ON THE CHOICE AND USE OF A RAZOR* 21 1 



The foap lather, befides the effeds already mentioned, The lather* 

 feems to act by giving a degree of firmnefs to the beard. It 

 unites, in fonie meafure, a great number of hairs, and thereby 

 occafions a more equal refiftance to the ftroke of the razor, 

 diminifhing the elafticity of the hair ; and alfo taking off a 

 little of its natural fine polifh. In fhaving without foap the 

 beard is generally irregularly cut, efpecially if the edge be 

 not perfectly keen ; as may be obferved in cutting a bundle 

 of briftles loofely tied, or taking the edge off a quire of paper 

 without putting it into a prefs. Provided the lather be of 

 fufficient confluence, it is not material whether hot or cold * 

 for I fufpect the alkali a<5ts pretty quickly upon the polifhed 

 furface of the hair. 



The form of the razor is of fome confequence. Young The form of the 

 fliavers, who may not be equal to giving the drawing ftroke, b]ade * 

 fliould choofe a fcimitar-like blade. Every razor ought to 

 have the point terminated by a fegment of the circle ; otherwife 

 it is difficult to give the ilroke from the point towards the 

 heel, which is often neceflary when a man is not ambo 

 dexter. 



Another Correfpondent has favoured me with what feems Effeft of heat 

 to be the moil probable explanation of the efTed of heat on on ed S e tools * 

 edge tools. He obferves, that in the cold regions of North 

 America an axe will fometimes fly in pieces like glafs, and 

 that our fmiths in this country are well aware of the increafe 

 of tenacity which a very flight increafe of temperature gives to 

 fleel, iron, and other metals, and take care to ufe it when 

 they (et or alter the figure of any tool or utenfll by cold ham- 

 mering. They warm the article to prevent its breaking. He 

 thinks the fine edge of a razor, which would fplinter and be- 

 come rough if {trapped or ufed cold, may perform its office 

 much better when rendered more tenacious by a moderate 

 heat. 



W. N, 



P 2 XI.— Ob* 



