Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09
THE BARMAID'S LIFE,
Interesting Chat With One of the
Brightest Representatives of
These Famous Women.
WELL PLEASED WITH HER LOT.
The Wages Are Good, the Work is Light
and, Best of All, She Takes Rank
Above the Average.
HOW JOHN AND JONATHAN IMBIBE.
TIE Legend CT Lady GOdivs as an Explanation Of Very
Striking Nickname.
WELL PLEASED WITH HER LOT.
HOW JOHN AND JONATHAN IMBIBE.
Tie Legend CT Lady GOdiva Explanation Of Very
Striking Nickname
rooRREsroNDENcE OF THE p1srArcH.I


is just the girl, bright as a dollar, and had
years of experience as child and maid, first
In weaving silks and ribbons, and then in
tending at the best bars in England. What
she does not know about the business I'll
account for"
I had asked the proprietor OF a good res
taurant on the Strand for a chat with some
clever girl in his employ as to their busi-
ness, lives, ETC., and this was his response.
For the moment 1 seemed a little puzzled,
when he said, with twinkle in his eye:
"Oh, Peepin' Tom of Coventry is nick-
name for as clever a barmaid as there is in
the United Kingdom, and she will be here
in minute. She has got the wit to draw
custom and the tact to take care of it when
it comes in. That is great thing in this
business"
As he was proceeding to extol the virtues
of his employe a bright CHEEKY young
woman appeared upon the scene. She is
handsome enough to please anyone's eye.
Her features are clear cut, her eyes sharp
and rogulsh and her manner graceful and
polite.
SHE WAS PREPoSSESSING.
I caught the spirit of the surroundings
even before he presented me to Miss Towne,
who was to tell me all about the mysteries,
pleasures and hardships of young woman's
life behind the bar. Before leaving us to-
gether he turned and said to me aside: "Do
not say anything about 'Peepin' Tom Yon
see our barmaids form high class of women
labor, ana we never address them even by
The familiarity OF their first name, no matter
how we NAV speak of them when they are
not present"
Long before this admonition I had ''caught
on to the tact that in this country the class
distinction Is as severely drawn in a bar
room and among all classes Of servants as in
the homes Of TIE most aristocratic. Later
on, 10 talking with Miss Towne, received
some practical information upon this subject
that was instructive. The handsome place
is lined with mirrors and done up in hard
rosewood finish, while the bar itself is laden
with all sorts OF glassware, festooned with
natural flowers, which are found everywhere
IN England. The place at the time was well
filed with customers OF both sexes, all
drinking leIsurely and talking cheerfully.
AKRAYED as IF FOR A BALL.
-Four handsome young women we're at
tending 10 the wants Of the thirsty custo-
mers. They were all tall, fne-looklng girls
dressed in black, with white collars and
cuffs o: 2 particular style and little white
flower at the throat. Their hair was ar
ranged as artistically as if for an evening
party, and their conduct and conversation
such as would grace much higher walk OF
life. Nv companion of the moment was
arraved like the rest, and as l hesitated for
S second in looking at the strange scenes
about me, she opened the conversation by
SAYING:
You see, this is quite busy time with
rs and We have to look sharp. Mr.. Willis
has told NE what you want and that you
have a curiosity to know something about
the lives of women who serve in place like
this. ! shall be glad to talk with you, but
not tonight. l am off duty from 5 to in
the afternoon Wednesday and then 1 shall
be glad to see YOU here,
1 suggested a dinner at one of the leading
restaurants that evening, for ! had been
trying Tor q month to get one Of this class to
talk with me about her trade, but was
utterly foiled until met the man who kept
this place and appealed to him in my de-
spair. Now that l was to be successful the
best was none too good for the lass who was
10 tell me the story OF 4 life so strange to an
American as to be more than romance.
THREE FOR A CROWD.
mot there" said she, "but some quiet
place. if may bring one Of the other ladies
with me-"
This arrangement was made, and 1 went
away wondering what was to come of my
dinner one day later with the bright bar
maid and her companion. Mex: morning
called at the place for an appetizer, and it
was agreed that we should meet at Simp-
sons, on the Strand, for fish dinner. ]
was on hand before the time, and they ar
rived promptly. They wore the same neat,
black gowns, but had laid aside the white
CUTS, collar and flower at the neck, which
have grown to be badge of the barmaid's
Office
We found 4 retired table as they wished,
and sat down TO enjoy ourselves. They
were so polite and such bright takers that
it vas half an hour before 1 could mu.ter
up the courage to Intrust nv business into
the pleasant occasion. Think of an old
timer like me who has seen so much OF the
world, and handled almost every element
O. human life, getting nonplussed on the
threshold OF splendid story. But / was
thoroughly so this time and might never
have found beginning for il, had not Miss
Towne's companion said to her: "What do
YOU think? 1 heard Mr.. Willis speak Of
you to this gentleman as 'Peepin' Tom.'
EXPLANATION OF THE NAME.
What an angel that girl was Her words
caught me by the nape of the neck and
shook my wits into me.
YES" said l, 81 thought it so funny, for
he knew wanted TO see a young woman,
and the name indicated a man."
Miss Towne's face flushed at first, and she
did not seem to enjoy her employers speak
ing so familiarly of her.
"He must have forgotten himself, she
answered quite airily. 1.-The girls some-
times call me that, but lie never did before
that know Of. You see, L came from Cow
entry. 1t is a beautiful place up in War
wick, near Kenilworth Castle and the home
Of Shakespeare. 1t is one of the large
manufacturing places for silks and ribbons.
It is also the center of bicveing and tri-
cieliug manufacturing in England, and,
withal. one of the loveliest spots in this
country. 1 was born there and my parents
kept public house. In those days almost
every family had its room at home and the
Youngest and the oldest took hand at wesv-
ing. So, early in lie I divided my time
between the loom and the bar, when trade
was knocking at the tap room.
"BuU how does that account for the
'Peepin' Tom nickname?"
"Why have you not read the legend of
Lady Godiva?"
THE STORY OF COVENTRY.
purposely professed ignorance of the old
+ale 10 hear how she Would tell it. She did