Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-26
LONDON BARMAIDa

Industrious and Respectable Girls Whose
Lot is Not Entirely Enviable.
From the London Times
Many people, we believe. entertain the notion
that the career Of barmaid, on the whole,
Is rather sparkling and lightsome one,
Astounding in sprightly incident. Among
non-frequenters of public houses, whose ac-
quaintance with the internal administration
OF these busy establishments Is exclusively de-
rived from their inner CONSEQUENCES. the i'm
preston prevails that the light labors of the
ministering damsel who dispenses alcohol to
whomsoever is prepared to pay for that
inflammatory refreshment are enlivened by
cheerful gossip and graceful pleasantries in
terchanged with her employers male clients;
that she is the object of delicate fattery and
sedulous attention; that when she happens to
be more than usually comely of face and
figure she is continually in receipt of rich and
tasteful gifts betokening the high regard
in which her charms held by host of
fervid admirers. To those who see her in
their minds eye, by the light of these imagin-
ings, it does not appear in the least unlikely
that she should eventually bestow her fair
hand upon gay young sprig of fashion or
sporting scion of some historic house. On the
other hand, from the point of view entertained
by the '.unco' guid.' who appear always te
think az badly as may be of their fellow crea-
lures she is "a snare for the feet of the unwary"
bold. bedizzened daughter of Heth," an in
corporate temptation to overindulgence in in
toxicating liquor. Thus. in the fancy of some
OF those who know nothing about her, she
stands depicted q frank and radiant Hebe;
in that OF others, as a willy and lurid Deliah.
The real barmaid Of ordinary commerce had
scarcely any characteristic. save now and then
that OF good looks, in common with either of
these ideal dispensers of liquid rejection. As
n r.rla o1,r >l,,a< -, 4
p,ctable girl, of humble origin and rudi-
mentary education, overworked and under.
paid, debarred from all the Injuries and many
Of the comforts of existence, compelled to eat
her ratiOns Of coarse food in hurry and to
sleep in a sordid garnet, often after having
been on her feet, with few brief intervals OF
rest, for from fourteen to fifteen hours of the
day and night. As a matter OF fact. few young
bread earners Of the female sex in this coun-
try have more laborious or duller time of it,
week in, week out, than barmaids Their work
is peculiarly fatiguipg. and their hours
are con duty"-that is to say. in many
cases. from or in the forenoon until
Manufacturers is always something for them
to do. When they are not engaged in serving
customers, taking money and giving change,
functions calling for the exercise of consider
able dexterity and watchfulness, they are
cleaning up the overcoming liquor stains
OF the bedabbled counter or keeping up a high
polish on the metal and glass ornaments and
appointments Of the bar.
In establishments enjoying local favor, where
business is usually brisk from morning until
night, barmaids have no leisure whatsoever-no
time to indulge in gossip, to listen to compli-
ments or even to pay the most cursory atten-
ton to the rough and vulgar chair which
certain classes Of public house haunters and
'loafers ut the bar" are in the habit of address,
ing to the defenseless young women employed
to supply them with drink. These girls, more
over, many OF whom have been brought up in
decent homes by well-conducted and law
abiding parents, are under the daily neces-
sity of witnessing scenes Of brutal violence,
in which men and women alike give the
rein to their worst instincts, and Of hearing
the outbursts Of foul language that are
too frequently prompted by alcoholic ex-
citement. Tipplers and dram drinkers of
the lower orders seldom give a thought to the
feelings of the ''giri behind the bar or place
any restraint upon their free flow Of invective
in order to spare her offense or annoyance
She, for her part, is bound to put up with
their utterances. however abominable, lest
she should offend her masters customers,
thereby mourning his displeasure and exposing
herself to the risk of sudden and peremptory
dismissal.