It wasn't all news of doom and gloom 150 years ago:
It seems that BARNUM, a few days ago, was in a great hurry to be shaved, and entered his ordinary place of tonsorial resort under the Park Hotel; but all the operatives were engaged, and one other customer -- a great brawny Irishman, just landed, and with a beard and head requiring very extensive attention -- stood between the exhibitor of the "What-is-it?" and his turn as "next." "I am in a hurry, my good man!" said PHINEAS T., addressing Pat; "and if you give me your "turn I will pay for what you want done here." "All right," responded the delighted Irishman; and the showman was soon shaved and on his way to keep his engagement, merely saying as he left the door to the proprietor of the saloon, "Do what this man wants," pointing to the exile of Erin, "and charge it to me." No sooner was he gone than PATRICK took off his "trusty," and a thick cotton neck-tie, at the same time asking the barber, "Now tell me all you do?" "Why, Sir," responded the tonsorial operative, "we shave, cut and curl hair, shampoo and bathe." "All right, then," said PAT; "Do all them things to me. Sorra wan of me knows what they mane, but as he said he'd pay for them, just do them all, an' God bless you!" The barber saw the joke and did as requested, putting the big Irishman through all the processes, and bringing him out so pleasantly altered that he scarely knew himself. We leave our readers to imagine 'BARNUM's face next morning, when the proprietor of the saloon handed him a bill -- " For shaving irishman 10 cents, cutting his hair 25 cents, curling it 25 cents, shampooing it 25 cents, and bathing Irishman 25 cents -- total for Irish man $1 10."
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