IN A BARBER'S SHOP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6261, 10 December 1881, Page 6

IN A BARBER'S SHOP.

[From " Sussex Folk anrl Sussex Ways."] Whether in town or country, the conventional eonversatien of hairdressers is frequently not of a high order, and 1 rmestion whether the following of which a near relation of my own was the victim, is often equalled in originality. The hairdresser began with probably "a wellaccustomed opening : "A fine head of hair, sir, for a gentlemen of your time of life] sir." The gentleman, who was not in the habit of talking much on such occ.i.-ions signified that lie 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 tiling, 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 ; rut tlii3 by the way. Whether the series of remarks was 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 bo a common joke in the trade, but for which I was not prepared at the inumeiit. I whether "the principal," who usually Mailed upon me, "was disent-a.jc-d." The u&sUunt replied in, as I thought, a very .serious tr.nc, " He's upstairs, sir; he's dying,.sir. " "Dc.ir me:' , I replied, '*I am very "sorrv to hear it. Has he lieen ill lout-:-" " He's dyeing a gentleman's hair, sir ; ho will lm at liberty in a few minutes," was the rc-aisuring an. swer. Though I was of course glad that my worst fears had not been realised, I was still conscious of having been uuwarilj sympathetic.