The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-07-14
LONDON BARMAIDS.


Found Among Them.
Now that the season of summer
drinks is at hand, anyone who has ever
crossed the Atlantic and been Bohemian
enough to visit the Criterion or any
other great or small bar in London will
think regrctfully of the girl he left be-
hind him in the person of some bright,
clever harmaid, who, in black
gown, immaculate rolling collar and
cuffs and deliberately dressed hair,
served up his liquid refreshments this
time last year in dear old bonny Eng
land. Throughout the length and
behind the bar is 4 recognized institu-
ton. Seldom if ever do you see the
typical barkeeper of our native land and
though the unaccustomed will shrug
their shoulders in holy horror at an oc-
cupation which to them seems too
dreadful to be spoken of above whis-
per, they must learn right here that
these girls, as a class, are as self-rc-
speeding and modest as any of our ma.
classes in this country. Certain it is,
with their many sided trials, the pub
icity of their occupation and the temp
tation to drink, that their conduct is
wonderfully to be commended. OF
course there is always strong, burly
fellow on call in case of an emergency,
and high words, profanity or ungentlc-
manly conduct is nippcd in the bud by
the gentle persuasion of this gentle
mans wrists of iron.
Most of these girls are above the
average in intelligence. They are fire.
quently we'll read and always thorough
ly informed on the topics Of the day,
for they have before them from early
morn until late at night living ncwspa-
pers in the persons of their customers.
If a man once prcsumes on their posi-
ton and attempts the slightest famil-
iarity these women who face the world
to earn their living can by look re-
duce him to his proper standing with
as much dignity and hauteur as the
highest lady in the land.
Their hours are long and their work
is arduous. At ten o'clock every day
they are on hand, polishing the glasses,
rearranging the decorative decanters
and little wooden barrels il which
brandy, gin and whisky are kept, to be
drawn off from the tiny, almost make.
believe spigot. Until midnight sounds
there they stand, with but short in
terval for rest and rcfreshment. Their
customers arc numerous and varied,
and must be served with equal polite
ness. There must be no distinction
shown between the blear-eyed, reeling
woman who wants "'alf pint O. bit
ter, MISS" and the swell in evening
clothes who drops in for "a B. and S.
and a bit of chaff."
Refractory corks must be made to
give in and come out. ice must be
cracked and spigots turned, floor and
bar kept wiped up and glasses continu-
ally repolished by one pair of hands,
until it is no wonder they soon look red
and coarse, for these girls are not kept
for show, as is enormously thought
on this side of the water. OF course a
pretty girl is an acquisition-she at.
tracts customers, and is therefore de-
sirable, but if she does not likewise
work hard her good looks will not keep
her in place very long. Some wonder
fully refined and attractive women are
to be seen among this class of workers,
and it is not to be wondered at that
many of them marry into ranks far
above them, though the mental status
of the men who hang about such re.
sorts is to be questioned even though
their social position is assured.
TO see the barmaid at her best Ire
laId is the place. There she reigns SUI