Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-31
ENGLIsH RAR.MAIps.
London Examiner.

L0noon Examiner.
A bar-maid show is not an idea which
would have occurred to very delicate
mind, but it only expresses, in coarse form,
the popular feeling. Everybody knows
that bar-maids are now employed for stow.
A publican regards The pretty woman be-
hind his bar simply as part Of his stock-in-
trade. Her business is to attract custom.
1t may well be doubted whether the EN-
ployment of women in such a way makes q
high state of public feeling. Such an oc-
cupation is incompatible with the preserva-
ton of true womanly dignity. Apart alto
gether from the inherent unworthiness of
the position, the bar-maid is thrown In the
midst of demoralizing surroundings. Some
bar-maids are able to 90 through the ordeal
unscathed; they form low opinion of men,
and preserve their own better ideas, But
the majority, Of course, follow the natural
law Of accommodation to surround
ings, and learn to look at life with
the same EYES as the unworthy men who
surround them. 1t is, too, cruel part of
the bar-maid's life that she is obliged by
her business to tolerat5 the offensive influ-
ences around her. Men are found capable
OF addressing language TO bar-maids which
should not be addressed even Othe roughly
abandoned women; and though some bar
proprietors resent such conduct, the bar
maid, as rule, is expected TO endure such
INSULT, lest the gentleman" should with
draw his custom. There is, perhaps, no
class of women more unfairly treated. The
hoursof work are long, the wages small. As
a specimen, the hours of three public bars in
London are as follows: In the FIRST the hours
are alternately AN. till midnight, and 8
till IL, with an hours interval for dressing.
In the second, from s till II, with an inter-
val during the day of two hours and half.
In the third, from 8 till L. with an inter-
val of four hours. From this il will be
seen that bar-maids have sometimes TO work
sixteen hours out Of the twenty four.
In the next of these three bars
and this particular bar is generally con-
sidered one of the most desirable
in London-the hours of work are eleven.
Seventeen hours work for a woman out of
the twenty-fouri And remember, too, the
kind Of work. In busy bar the bar-maid
must walk miles day. And the amount
of muscular eSertien In drawing drink
must be considerable. Besides, all this
work is performed in an atmosphere that
of itself is quite sufficient to fatigue. He
is a strong man, indeed, who can sit for
some hours, without feeling the worse for
it, in a bar 6lled with people who are
smoking and drinking. And if merely sit
ting in bar will produce such an effect
upon man, what must be the effect on a
woman, who, besides, has TO work hardi
The bar, as midnight approaches, is really
one of the most painful sights Of our city.
The women look pale and utterly worn
- Nh ar,ef 70 ae,f.s Hna
visible effort with which they rise from the
seat in which they are snatching a few mo-
ments' rest. And still more unpleasant is
1t to watch the effort of these exhausted
to keep up the everlasting smile, |
and the ceaseless chatter with which the |
customers at bars have to De amused.
In some bars the hours are even worse |
han those already given. About the |
Strand and Fleet street, for instance, there |
Ire sOine two CT three public houses that
nave the privilege Of opening up at two |
)'cl0ck in the morning. Even at that un
earthly hour you viii find bar-maid to at
end you. Again, in Smithfield meat mar
let the public houses open at four O'Clock.
These are all attended by bar>maids, who |
AVE thus to rise at half past three every
morning. On most days these women are
ct Off early-beigeen two and four o'clock
n the afternoon. But on Saturdays they
AVE TO work all day long, from four in the
morning until twelve at night. 1t might
'e suspected that these women would be
for their hard work b. high
ate of wages. But il is not SO. Ten or
welge shillings a week is the ordinary sal
~. In some bars the salary goes as
Ugh as eighteen shillings; but that
5 a very exceptionable case. They
re, however, always expected to
year good clothes; for without good
lOthes, of what use are a wOmanS
God looks To provide good clothes, out
f ten shillings a week, and meet all the
ther demands upon that small sum, is
roblem that the bar-maid finds it hard to
olive. To a WON IN so circumstanced,
here comes temptation almost daily.
iany of the men who talk to her are on 4
he lockout for women to minister TO their
leaSure, and have been taught skill in
heir pursuit by experience. On her side,
be woman is physically exhausted, and
tteIly tired of the life she is leading. She
ees before her a prospect Of ease, good
lOtheS, theatres, and all the other pleas
res for which her starved nature longs.
md then, too. her feelings may have been
Ouched. The man who offers all these
hipgs may lcok as though he were not
7hOlly insincere. For even very cold or
cry dull eyes may look bright and ardent
nder the influence of plenteous potations.
Then, too, the man who thus tempts the bar
naid is usually her social superior by
nany degrees; dresses well, wears rings,
nd has plenty of money. The wonder is
lot that so many bar-maids yield, but that
o many are able to resist such temp alton.
We believe that the bar-maid is a purely
English institution. No such thing exists
n the United States, and on the Continent
ne seldom sees women employed in what
to our bar. In France, YOU
md women in shops more frequently than
n England. But to this there can be no
bjectiOn. The great argument, indeed,
gainst the institution of bar-maids is that
here are so many other occupations given
ID to men, for which women would be
etter suited. Much of the work now done
y shopmen could be done equally well, if
lot better, by shOp-women. No one can
eny that a woman seems more fitted than
man for selling wOmen's dresses. And
is undeniable that men are more fitted
han women for supplying men with drink.
Why does not public opinion insist Oh the