A barber is a person who makes his living by cutting hair and shaving men's faces
, but until the last century barbers did much more than that. They also pulled teeth, and opened the veins of sick people to let some of their blood out. (In those days it was thought that sick persons could be made to feel better if they lost some blood.) The barber's shop, about two hundred years ago, was a favorite social gathering place for men who were not busy. Here men got together to discuss the latest news.
Musical instruments were kept on hand for those who liked to amuse themselves with music. The sign in front of the barber's shop was a red-and-white striped pole, with a metal pan or basin hanging from the top. The red stripe was painted on the pole to remind one of the ribbon used to bandage up the arm when bleeding was to be stopped. The basin was used to catch the blood. Today the basin is no longer seen on the barber's pole but the red and white stripes are still there. Many men still like to gather in the barber shop to talk and even sing.
Usually, when four men join in song they form what is called a barber-shop quartet. Barber shops were not very clean or sanitary in the old days. A barber used the same comb and brush for each customer. Today everything is completely sanitary. Combs and brushes are sterilized and clean towels are used. A barber must receive training before he is allowed to work, and he must get a license before he can open a shop.