Afro-independent. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1888-1???, 1888-09-22
The asAck SHOP.
A Chicago Institutson In which Every Mar
IL His Own Tailor.


On OF the queerest institutions II the
tailoring trade In Chicago is the "back
shop about which one begins to hear
almost as soon as one makes any in
quiries into Chicago tailoring. Most
of the work Is done either at home or
In back shop" Is the customary
statement. What is back shopp'
demands the investigator, whereupon
he Is usually told that IL is an institu-
ton that must be seen 10 be appreciate
ed, and he goes to work and sees 1t and
appreciates 1t.
The "back shop is a place where
for dollar or two week a tailor may
rent seat upon a broad table, with
the privilege Of using irons of the
common stove 1t Is a large shop
where every body is his own shop
keeper One Of the largest OF these
'.back shops II on the northeast cor
ner OF Fifth avenue and Madison
street, on tho top floor. A reporter
climbed up beyond the sundry stories
until he reached the top, where no
found himself in a long, well-Ighted,
but rather low-ceiled room, which
stretched the full length and breadth
OF the building. Close 10 the windows
all about the room was collection Of
broad tables, upon which number Of
men were squatting after the bone-
breaking manner in which tailors rest
themselves and work. A few women
were grouped together in one corner
OF the apartment, and In the middle
two stoves, heated like the fiery fur
mace in the old testament, were keep
ing the irons of the establishment
warm. There was little talking but a
great deal OF work, and as soon as tho
reporter had found Mr., Braybrook,
the proprietor OF the enterprise, no.
body paid any attention to him save
the person with whom he was talking.
Eyes" Mr.. Brayb said, "this is
what Is called back shop, where
tailors are provided with a place to do
their work and hot irons are furnished
for n fixed charge per week. You see,
In most OF the tailor stores about town
there is no place for the men, and SO
they come TO places like this. There
are quite number in Chicago.
simply rent a man his seat and see
that he has all the irons he wants and
that ends my duties In the premises. I"
"What do you charge themP"
''One dollar week--or II two men
who are partners work together 30
for the two. Seamstresses we make
room for at 20 cents apiece"
''And how many men usually take
advantage Of the schemeP"
1T depends on the season and the
amount OF work. There are usually
about forty or fifty here"
"Of course. you have nothing to do
with the time they worhP"
''Oh no, certainly not. They rent
their seats, and that IL the end of IL AS
far as am concerned"
GLOW about shop disciplined? Have
you any rules which your renters must
observer"
mo. II n man makes himself disa-
greeable 20 the other workmen, of
course get rid OF him as soon as
can and will not let him back into the
shop-but that seldom happens. You
see, tailors, as n rule. are very decent
men. and they know how To take care
of themselves and do their work. I'M
der any circumstances II would be none
OF my business. As long as nobody
does any thing 20 interfere with tho
others have nothing to say"
"What Is the reason, Mr.. Bray
brook" said the reporter finally. as he
cast n glance about the room, that
the tailors sit on the tables and curl
themselves up like that man yonder. :"
and a workman in an acutely uncom-
Portable position was pointed out, lin
stead OF sitting on ehairsP"
because II Is the most comfortable
position for the work. A tailor gets
sophisticated after time. and he can
do the most extraordinary things with
his legs. These positions don't look
restful TO you, but they are.r
What do these tailors make2"
THAT depends. Some OF them can
sit down and make $25 week; others
run less. They can average SO n week
without working too hard"
do they haze TO make deposit
when they take goods away from the
shopsn
"No The stun is given TO them all
cut and prepared, and no tailor is
asked for u deposit. 1t iAnot needed.
l never heard OF but one case in Chr
eago whore a man made OFF with the
cloth and material given him TO make
up. Chicdgo Neps.
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