New-York tribune., 1901-10-30
THE "FOOTING" CUSTOM.
IT CoMPELs GIRLS EMPLOYED IN FAC
TORIES TO BUY LIQUOR FOR
HOLIDAY OCCASIONS

There exists IN the Manchester and other North
Country" mills a custom known as footing"
which compels the girls employed 20 furnish wine
and liquors holiday and festival occasions FOR
themselves and the workers.
Public attention has Just been directed 10 this
custom by Canon Hicks. of Stafford. who in his
capacity OF chaoiain 10 the Stafford Hospital has
seen the many evils 70 which II has led.
For the first year. perhaps. after girl has en-
tered her mill or factory" says writer IN The
London Telegraph" she VIII not be asked or ex-
pected 10 Join with her elders in one OF these
'footngs' Temperance has been strongly advo-
Gated among the young in Manchester. as the
rolls OF Bands of Hope and Church and Noncon-
tormist schools can show. and numbers make their
working start in life pledged Abstainers But
with the first promotion. a birthday. or a wedding
IL the family the unfortunate girl Is reminded by
those who ought 10 know better that the footing
Will be expected TO celebrate the event. Her wages
al these early stages be large. and 10 pro
vide the bottle OF whiskey the bottle OF port and
the substantial plum cake which IS the orthodox
form for this useless imposition take she must
either deny herself for weeks some infinitely more
desired article OF dress. and patiently. or lay
upon her poor little shoulders a miserable burden
or debt or borrowing.
1t is bad enough when she alone has supply
@ Ges co~oIAeTs with drink, Tor IN such case the
se-Ly atl--o4e vii flot Dc Followed by serious
Mhitsuntide and Christmas or big public holidays
the same scale. and much drunkenness is the re-
SUIT A regretta64e feature OF the evil that men
tenance and encourage Il. as they 90 BY qarttci-
pains N lIe drink. Indeed. when the footing IS
oought the idea IS that the whiskey rum is for
the men who share in II and the wine Tor the
women, though now 1t Il not uncommon 10 pur-
chase spirits only
Miss Ruth Chamberlain. IN charge OF St Philips
irs Clup, has interested herself IN the matter as
IN the SIX years Of her work IN the club she has
WITNESSED decided increase. and has heard her
Eaerous excuses made for footing as we! as q
the greater quantities Of drink consumed Prorais-
tts young women nave been compelled 10 break
their temperance pledges or consume what was
r. 10 new IN oh Hfar~
eAorAhe custom. which individually they were ur-
doIe 10 Aght against. Those who ventured 70 de-
e!.he nave mad 70 face all sorts OF petty persecu-
IONS ere taGnteo with meanDess, and practically
sent % coventry by their fellows y some Of
the mills and factories efforts have been made 10
s.pLIess @ Iootings' by forbdding them absolutely
tempt al remedy has proved almost worse than
tle olsease. as the only result has been the
SaIo-se u s1ch case IS transferred a public
.rCLse, NheTe even greater excess Is INDUCED IN.
1L-s more respectable women themselves would
Aal z ceiVersnce with gladness. but present the
system seems too strong for them
About eighteen months ago the first outside at
Le1Hk. - Dreak down the habit made. when
an Anu-FOoung League was formed Us r,,ras
simple and iis members pledged themselves:
- 20 take no intoxicating drink IN connection
with iooungs' birthdays and other occasions in
- tl.I4 OF lsenere. second, 10 exclude
.0ASallng drinks from all such occasions. and
Efforts on behalf Of the sex are very vr1iI o.
salt@o ana united In Manchester. through the dis
NOIfAtFs ahc tfis movement was readily supported
by tle various clubs and societies befrieudi1- fbe
SStass. among others which took II up was The
EiTls institute. an immense non-secra rian estsT,-
llshment where hundreds OF hor dinners 20 sarT-a4
ua--E al tAe lowest possible which has irs
lolelhe houses. evening classes and a host ~
valescert homes elsewhere 4- No-4