New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-20
.nployment1 fov Wsmep.

The barmaid show at WOolwich, England.
last year proved such financial success
that it was thought worth the while to re.
peat it this year. The sight was disgusting,
- was to be expected. The maids were
showily dressed, but below rather chan
above the average Of the bartendinc class.
Some OF them had . hard, brazen look, a.
though capable of almost anything. Others
were carewOrn and evidently ashamed to
be there, but tried to make the best of q.
bad lot, coDsenting to mix drinks ON exhibi.
tion to get money for bread. The custom.
ers were OF the sort that usually oonggesste
in such phases.
The armaid IL British institution. She
is seldom found on tho continent. or in this
country. French women abound in shops:
they thrive by their occupation. and are
respected in it. Bnt in England compare.
lively few women are shopkeepeys. They
are employed as bar-maids for show. 4
publican regards pretty woman behind
his bar as part Of bis stock in 0ade. 1t is
her business to attract custom. She is en-.
gagged to entice men to the place and induce
them TO drink. OF course, she is thrown.
into the midst OF the most demon alizine
influences, and few are able to yesist Che
natural law of accommoda alton to their sur
roundings; they become lit companions Of
the men whose potations they prepare and
whose low talk they constantly hear. Few
men can visit bar-foom steadily for weeks
without becoming somewhat Initiated BY
the place. Think what must be- the
effect of the low jests, the profanity.
tho coarseneas, the nameless COMMUNICATIONS,
OF common drinking saloon on woman's
m'nd! The habitues of such places feel st
liberty to say what they please to q woman
who mixes their drink, and when half in.
toxlcated their language is often worse
than insulting. Some Of these bar maids
nave to work sixteen and even seventeeD
hours out OF twenty-fOLr, and for scsnty
wages The work il wearis0me. They arc
obliged to keep on their feet most OF tho
time. A strong IMAM can hardly endure
sitting in an ordinary barrO0m a couple OF
hours without headache or nassau. What
must be the effects On woman who has to
stand and serve behind a bar. breat hing,
the bad air and fumes Of tobacco and liquor
from seven in tho morning tllI uidnightS
And as midnight approaches. and many
OF tie customers are sfupGfeG or half de-
stand from sheer weariness. hey sjtua ton -
hard indeed.
This bar maid bnsiness + one shat shnnsd
DO rigidly frowntd upon and disconraged
bv everybo The custom Ds employing
women in shis degrading capacity has
been introduced into This city SuveIy j. ia
quite the worst occupation which ba even
sHo '0u" vi "oheety bHaI women can
ind. IL seems terribly pniust. II rot cruel.
that so many of the lighter empnyments.
which are admirably suited to woman'e
tasie and nature, are mcnOpnl.zed by men.
whiie 81 many women are sufftGin. for the
means OF existence and are driver, to bar
roGms to get . livelihood by sn,cing men
70 lntemperance and debauok This is ono
OF the terrible retributions o. social injus.
1icee Woman, mans guardian angel
pusned from her r,ghtful place and de-
raded. becomes mans templjng demon.
1ive her the place that belongs TO her, the
ork che Is fitted to do, the opportunity
that 10 her right, the cheer and culture that
are her privilege, and, the better half Of
humanity, she will be the true hel pm ate Of
man IN the redemption Of the race and tho
renewal OF the w0rld.-Goldcn Age.