Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1890 — The Cheeky Way a Barber Kept His Accounts. [ARTICLE]

The Cheeky Way a Barber Kept His Accounts.

A barber was re: ently arrested in Paris for badly cutting a customer. There was no question about the gash and what made it seem worse, the razor wielder said in a way he had done it purposely. After the testimony was in the Judge asked the barber if he had anything to say. “Yes, monsieur, I have. I justify the cutting on the ground that it was merely a clerical error—a slip of the pen.” “What.” cried the Judge, gasping with astonishment. “Permit me,” cohtinued the lather slapper. “For months the plaintiff has been getting shaved on trust at my establishment. I have no very convenient means of keeping accounts, so every time I shaved the gentleman I cut a little nick in his cheek in order to guide me in my charges when the long deferred day of payment came. So many nicks, of course, so many shaves.” The barber paused a moment and the whole court was on the tiptce of expectation. “But how about the clerical error?” asked the Judge. “I am coming to that, sir. It so happened that the account had already arrived at the one-hundredth nick and my hand being somewhat unused to making ciphers, the razor turned when I attempted them, with the result known.” The entire honesty and candor of the barber was so plain he was left off with a light fine. M