IN A BARBER'S SHOP.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3246, 25 November 1881, Page 4

IN A BARBER'S SHOP.

Whether in town or country, the conventional conversation of hairdressers is frequently not of a high order, and I question whether the following anecdote, of which a near relation of my own was the victim, is often equalled in originality. The hairdresser began with probably a well accustomed opening. " A fine head of hair, sir, for a gentleman of your time of life, sir." The gentleman, who'was not in the habit of talking much on such occasions, signified that he heard the remark, but said nothing. The hairdresser proceeded : " Very odd, sir, but I never knew clever men have much hair, sir." Another grunt, but nothing more, whereupon the cruel climax followed. " It's a very singular thing, sir, but I never met with a bald idiot in all the course of my practice !" Why a bald man, idiot or not, should go to a haircutter did not appear, but this by the way. Whether the series of remarks were meant as a punishment for'the non-application of the compliment conveyed in the first was never known. I was once myself completely deceived by what I can imagine to be a common joke in the trade, but for which I was not prepared at the moment. I asked whether " the principal," who usually " waited upon me," was disengaged. The assistant replied, in, as I thought, a very serious tone, " He'a upstairs, sir; he's dying, sir." " Dear me," I replied, " I am very sorry to hear it. Has he been ill long ? " " He's dying a gentleman's hair, sir ; he will be at liberty in a few minutes," was the reassuring answer. Though I was of course glad that my ■worst fears had not been realised, I was still conscious of having been unwarily sympathetic.—Leisure Hour.