Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1875 — A Fnnereal Barber. [ARTICLE]

A Fnnereal Barber.

The Pall Mall Gazette of a recent date says: “ Some curious evidence was given in a case heard at the Manchester City Police Court last Friday, illustrating the strange lack of sympathy between barbers and undertakers. A barber in Devonshire street, Manchester, summoned a firm of undertakers for causing an obstructioii in the street in which he carried on his business. For seven years the plaintiff, according to' his own account, has been subject to great annoyance from the obstruction in the ear-riage-way opposite to his shop, caused by the defendants’ hearses, carriages, etc. On the 10th inst. a hearse and five mourning coaches stood nearly opposite to his shop more than a quarter of an hour while the horses were being harnessed. His cusl tomers did not like this sight of hearses, and his business was ruined by the dismal spectacle almost daily presented to their eyes.” He suffered also much annoyance from the unseemly jests indulged in by the defendants’ sen-ants when spoken to respecting the obstruction. On one occasion be was informed by the defendants’ manager that he (the barber) was looking very ill. and was invited to get inside a hearse that was standing by. He had formerly kept two or three assistants, but could not keep one now, so depressing was the effect of the funeral carriages in front of his shop. The magistrates fined thtOfcfendauts one pound and costs.” —The Moody and Sankey list of English converts now contains 23,000 names.