This is about Charles W. Smith, my great grandfather.
He was a barber, and was known as "Barber Smith" or "Charley".
THE PLAYFUL BARBER by Bill Hooten
The death recently of Jim Murnan of Placerville brings back to me memories
of Jim's brother-in-law Chas W. Smith, who married an older sister of Jim's.
He followed the barber trade and was known as Barber Smith to distinguish
him from the
numerous other Smiths. To name a few: Isadore, the Merchant
Smith, Marcum, Ed, Chris, Jim of Centerville, CockEye, called uncle by
Charles, Dave of Great Height, Harry and others not to mention the Johns.
Barber Smith was a fine musician, and played flute in the orchestras
and the piccolo in the band and for square dances (quadrilles in those
days).
He and his fine family of wife and two girls were my very good near
neighbors.
Charley loved a good joke and told a story of his barbering days in
Placerville before moving to Idaho City: A Placervillian named McManus
came to his shop one day for a shave. Mc had been up all night in
a "Jigger" game taking the usual sustaining drinks and his face was quite
red and tender.
Barber Smith made up his own shaving lotion and gave it the name of
"Ambrosia" the base of which was good old fashioned Bay Rum.
He had finished shaving and hot toweling Mc who was lying back with
feet up and his eyes closed. Barber Smith thought Mc looked too comfortable
so he filled his palms with an extra shot of "Ambrosia" and quickly slapped
it on Mc's face.
Mc came up out of that chair like he had gotten an electric shock and
yelled "Ye son of a Sea Cook! Ye pulls the hair out by the roots
and fills the holes up with fire!"