Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-12
WOMAN AND HOME.
SHOP GIRLS, sALesWoMEN, KITCHEN
NAILS, SOCIETY LADIES.
The Landlady's Daurhters-A sales
women's Fair-Man's Cruelty to Work
ing Girls Queen Victoria
London Barmaida-
London Cor. Troy Tines.l

lLonuon Cor. Troy lnile>-!
The one redeeming point about the London
tavern is the BARNARD. am told on good
authority that in metropolitan London
alone, with its population Of about 5000, 0oO
souls of one kind and another, there are H.
600 barmaids, exactly double the number Of
girls employed in one capacity or another
about the theatres A barmaid must b
young and attractive. She is required to
dress in q black cashmere or French merino
princess robe, so as to be distinguished from
the mistress-a London tavern, like an
American farm, must have a mistre8-who
generally appears behind the bar in the
gaudiest colors, and above all to
prevent rivalry in dre-s between the
barmaids themselves. and therefore to
lessen the temptation Of dipping their hands
in the till. The dress, too, it may be men,
toned, must be made without pockets,
which l should think must prove great
hardship. especially in this climate, where
one is subject to colds in the head
They must, moreover, be intelligent to the
extent Of at least engaging the customers Of
the "masher7 type in conversation, and OF
leading them on TO spend great deal OF
their time AMI money ut the bars. 1t Is,
however, a mark against barmaid il she
devotes herself too exclusively to one or two
persons. This is not conducive to trade.
Her policy is, therefore, to talk little to
every one, and, having to serve all and sun
dry as they come up to the bar, she IS able
to pass from one to another without giving
apparent onense. In this way barmaid
picks up great deal Of surface knowledge,
and, in many instances, becomes really
smart and accomplished far beyond her sta
ton in life.
But she is by no means the slave Of her
customers Let anyone, especially q
stranger, attempt famiiiarities with her, or
address language to her which. according
to her lights, she considers as unbecoming n
gentleman, she will have that person up be-
fore the master or mistress at oncs, or call
into instant requisition the services Of the
"chucker-out" OF course she must neces-
sarily overhear q great deal that is not fit
for ears polite, but SO long as it is not ad-
dressed to her and the person using it does
not make a disturbance, that Is none CT her
business, and though obliged to serve the
low types Of character above described, it is
not expected OF her, however, that she shall
hold any conversation with them further
than the transaction she has with my Of
their demands.
1t is a barmaid's ambition to be promoted
from the Bill Sykes side Of the bar to that
of the masher. Here she is in her element
She can listen to silly nothings by the hour
from a dozen of nonentities, her object evil
IDENTIFY being to keep as many as possible of
what she calls her customers on the tenter-
hooks. See her in the evening, if she is at
all attractive; she is a perfect flower-pot.
because Of the number OF buttonholes and
bouquets that have been presented her dur
ing the day by her numerous admirers. Yet
her life cannot be all bed Of roses She is
required to be on her feet fifteen hours a
day every day Of the week: she must live on
the premises, and she is only allowed to go
out one day in every four or five weeks; she
is boarded by her employer, and receives for
wages with which she must clothe herself
and always appear respectable, on an aver
age about , pounds sterling week.