Transcriber's Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
T. J. McConnaughay.
PART FIRST
Barbers' Manual
PART SECOND
Text Book on Taxidermy
Preface.
By way of explaining the dual characterof this little book, we here indulgea few brief introductory remarks.
Part First is designed simply as amanual of instruction for barbers, andwe hope it will, in a valuable measure,supply a long felt need. It will proveespecially beneficial to the younger andless experienced members of our craft.
The best artisans and artists admitthey owe much to the accumulatedknowledge and experience of both theirpredecessors and their contemporaries.Indeed, to assert any claim to advancedknowledge and skill, without due acknowledgementsfor the help receivedfrom others would savor of an inexcusableegotism. The man who professes4to be a self-made man is alwaysnotorious for worshiping his maker.
We should, of course, always putour own impress upon all our work.Our observations on the methods ofothers should supplement but not supplantour own originality and our ownreason. A noted artist when askedhow he mixed his paints to achieve suchwonderful results, replied: “I mixthem with brains.”
So must we use our own brains aswell as the brains of others, if we wouldsucceed in this day of rapid improvementsand sharp competition.
The information given in this bookis not guess work, but the result oflong years of study and practice.Thirty-one years have I conducted ashop of my own. During these yearsevery recipe here given has beenthoroughly tested. We know they areall good.
Part Second is devoted to taxidermy,5which for twenty-three years I haveconnected with my other shop work.I have preserved and sold hundreds ofspecimens, and this work has proven asource of much pleasure and profit,enabling me to turn many otherwiseidle moments into money.
On this line I have not confined myselfto taxidermic work alone, but havealso connected the tanning of hideswith the hair on, which I have manufacturedinto mats, rugs, etc.
Hence this little book, under a twofoldtitle, practically includes threetrades.
We offer it as a money saving andmoney making investment. The recipesand other information containedherein will enable any barber to makeall his own preparations, and to manufacturethem for sale. He mayalso connect taxidermy and tanning ifit suit his pleasure and business.
Historic Sketch.
The word barber is derived from theLatin word “barba,” which meansbeard, and hence is applied to onewhose occupation is to shave and trimbeards and cut hair. The barber's craftis a very