The morning times., 1896-07-05
INN MAIDS.
A Lucrative Profession for Girls
Opened Up by the Bicycle,

TIE English barmaId was never a success.
never even able To gain a iCothod behind
the saloon counter in this country. The
sorrieSt tupers lighted up their very Croggy
| voicesiD a respectable manly protesta gainst
| this degradation OF feminine pride. Ind it
| has only heen since the arrival OF the bicycle
| that anything like the English barmaid
| has come into active employment on our
| side of the water. Ours is Il very idcIliZed
CODY of tile English public house fairy, how
| ever. and she is usually the daughter or
| niece of the hospitable Character, who ruTs a
| first-class road house for those who 90 L.
wheeling.
Now the very best of road houses and
| renovated wayside inns are merely taverns
where the tastes of all threats are guar
| antced to be satisfied and at first they
were open TO men only. SO great has become
| the army of feminine bicyclists and SO
| genuine was their request for cCclin drinks
| of the mildest vintage. that the road house
, hosts are finding it to their advantage to
| open pretty little gardens and neat little
| parlors where the most careful attention
will lie specially given TO feminine wants
| BY way of assurance and encoura cement
| to the hot thirsty wor:aD WHO is in search
OF place of rest. these inviting. respectable
haunts IRE put under the direction of rice
girl.
The girls duty is apparently to keep
to the simple wooden stalls for lettering
bicycles by the front steps, aadtake orders
for iced things At one such wheeiwo-
mans rest on Staten Island, for example,
group of very thirsty cyclists were
ushered into cool parlor, exceedingly
neat and homc!ike with its matted floor
open piano, horse hair furniture. and
family groups on the wall. The daughter
OF the next door saloons proprietor was in
charge, and Offered choice of refresh
irg beverages from long list of tempting
drinkabics. Ginger ale, root beer, lime
squash, lemonade. iced fruit syrups. and
! mix We're the chief items on what could
not DE called a wine list, since il con-
tained nothing in the least iatoxica tins.
sandwiches, bread and butter. CRACKERS
OF various sorts, cheese. and cakes could
pe had with any of the liquids, and.
wnile the little maid hustled ont To iii;
the orders, the wheelwCmen Strengthened
,helr bangs before the mirror, welded the
Dig palmetto fans strewed about. and
looked INTO the picture papers on the table
"hen the three tall glasses of ginger
ale and Iingling ice had been EN- ptied The
girl made the correct change and oave
iitfie duckiDg bow when one of the
patrons dropped an extra dime into her
palm She evidently expected the tin
aho the wheclwoman didn't in tie least
begrudge it. They saw she received !,
douceur from u bicyclist who b,ought
hls wife In for something ccol. but ap-
parently men were not received unless
accompanied by women. However in
spite of this sensible ruse. the little par
ior seemed to have plenty OF the best
sort OF patronage. and the little maid
was an agreeable sight to see In her
plain print gown. large white apron with
a ruffied bib and a rose in her sleek hair
instead OF cap.
So far as the three widely wandering
wheelwomen have gone these cosy rests
Tor the sex that ride drop frames are
on the increase. They are found at long
intervals. n IL true, but their number is
growing. Sometimes It is Q parior and
sometimes 1t is hedged off bit OF gar
den one will find, where those who carry
package Of lunch strapped to their
handle bars can rent the use of a table,
the proper implements for dining and
find girl In charge.
MLLICENT ARRowPOlNT.