Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09

the deserted streets, with no human eye to
witness her progress except one man, who
hid himself in the church steeple and was
discovered peeping.
A TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT.
"The people were so incensed that they
caught him, put his eyes out, and from that
day to this the town has been known as
'Peepin' Tom, Coventry and people COM
ing from there are apt to get that appelia-
ton among those very familiar with them.
''The Lord of the Manor was astounded,
because he had no thought that his demand
would be met, so when he reduced the tlthes
as he had agreed he made the proviso that
woman must ride through the streets in the
same manner on the same day every seven
years, and a failure to do so restored the rate
OF taxes. Of course, there is no danger now,
but the event is always celebrated as holl-
day time and some woman consents to ride
the white horse in silk tights, and If her
harris not as long and flowing as was Lady
Godiva's, she wears a wig. Now the pro-
cession is a long one, and there are bands of
music, and the day is given over to jollity
and pleasure. In fact, it is a rare holiday
in and about Coventry, especially among
working people. Twice in my younger lite,
while l was weaving silk or standing be-
hind the bar in Coventry, rode in the pro-
"ession that tcommemorated the singular sac
rifice OF this remarkable woman.
THE SILK INDUSTRY DECLINE.
"Silk weaving in England, like many
more OF its industries, has suffered very
much of late years. have known the time
when l could earn 60 10 week (Sl2 50).
Now, to do my best, could not earn at the
same work more than lbs (S3). The task,
such as l have now, is not altogether un-
pleasant, because the class of customers are
of the best, the place is handsome, and
everything is done to make your work as
comfortable as possible. But in many OF
the ruder houses, where the rougher class
congregates, the surroundings are not pleas
ant and you have to put up with many
things that are very annoying. Yet, must
say, even in the lower places men are rarely
insulting to barmaid."
"Whar effect do women behind the bar
and drinking with men in front of it have
upon their general conduct?" L asked.
Every good, indeed. Here men and wo-
men alike drink whatever they please. Yet
there is little real intoxication, which, 1
think, is, in great measure, due to the fact
that most classes of women, except the real
swells, walk into the bar and drink with
their husbands, sweethearts or friends with
out causing the slightest comment, and iD a
majority OF instances keeping the man from
ing as much as he would. Men do love
women to be comrades with them.
INFLUENCE ON THE DRINKERS.
"Then their presence has a refining in
fuence upon all the men who come in to
drink, and no lady is in the slightest dan
ger of insult or comment in any respectable
bar-room in England. Americans do not
seem to have much idea of how to enjoy life.
They appear TO be always in a hurry, COM
ing In, ordering drink, gulping 1t down at
a swallow and then walking out as rapidly
as possible. Sometimes they look around in
astoniShment to see a woman serving or
taking drink, but they rarely stay long
enough TO be annoying or agreeable.
"They do not seem to be able to get along
with what we have, and are constantly ask
ing for things we have never heard of, and
getting irritated when they cannot get them
Our people are entirely different. An
Englishman would not patroniZe bar un-
less there were women behind to serve what
he wanted. He wants 10 come in, take a
seat and enjoy his brandy and soda, Scotch
and soda or bitter, as the case may be.
Sometimes he will read and take Is minutes
in enjoying his drink. Frequently he will
chat with us when we are not busy. He is
never in a hurry, and rarely ever drinks
anything but ale, brandy, Scotch or Irish
whisky, gin or wine. None but Americans
and foreigners drink abslnthe and cordials."
FROM THE WORKING CLASSES.
"From what class are girls in your walk
of life taken?"
'Frorl all grades of working people.
They have to begin and work up to good
place Just as in any other trade, except in
some cases where young woman with e1-
ceptional talents or looks gets place to
learn the business without beginning with
the drudgery of it. But these cases are
rare"
"What constitutes a barmaid?"
"a fine personal appearance, neatness In
dress, good conversational powers, polite
ness, patience and desire to earn her living
honestly. 1t is difficult to get chance to
serve without experience, and therefore the
girls have to begin in the smaller servants
places and work up to the better establish
ments. For as rule the proprietors of a good
drinking place are very severe, and will not
accept a reference that does not state the best
of Qualifications.
III assume that such superior qualiica-
tions must demand good salary?"
THE WAGES AND HOURS.
"Oh, yes, as wages in England run. We
get from 10 shillings (S2 SOY to 16 shillings
(S4 00) a week and our board aud lodgings
besides, when experienced. The hours are
long, from in the morning until 1890 at
night, with two and sometimes three hours
of and one whole day every other week.
On Sunday we have little to do, being open
only from to 3 and 6 to IL in the evening.
But there are so many people always
clamoring for place, especially those TO be
filled by women, that it affects wages and
often works great hardships."
Would not place as saleswoman in a
shop be more congenial?"
"By no means. They have much less pleas
ure, and not tithe of our variety. Their
work is harder. and there is no comparison
between the life of a barmaid and a shop
girl, except that they may be better paid.
There is hardly consideration that would
tempt any of us TO make the change. You
must remember that every servant in the
house in which we are employed is reqvired
to wait upon US just as upon the master and
mistress. We haven't to do much except
to dress ourselves and wait upon the Gus.
toners. A man servant keeps the bar clean
and has everything in readiness for oul
work. A shop girl has to do the drudgery
of her place. You see also that the dis
tinctions of lie mean a great deal to us
here"
CLOSE DISTINCTIONS EVEN THERE.
This closing remark was a staggerer, as
imagine it Will be to every American, bu
after weeks of investigation l have found
the barmaid to be correct. She has the bes
of it in the great struggle female laborer'
have to make In this country for living.
Asa rule the barmaids are the best con
yersationalists and the brightest womer
among any working class l have ever me