The Dawson journal., 1886-02-04

tigue, we have to crawl off behind
a screen and swallow the few drops
that buoy US up until we can get
home.
"But there is no use protesting
against this unjust distinction.
You want me to tell you where
we get our liquor. Know then
that no first class dressmaking es-
tablishment in New York is com
plete without a we'll stocked side
board. The stock usually consists
of brandy, whiskey, gin, sherry
and port More than this, the
obliging manager always has a
boy ready to run out and bring in
la cocktail or a fzz if the ladies'
demand mixed drinks. or course
| don't know where the boy goes
for the mixing, but | suppose it
is to some neighboring place
where such things are made.
"There is one peculiarly about
women drinking that should not
be overlooked. 1 have yet to
know of woman INDUCING in
the presence of another woman
but what she made some excuse
for that indulgence. Not long
ago / heard young girl still in
her teens ask a dressmaker for a
glass of sherry. She was trying
on a ball dress, and urged as an
excuse for her request that she
had only had a cup Of bouillon
for breakfast. A few minutes af-
forwards the wife Of New jersey
clergyman came into the place,
and you would have thcught that
she was aboug to faint, so griey-
ously did she complain. The
dressmaker, who is a model host
ess, by the way, asked the poor
lady If she would not have a glass
of sherry. She refused, but
thought that if a little brandy and
sugar were convenient it would do
her world Of good. 1t was con-
venient.
"NoW, for my own part, [ rarely
have to offer an excuse, for the
simple reason that [ seldom drink
in any other place than my car
riage. See here" { the satehel was
again opened and a small flask
was exhibited) is: my handkerchief
can easily cover this and l can
take all that | require without at
tracing the slightest attention.
My purpose in adopting this
course is twofoid. First, [ am
always certain of what / am drink
ing; second, L avoid the unpleas
ant innuendoes of people who
might otherwise observe me. This
course is not popular, however.
With some people it is not posi-
bic, because they have no carria-
ges. With others it is not prac-
teal, because the dressmakers
furnish the unmixed drinks free
Of charge"
Must woman buy something
in order to get a drink?'
ooh, dear, no. That is, any
regular customer is welcome at
any time she may come, and you
would be quite surprised to hear
the dressmakers tell how often
some of them do come. OF course,
no one but customers is expected
to know Of the existence OF the
sideboard. They, however, regard
it as necessary adjunct to the
business, and so it exists"
Care the diessmaking estab-
lishments the only places where
ladies can obtain drinks when on
their shopping expedtions?"
"Certainly not; the drug stores
have long been boon to women
and strict churchmen, and at all
the best restaurants in the city
you can have your brandy served
in a coffee cup
But in other branches Of trade
dry goods, shoes, brie-a-brac
is not your physical comfort look
oil after there?'
Not to the extent of supplying
liquid remedies
Il have heard it said that the
large smelling bottles that are
now fashionable are sometimes
filled with gin instead Of eau de
cologne?'
Chat is an absurd Islander.
How ON earth could a woman
! drink out of one of those awk-
ward ,hings wit lCut being detect
ed? Besides that she would be in
constant danger of exposure by
both sexes through the borrowing
of the bottle. Dispel that idea
from your brain. You ma7 rest
assured that if a woman has any
liquor abcat her it will be in her
satchel, or pocket, or muff, or any
| place but her smelling bottle
do you regard this habit of
drinking as common to your sex?"
"No. Very many ladies of my
acquaintance never touch liquor
under any circumstances. And |
don't know single one who is
bold enough to drink without pro-
testing that it is for her cold or
cough, or exhaustiop,or some such