The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-04-08

gossip and graceful pleasantries in
clients; that she is the object of del
icate fiattary and sedulous attentions;
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 re-
gard in which her charms are held by
host of fervid admirers. To those
who see her in their minds eye, by the
light of these imaginings, 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'
guild" who appear always to think as
badly as may be of their fellow
creatures she is "a snare for the feet
of the unwary," a bold, bedizened
daughter of Heth," an incorporate
temptation to overindulgence in intox-
icating liquor. Thus, in the fancy of
some of those who know nothing about
her, she stands depicted as frank and
radiant Hebe; in that of others, as q
willy and lurid Delilah.
The real barmaid of ordinary COM
merce has scarcely any characteristic,
save now and then that of good looks,
in common with either of these ideal
dispensers of liquid reflection. As a
rule she is an industrious, honest and
respectable girl of humble origin and
rudimentary education, overworked
and underpaid, 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 sordid garnet, often after having
been on her feet, with a few brief in.
tervals 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 a more laborious or duller
time of it, week in. week out, than bar
maids. Their work is peculiarly IA
tiguing and their hours are exception
ally long. While they are ION duty
that is to say, in many cases from eight
or nine in the forenoon until midnight
to do When they are not engaged in
serving customers, taking money and
giving change, functions calling for
the exercise of considerable dexterity
and watchfulness, they are cleaning
up" the overcoming liquor stains Of
the bedabbled counter or keeping up
high polish on the metal and glass
ornaments and appointments of the bar.
In esta Establishments enjoying local fa-
vor, where business is usually brisk
from morning until night, barmaids
have no leisure whatsoever-no time
to indulge in gossip, to listen to COM
pliments or even to pay the most
cursory attention to the rough and
vulgar "chaff'' which certain classes of
public house haunters and 'loafers at
the bar" are in the habit CT addressing to
the defenseless young women employed
to supply them with drink. These girls,
moreover, many of whom have been
brought up in decent homes by we'll
conducted and law-abiding parents,
are under the daily necessity of wit
Messing 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 excitement. Tipplers and
dram drinkers of the lower orders sell
dom give thought to the feelings of
the girl behind the barr or place any
restraint upon their free flow of in
vective in order to spare her offense or
annoyance. She, for her part, is bound
to put up with their utterances, how.
ever abominable, lest she should of.
fend her masters customers, thereby
mourning his displeasure and exposing
herself to the risk of sudden and per.
! emptory dismissal. London Times
NADInIIC AFNTEC