At the sign of the barber's pole : studies in hirsute history / by William Andrews.

  • William Andrews
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: At the sign of the barber's pole : studies in hirsute history / by William Andrews. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ And please you,” said the barber, “ some of our customers have heard much about your reverence’s poetry ; so that, if you would but condescend to give me a smart little touch in that way to clap under my sign, it might be the making of me and mine for ever.” “ But what do you intend for your sign ? ” inquired the cleric. “ The ‘ Jolly Barber,’ if it please your reverence, with a razor in one hand and a full pot in the other.” “Well,” rejoined Swift, “in that case there can be no great difficulty in supplying you with a suitable inscription.” Taking up a pen he instantly wrote the following couplet, which was duly painted on the sign and remained there for many years :— “ Rove not from pole to pole, but step in here, Where nought excels the shaving but—the beer.” Another barber headed his advertisement with a parody on a couplet from Goldsmith as follows :— “ Man wants but little beard below, Nor wants that little long.” A witty Parisian hairdresser on one of the Boulevards put up a sign having on it a portrait of Absalom dangling by his hair from a tree, and Joab piercing his body with a spear. Under the painting was the following terse epigram :—
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