More on the lady barbers...

From Carl F.H. Henry's hagiography-like history "The Pacific Garden Mission", 8th ed., p. 115, in regards to how the famous Chicago (fundamentalist) mission changed locations in the early 20th century to the south edge of downtown:

The street outside seemed like a suburb of hell. It was the main artery of the lodging-house district, where 5,000 men slept nightly. Flophouses and taverns were everywhere. Burlesque shows of the vilest kind played to crowds nightly. The labyrinth of lady barbers, pawn brokers, gambling dens, indicated man's extremity and God's opportunity.

Also, on p. 145, again in reference to the new location:

Outside, the stench of perspiring hot dogs, the swing music of cabaret bands, the parade of unmasked hell itself merge into a caterwaul of depraved humanity. Here is where teh mission has deliberately chosen to prove its mettle. There is no running away from sin. Rather, sheathed in the full armor of God, its testimony plucks the fiery darts of Satan from many a pierced target. It is a struggle against mighty forces, as David Anderson, in the November 17, 1940 edition of the Chicago Tribune, writes:

"Competition is tough on South State street, but the old Pacific Garden Mission still does a thriving business in men's souls.

"Night and day thousands of homeless men -- bums, hoboes in from the wheat fields, ragged pan-handlers, crippled up, mumbling, shuffling men -- limp down South State street from Van Buren to 11th street and then plod back again. It's a parade of perpetual motion second only to West Madison street. Where they go, whence they come, is nobody's business and nobody cares much.

"Under the gaudy marquees of the burlesque shows they stop to look at the posters of hefty blondes. Or, they gather at the open doors of the tatoo parlors and watch the artist tatoo a spread eagle on the chest of a sailor. Sometimes as they move past the barber shops they wink at the lady barbers..."

Even though this is the recent past and I think I understand all the other cultural references, this "lady barbers"-reference thing makes me realize how past the past is, and how it's really not the present. This reference was floating in the air just sixty years ago and means nothing to us now.