Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-23
CGNvayIAL SHOPPERS.
Ladies' Room Attachments 10 Drink.
ing saloons.
Prom the New YORK sun


Passing through the storm doors at the side
entrance OF 6th-ayenue drinking saloon. one
enters q short passage or vestbule, with a
small door at the side bearing the legend "Gen-
tlemen. unaccompanied by ladies' not admit
tel This reversal of the customary warning
to ladies unaecompanied by gentlemen is ex-
planned b. glance into the cosily-furnished
apartment into which the small door opens. es-
pecially during shopping hours. The interior
Is connected with the adjoining saloon, and is
often crowded at such times with ladies enjoy
ing clandestine refreshments. Singly in pairs.
and in groups of three or four. they occupy
little mahogany tables with their glasses before
them, while some are INDUCING in cigarettes.
The glasses mostly contain beer but there is
sufficient mingling of stronger beverages to in
dictate trained habit on the part of the fair
drinkers. In rare Instances male escort is OBJ
seryable at one or another of the little tables,
but they are for the most part solely occupied
by fashiOnably dressed women. some with pack
ages OF recent purchases, and others with no
such indication that their presence in the drink
Ing den is incidental rather than premedtated.
AS a reporter recently entered one of these
retreats, duly chaperoned. there was a subdued
hum of conversation like the soft murmur of
summer hive at noon. A white-aproned waiter
of ObsequOus demeanor. who had entered by
q grOUnd-glass panelled door from the adjoining
ladies who had just appropriated one of the Ia
bles- VI dozen or more others who were dis
cusslng beverages around them. one was enjoy
ing plate of Swiss cheese and another a sar-
dine sandwich, and threeyOun ladies in expen-
slye sealskins and towering hat plumage were
laZily smoking cigarettes over delicate-lOokfng
compounds that were airily suggestive of
vinOus or alcoholic base. 1t was late in the
afternoon.
Il must really be going now. dears," said one
a N r.sllI ly rGinC off fin
ishing her beer and gathering up her packages.
81 have been here two hours already. and will
barely have time TO see to the dinner before my
husband comes home from mis- business"
stay for one more urged one of ner COM
panions. You have now the holiday displays
and the consequent crush in the stores as an
excuse for late shopping. you know"
No. thanks; I've tried that on twice already.
and my husband Is too wide-awake to put I'D
with it again. Good-by, and remember you
both owe me visit"
There was a little ripple of regrets and adieux
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 fevershly flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes-sionaed the attendant to
her side and ordered "a little more whisky and
settler in low, musical voice.
I'D hate to be married and have to hurry
home at a regulation hour. like a slave" OBJ
served one OF the cigarette smokers. in COM
ment upon the lady who had taken her depart
ure in response to duty's still small voice.
80 would i" said the younger of her COM
panions- Papa rarely asks me where have
been when get home late III he does. I've al
ways purchase or two an explanation, and
he drinks SO much himself when down town
that he can't discover anything in nv breath
when kiss him.
You should both rather wish to be married,
as am, to a man who is not over inauisitive,"
said the third. with complacent smile.
Harry 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 you please"
Every few minutes ladies We're quitting the
place and their seats were occupied by new
Corners There was constant rustic of skirts.
mingled with everyday small talk and COM
ments upon the refreshments produced. Dur
ing one OF the most bustling of these changes
the pretty young woman in mourning furtively
repeated her order. and shrank yet deeper
into her corner. with her lace handkerchief
half hiding the glass that was presently raised
TO her lips by the daintlest of gloyed hands
II have been here number Of times though
never to remain more than few minutes"
said the reporters companion. The majority
OF the ladies you have seen coming and going
are perfectly innocent in seeking refreshment
here. They are really tired out with shopping
or making wearsome round of visits and
merely drop in for glass of beer or a bite of
something palatable as a simple restorative
But many OF those you have seen | should saw
are habitues- have never been here without
seeing those cigarette smokers who probably
Visit the place every afternoon, weather per-
hitting The MISUNDERSTANDING elderly lady
yonder with the little girl fOndling new doll
at her SIDE must come here quite as often The
little girl invariably accompanies her, and NAV
be her grandchd. The two attractive women.
with their heads together while imbibing some
thing or other through straws, are likewise
nearly always together and think the plumper
and more stylish of the two is the young
wife OF an old and very rich broker who
doubtless imagines her wholly engrossed with
an everyday shopping mania. without sus-
pectlng 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
oldest and steadiest freguenter OF this retreat
l take il she is now a widow by reason of the
weeds she wears so becOmngly although wear
or more ago. when first remarked her here.
she was invariably accompanied by her hus-
band. something Of a swell. and well-known
man about town. And then she drank nothing
but champagne, which he paid for careessly
enough. though partaking but sparingy him
self. Now her fortune seems to have UNDER
gone decided change. BY the way did you no.
tice the hesitancy with which the waiter filled
her last order? / did 1t was slight. but nm
mistakable."
There was scarcely a vacant seat at the little
tables as the reporter and his companion took
their departure, and the pretty widow purse in
nand, appeared to be holding half-smlling
low-yOiced argument with the white-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 sa-
loon was questioned by the reporter
''There are twelve or fifteen saloons with side
accommodations for lady tipplers like ours
on this avenue, between 10th and 32d streets
and then there are Others scattered all over Nh
town according 10 the demand. In fact with
out the ladies' room attachment our afternoon
trade would be apt to 90 a-begging Yes. they
come at night, too. out we're mighty circum.
spect whom admit after dark. and wonld
sooner they would come at such times under
escort But, taken altogether, ladies' custom
Is very desirable. With hardly an exception
only know OF one-they are as quiet and or
derry as kittens. take what is set before ,em
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 FOUNDER and. in the
way of mixed drinks. one has only to study the
dear creatures tastes attentively and then Gull
tlyate up TO EN-. TO make study customers of
chance droppers-in. Oh yes. the shoppers
Trade Is paying one. and don't you forget it, :"
The reporter mentioned the case of Mrs -,
the young widow at which the saloon keeper
at once betrayed signs Of perturbation and un-
easiness.
ION. yes. Mrs. -, whom Jack - left
widow year or so ago" he exclaimed impa-
tently 'She used to be perfect little gem.
coming here in coach along with her husband
and making the champagne fiy Rut now she's