The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-13

Ladies' Room Attachments to Drinking Sa-
looms in New York.

cuIelS a snort passage, or VeStlDule with q small
door at the side bearing the legend, Gentlemen,
unaccompanied by ladies, not admitted This
reversal of the customary warning to ladies un-
accompanied by gentlemen is explained by
glance INTO the Sily-furnished apartment into
which the small door opens especially during
shopping hours. The interior is connected with
the adjoining saloon, and IS often crowded at
such times with ladies enjoying candestine re-
freshments Singly. in pairs, and in groups of
three and 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 a sufficient
mlngling of stronger beverages to indicate a
trained habit on the part of the fair drinkers.
In rare instances q male escort is observable at
one or another of the little tables, but they are
for the most part solely occupied by fashionably-
dressed 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 reporter recently entered one of these
retreats, duly chaperoned there was subdued
hum of conversation like the soft murmur of
summer hive at noon. white aproned waiter
OF obsequlous demeanor, who had entered by a
eround-glass paneled door from the adjoining
saloon, was taking the orders of group of three
ladies who had just appropriated of the tables.
vi dozen OF more others who were discussing
beverages around them one was ENJOYING a
plate OF Swiss cheese and another a sardne
sandwich. and three young ladies in expensive
sealskns and towering hat plumage were lazily
smoking cigarettes over delicate looking COM
pounds that airily suggestive of vinous or
alcoholic base 1t was late in the afternoon.
Il must really be going now, dears," said one
of the party ofthree. reluctantly rising. after fin
lShlng her beer and gathering up her packages.
i have been here two hours already, and will
barely have time to TO the dinner before my
husband comes home from his business"
Stay for one more urged one of her 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 wlde-awake to put up
with it again. Good-by; and remember you
botn owe me visit"
There 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
i'll mourning, but with feverishly flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyeS-sgnaled the attendant to
her side and ordered "a little more whisky and
setter" in a low, musical voice.
I'D hate to be married and have to hurry
home at regulation hour like a slave" observed
one of the cigarette smokers in comment upon
the lady who had taken her departure in re-
sponse to duty's still, small voice.
so would l." said the younger of her compan-
ions. Papa rarely asks me where l have been
when get home late. If he does, I've always a
purchase or two as explanation, and he drinks
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 married
as am, to man who is not over-inquisitve, y
said the third with a complacent smile Harry
is the very soul of consideration, and spends the
most of his time at his club when not at his Of
flee or playing billiards down town. Waiter,
you may repeat these if you please"
Every few minutes ladies were quitting the
place. and their seats were occupied by new
corners. There was a constant rustic of skirts
mingled with everyday small talk and COM
Inents upon the refreshments produced. Dur
ing one of the most busting of these changes
the pretty young woman in mourning furtiveiy
repeated her order, and shrank yet deeper into
her corner, with her lace handkerchief half hid
ing the glass that was presently raised to her
lips by the daintest of gloved hands
Il have been here a number of times though
never to remain moro than few minutes. said
the reporters companion. ',fhe majority of the
ladies you have seen coming and going are per
fectly innocent in seeking refreshment here
They are really tired out with shopping or max
ing wearisome 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 are hahitues. | have never
been here without seeing those cigarette smokers,
who probably visit the place every afternoon
weather permitting. The aristocraticooking
elderly lady yonder. with the little girl fondng
a dew doll at her side, must come here quite as
often. The little girl invariably accompanies
her. and may be her grandchild. The two at
lFdtllNG WOiltU, WIN Jnelr lltauS together WIlte
imhibing something or other through straws
are likewise nearly always together, and | think
the plnmper 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 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 Oldest and
steadiest frequenter of this retreat. | take it
she is now widow by reason Of the weeds she
wears becomingly, although year or more
ago when first remarked her here. she was in
varabiy accompanied by her husband, some
thing of a swell. and well known man abont
town. And then she drank nothing but cham
payne. which he paid for carelessly enough,
though partaking but sparingly himself Now
her fortune seems to have undergone decided
change. By the way, did you notice the hest
fancy with which the waiter filled her last or
derl did 1t was slight, but unmistakabe'
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
hand, appeared to be holding Il half-sming
low-voiced argument with the whiteaproned
attendant, who had just taken up her glass and
was reluctantly considering the propriety of IT'S
ADVERTISEMENTS
Subsequently one of the proprietors of the
saloon was questioned by the reporter
There are twelve or fifteen saloons with side
accommodations for lady tpplers like ours, on
this avenue, between Tenth and Thirty second
streets and then there are others scattered all
over up town according to the demand. In
fact, without the ladies room attachment our
afternoon trade would be apt to go Alleging.
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. But taken altogether ladies'
custom is very desirable With hardly an
exception-I only know of one-they are as
quiet and orderly as kittens, take what is set
before EN- without growl. and pay their shots
like thoroughbreds Beer is their favorite
drink, but the majority of EN- know good liquor
from bad as suddenly as an old rounder and in
way of mixed drinks, one has only to study the
dear creatures tastes attentively, and then cul
tivate up to EN-, to make steady customers of
tma Ga ; ulopperS H. 0n, d yes me shoppers
The reporter mentioned the case Of Mrs. --,
the youns widow. at which the saloon-keeper at