The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-07
SOME QUEER TOURISTS.
They Go Abroad as CnttIemen and
Return as SweIIs.

While hosts of people look over the pas
senger lists of the lucky ones who are able
to go abroad and envy them way down in
their hearts, there is class of men who
make frequent trips across the ocean which
would hardly excite envy, excepting by rea-
son of their peculiar privileges, says the Chi
cago Chronicle. This class is humorously
called cattle chambermaids, because of the
fact that those who belong to it give their
attention to the live cattle that are exported
from this country to Europe. The men who
do this are the riffraff of the world, and when
here find it difficult to earn more than enough
to keep body and soul together. But when
they are lucky enough to get one of these
"chambermaid jobs they feel like million
aires for they get more money day for the
trip than they could get on shore in week.
There are a number. Of Chicago stock yards
men who do a large business exporting cat
tie, and they always have a gang of fellows
around waiting for the first chance to go
out with a cargo. The average time of these
trips from Chicago to London is about four
teen days and the price paid the attendants
is $50 In gold. The chambermaid is at no
expense whatever. He is fed, but, oh, such
feed 1t is worse than that of the animals he
looks after. There is always gang boss and
he it is who dispenses the grub. Ordinar-
lily this is boiled fat pork and bread, with
. only water to drink. The pork comes from
the kitchen in great pot or tub. The boss
stabs a chunk of solid fat with the long
handled fork almost pitchfork In fact, and
hurts it at one of the maids" with some
choice specimens of billingsgate 1t is caught
much as dog catches a chunk of meat in
his mouth and no attention is paid to the
liquid grease which flies in every direction.
The fat pork is followed by hunk of stale
bread and drink of water finishes the re-
past
But what care these fellows for the fare
and the labor going over. They know there
will be joy and pleasure when their destina-
ton is reached. Once landed in Liverpool or
Southampton they are given their $50 in
English gold. this SO they will spend it. in
England, and return ticket good for ninety
days from date.
Then at once begins season of riotous
living. The first thing is f1ashy suit of
clothes and a walking stick and then off for
London. The old hands know better than to
elbow in" their money on expensive eating.
They have become familiar with the coffee
palaces to be found all over London, where
they get an imperial quart of coffee for one
penny and bun" equal in size to an
average loaf of bread, and thus for two pen
MES they buy all they can possibly eat On
certain days, when they feel like luxuriating.
they may perhaps spend threepence on some
dainty, like a dozen shrimp but even with
that extravaganza. INDUCED In every two or
three days. the $50 will last long time and
give plenty Of opportunity to soak themselves
with &c ALI and 'alf.''
These chaps always stay until the money
is about gone and then back they come to
Chicago. where the glory of their London
clothes soon becomes dimmed as they loaf
around the cattle pens at the stock yards
while waiting for another chance to act as
chambermaids to drove of cattle