"Who checks the barber in his tale,
Shall pay for that a gill of yale;
Who will or cannot miss his hat
Whilst trimming pays a pint for that.
"And he who can but will not pay
Shall hence be sent half-trimmed away;
For will he--nill he--if in fault,
He forfeit must in meal or malt.
"But mark, the man who is in drink
Must the cannikin, oh, never, never clink."
The foregoing table of forfeits was published by Dr Kenrick in his
review of Dr Johnson's edition of Shakespeare in 1765, and it was stated
that he had read them many years before in a Yorkshire town. This matter
has been discussed at some length in _Notes and Queries_, and it is
asserted that the foregoing is a forgery. Some interesting comments on
the controversy appeared in the issue of March 20th, 1869.
Women barbers in the olden time were by no means uncommon in this
country, and numerous accounts are given of the skilful manner they
handled the razor. When railways were unknown and travellers went by
stage-coach it took a considerable time to get from one important town
to another, and shaving operations were often performed during the
journey, and were usually done by women.
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