Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1878 — The White House Barber. [ARTICLE]

The White House Barber.

There is a colored man named Howe connected with the Executive Mansion in whom I have taken a great deal of interest during the past ten years or more. He was found there by Johnson when ho came in. Johnson found him to be a good barber and kept him. He then shaved Grant and Babcock, and accompanied them in their summerings at Long Branch. Mr. Hayes liked him and kept him, and he still calls at the White House every morning with his razors, combs and brushes, and attends to anything tint is needed in his line. All of these years he has drawn pay as a firstclass clerk ($1,200 per annum) in the Treasury Department, but he has rendered no service in return, except shaving or shampooing those connected witn the Executive Mansion, which does not take one hour in the day. Recently there was an examination for a vacancy in a second-class clerkship ($1,400 per annum) in the Third Auditor’s office. The Auditor recommended a disabled soldier for the position, but Mr. Hayes went one better and put his barber in the place. Of course the disabled soldier felt bad about it, but that does not interfere with tne barber drawing the salary just the same. A secondclass clerk of the Third Auditor’s office barberizes Hayes and Dr. Rogers, his Private Secretary. Instead of using ink ho uses lather. He renders no service to the Treasury Department whatever, as, when he is not at the White House, he is occupied in running a public bar ber-shop in this city that he also keeps. The soldier is laid aside to make room for him, and all this under a reform administration and a “soldier’s friend” President. It is enough to make one cuss—but that would do no good—although something of a relief at times, if it is done well.- Washington letter to Hartford Times.

There is a sad lack of work among the laboring classes in Italy.