barbers say they have num- erous chances 10 study nature. Men and women invariably act Queerly when they're in the shop. Each seems to have his or her opinion concerning the way this or that should be done. Some customers will wait for service at chairs To- cated in the front of the shop think ing, perhaps, that the better barbers are assigned to those chairs. This is, in the opinion of barbers, the public's commonist misconception. Barbers, because of the public's weakness for front chairs, are as signed to chairs by seniority process, and not necessarily because of ability \ veteran barber should he come to the city and secure employment, would be assigned to the last chair.
 On the other hand, there are some patrons who believe the best barbers are assigned to the chairs in the rear of the shop. Other patrons think that the best hair cutters are back of the rear chairs, while the peter razor wielders pre- side over the thrones in front Of the shop.
 Salemanship, while not generally recognized as a barbers asset, IS his fort He must be able, when he knows a patron is insisting on the wrong kind of a haircut (be the patron man or woman), to talk the customer into having a hair cut that will properly "set off the face. Customers with queer-shaped heads and faces insist on certain kinds of haircuts because so-and- so has one and it's looks dandy. T want one like it." It is then that the barber must tactfully try to ~sell" the customer the right kind of a cut.
 Must Not Talk First.
 Tp-to-date barbers have to know their business. They must not only ply a dexterous look, but must Know their stuff" when it comes to sani- tative measures. The trade Is hampered little by laws. Most ot them applying to sanitation. To days barber is instructed by his boss never to start a conversation And like the hotel keepers slogan "The customer is always right" A barber may never express his real opinion unless asked for it by the customer. He must also watch his diet. An offensive breath means 2 lost patron or patrons. He mus read lot to be able to converse intelligently with customers. He is a veritable information bureau fol the transient customer. Commercial travellers use the barbers to secure information pertinent to their busi ness. The barber talks to people