Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-17
Cogv1vlA1 SHOPPERS.
Lseiss' Resm Attachments = DrinAins'ss'
Isssa IN sixth Avenue.

Stxtt-zyeutfe drmktnxssaiOoh, DUG cusot.
tLoit passage, or vestibule, win sma'i
dooy AZ the side bearing the legend: "Gen-
tlcmen, unpccompanied BY ladies', not sd-
misted." This reversal OF the customary
warning 10 ladies unaccompanied by gen.
ticuscn IL explained BY glance into toe
cozily-furnished apartment, INTO which .ne
small door opens, especially during
shopping hours. The interior Is con-
pecicu with the adjoining saloon. and Is
often crowded at such times With Ia
dies enjoying candestine refreshments.
smgly, in pairs, and In groups oil three or
four. they occupy little mahogany tables,
with their glasses before them, whi'e some
are indulgiog In cigarettes. The glasses
mostly contain beer. but there IL asutnclent
mineiing Of stronger beverages 10 indicae
trained habit on the part OF the iair drink
ers. In rare instances male escort y OBJ
seryabIe at one or another OF tue little Ia
bles. but they are for the most part so'ely
occupied by Acknowledgment women,
some with packages OF recent purchases,
and others with no such indication that
their presence In the drinking den IS incl
dental rather than premeditated.
As u reporter recently entered one OF
these retreats. duly chaperoned, there was
subdued hum OF conversation IKE the
soft murmur Of q summer hive at noon. n
whiie-aproned waiter OF obsequious de-
neanor, who had entered by ground-glass
panel door from the adjoining room, was
tsking the orders OF group OF three iadles
who had just appropriated one OF the ladies'
Of n dozen or more Others who were discuss.
ing beverages around them, one was en-
loving plate OF Swiss cheese. ndanother
n sardine sandwich, and three young ladies'
IN extensive sealskins and towering hat
plCmage were lazily smoking cigarettes
over delicate-looking compounds that were
suggestive OF viDous or alcoholic base.
It was late In the afternoon.
al must really be going now. dears,"
said one OF party OF three, reluctantly
rising, after finishing her beer and gather
ing up her packages. 81 have been here
two hours already, and will barely have
time tosee TO the dinner before my husband
comes home from his business"
"Stay for one more," urged one Of her
COMPANIONS. "You have now the holiday
displays and the consequent crush In the
stores as an excuse for late shopping, You
know.o
.sNo. thanks: Pve tried that twice
already, aud my husband is too wide-awake
to put up with II again. Good-by; and re-
member you both owe me visit"
There was little ripple OF regrets and
ad'eus as she tore herself away.
Then the solitary occupant OF table in
the remotest corner. whom the reporter had
not heretofore noticed-a very pretty young
woman In mourning, but with feyerishly-
flushed checks and sparkling eycs-sig-
nailed the attendant to her side, and or
dered ga little more whiskey and settler"
in a low, musical voice.
"I'd hate to be married and have to hurry
home at q regulation hour. Ike slave"
observed one OF the cigarette smokers, In
comment upon the lady who hsd taken her
departure in response to duty's still small
voice.
$50 would l." SAID the younger OF her
companions. Papa rarely asks me where
| bave been when get home late. Ii he
does. Fve always purchase or two as an
explanation, and bedrInks so much himself
when down town that he can't discover
ANYTHING in my breath when kiss him."
.You should both rather wish to be mar
ried, as | am, to man who Is not over
inqui>itiye," said the third. with compla-
cent smile. "IIarry is the very soul OF
consideration, and spends the most Of the
time at his club when not at his office or
playing billiards down town. Waiter, YOU
may repeat these, If yor please"
Every few minutes ladies were quitting
the place and their seats were occupied by
new. comers. There was constant rustic
Of skirts, mingled with everyday small talk
and comments upon the refreshments pro-
duced. During one OF the most busting OF
these changes the pretty young woman in
mourning furtiyely repeated her order, and
sbrank vet deeper into her corner with her
lace handkerchief half hiding the glass that
was presently raised TO her lips by the
dainIiest Of gloved hands.
AZ have been here number OF times,
though never 10 remain more than few
said the reporters companion.
" The majority OF ladies' you have seen
coming ard going are perfectly innocent in
seeking refreshmont here. They are really
tired out with shopping or making weari-
some round Of Nislts, and merely drop in
for glass Of beer or bite OF something
palataDle is simple restorative. But many
of those you have seen | should say are
hdbitafS. | have never been here with
out seeing those eigarette.Smokers,
who probably visit the place every
afternoon, weather permitting. The
MISUNDERSTANDING elderly lady yonder,
with the little girl fondling dol al her
side. must come here quite as often. The
little girl invariably accompanies her, aud
may be her grandc1lld. The two attractive
women, with their heads together while
imbibing something or other through
straws, are likewise nearly always together,
and think the plumper and more stylish
OF TIE two is the young wife OF an old and
very rich broker, who doubtless imaglneS
her wholly encrOssed with an everyday
shopping mania, without suspecting the real
nature of the attraction that keeps her from
her home and children. As for the pretty
little widow over there IN the corner, she Is
Mrs. -, and think she must be the old
est and steadiest frequenter Of this retreat.
take il she is now widow by reason OF
the weeds she wears so becOmingly, al.
though year or more ago, when first re.
marked her here, she Was invariably accom-
panied by her husband, something OF
swell, and a well-known man about town.
And then she drank nothing but chlln-
name, which he paid for caTelessly enough.
though partaking but sparinely himself.
Now her fortune seems 10 have undergone
a decided change. BY the way, did You
notice the sitancy with which the waiter
Glled her las. order; did. II was slight,
but unmistasable."
There was scarcely vacant seat at the
little tables a. the reporter and his COM
panion took their departure, and the pretty
widow, purse In hand, appeared TO be
holding hali-.miline, lov-voiced argu-
ment with the whlte-aproned attendant,
who had Just taken up her glass, and was
reluctantly considering the propriety OF its
replenishment.
subsequently. one Of the proprietors Of
the saloon was questioned by the reporter.
There are twelve or fifteen saloons with
side accommodations for lady tipplers, like
ours, on this avenue between Tenth and
Thirty-second streets. and then there are
Others scattered all over uptown, accord
ing to the demand. IN fact, without the
ladieS'.room attachment our afternoon
trade would be apt to 90 a-beeging. Yes,
they come at night, too, but we're mighty
circumspect whom we admit after dark,
and would sooner they would come
at such times under escort. Bat,
taken altogether, ladies custom Is very
desirable. With hardly an exception
only know Of one-they are n quiet
and orderly as Kittens. take what Is set be-
fore them without growl. and pay their
shots like thoroughbreds. Beer Is their
favorite drink, but the majority Of 'em
know good LIQUOR from bad as suddenly as
an old rounder, aud, in the way OF mixed