The Arizona sentinel., 1888-09-29
THE nRAC9 SHOP"
A Chicago IT flltusion i Vhic'l Every Mar
 l. His Own Tailor.

A Chicago II ftltusion i Whic'l Every Man l. His Own Tailor.
 On of the quecrest Institutions in the tailoring trade in Chicagl $ 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 dor5 either at home or in a back shop" is the customary statement. "What is a back shop?" demands the investigator, whereupon he is usually told that it is an institu- tion that mus be seen to be appreciat- ed, and he goes to work and sees it and appreciates it.
 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 off the common stove. It iE .arge shop where every body is nis shop keeper. One of the largest of these ''back shops is on the northeast cor ner of Fifth avenue and Madison street, on the top floor. A reporter y until he reached the top, where he found himself in a long, well-lighted, but rather low-ceiled room, which stretched the full length and breadth of the building Close to the windows all about the room was a collection of broad tables, upon which a number of men were sqUatting after the bone breaking manner in which tailors rest themselves and work. 4 few women were grouped tOg- her 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 tho establishment warm. There was little talking but great deal of work, and as soon as the reporter had found MT Braybrook, the proprietor of the enterprise, mo- body paid any attention to him save the person witt whom he was talking.
 "Yes," MT. Braybrook said, this is what is called back shop, where tailors are provided with place to do their work and hot irons are furnished for fixed chGrge per week. You see, in most of the | lor stores about town there is no place for the men, and so they come to places like this. There are quite a number in Chicago. l simply rent man his seat and see that he has all the irons he wants and that ends my duties in the premises"
 ''What do you charge them?"
 "One dollar a week-or if two men who arc partners work together-$ 50 for the two. SeamstresseS we make room for at 75 cents apiece"
 ''And how many men usually take advantage of the scheme?"
 Ut 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 work?"
 "Oh no, certainly not. They rent their seats, and that is the end of it as far as 1 am concerned"
 "How about shop discipline? Have you any rules which your renters must observer"
 No. If man makes himself disa- greeable to 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 rule, are very decent men, and they know how to take care of themselves and do their work. Un- der any circumstances it would be none of my business. As long as nobody does any thing to interfere with the others I have nothing to say"
 "What is the reason, Mr. Bray brook" said the reporter finally, as he cast 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- fortable position was pointed out, ''in- stead of sitting on chairs?n
 Because it is the most comfortable position for the work. A tailor gets supple-jointed after time, and he can do the most extraordinary things with his legs. These positions don't look reStful to you, but they are."
 "What do these tailors make?'
 ''That depends. Some of them can sit down and make $25 week; others run less. They can average $15 week without working too hard"
 Do they have to make a deposit when they take goods away from the shop?"
 No. The stuff is given to them all cut and prepared, and no tailor is asked for deposit. It is not needed. I never heard of but one case in Chi cago where man made off with the cloth and material given him to make Chicago NeIUS.
 VUhora ha DaHan ic AH0noI