San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-10
"CHILE QUEENS. /"
Their subjects, Mode of Living and
Other Notes Regarding


has heen bestowed upon the girls
who wait upon the public from behind
chile-con-carne stands, and daintily
dish out frijoles and females to their
admiring and sometimes famished
customers. Indeed it is q well selected
title and is carried with pride
by the dsmsel who rules over her
male subjects. Among these ad-
mirers are many of the "tony" and
wealthy business men. These she
compliments aud "roasts" and "keeps
the change" All this is done In such
q manner that very seldom any
trou BILE is stirred up over 1t.
There ere three classes of Chile
Queens; the country girl, who prob.
aDly ran away from home and went
at this work after making several
futile efforts to get other work, and
who Is generally coarse and awk-
ward; the Mexican senorita, whose
parents probably own the stand, and
who are, for the most part, bashful
and retiring; then comes the city
girl, or the true Queen" who has
been raised in the art of deception
aud who is generally known as fly"
or "fiippant." This latter is the one
deserving of the following descrjp.
ton:
She is between sixteen and twenty
years of age, is generally good look
ing and of polite address, when Coca
sion demands. Some are very
lady like and have some
ideas which women in high
life might adopt to advantage. The
girls go to work at p. m. and remain
GU { ia the night air until l q. m, On
A lamo plaza, and TO q. IN. and q.
In. at the other stands. After finish
ing her nights work she gathers up
her little package of toilet articles,
which she always has near her,
and starts for home, greatly
disappointing the conceited young
bloods" who hang around the corners
awaiting them, by refusing their
readily extended escort.
The pay received by them Is small,
ranging from ST 90 to 81 80 per night.
The girls who have the most educa-
tim IN their business make from $40
to $35 q week with their "hold out,n
or the short change receipts.
The life of these girls is by no
means an easy one They live In
small cottages and jackals on the
west side where they must associate
with women and men of the lowest
class. Among these they gain friends
who would stand by them in any
trouble.
The "Chile Queen" here
again proves her right to the
title. From them, generally, the
women of this class take their dress
fashions. style of wearing hair anu
numerous other points in their get up.
Some of the girls have friend with
whom they abide, or who gets the
greatest part of their money.
The "Chile Queen" at home and
the "Chile Queen" at work are two
different personages. At the former
sine is asleep from 8 q. m. to 10 a. m.
and from about 3 p, m. to p. m.
Between these periods she is languid
and sits about the house sewing or
doing other work for herself or
family. The girls make many
knick nscks and present them to
their gentlemen friends. AS plainly
clad as any of their neighbors, the
neat, fashionably dressed girl at the
chile stand can hardly be recognized
in this metamorphosis.
AT the stand they are gay, (some
lady like, some "flip) well and be.
comingly dressed, probably decked
with jewels. They have q smile
for every customer and q
word of thanks for those
from whom they hold out change.
They have their favorites, and show
this In many instances. In regard to
the color line, they wait upon the
negro on account of being compelled
to. but to the white they show all
their favor. BY both they are often
times grossly insulted.
When ladies belonging to the Sup
per Ten" are at the stands the girls
are polite and retiring. All boisterous
talk Is hushed about the stand.
The girls are seldom, If ever, seen at
low dancing and drinking houses
They often attend operas and matt
nees.
One thing is remarkable about
these women. In spite of their lust
for money they very seldom, If ever,
hold out money from poor man, and
will do anything in their power to
hel person who is In trouble.
To see some of these girls with
their cigarette in their mouths lean
ing back in their chair slipping the
fragrant coffee, looking the picture
OF conten tment in their neat home
made dress and head wear,
the latter generally q cap,
person can scarcely guess at what
lies beneath this supposed calm and
! careless outer side, but on closer in
quiry many unlocked for things
turn up, which, in spite of the way
they bleed their wealthy subjects,
shows q good heart beneath.