The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-06
WHERE BUTCHERS ARE WOMEN.
The Custom in Paraguay Dates From a
Destructive War.

OCSAA ASNAFC ~ g.
OF all occupations. that of a butcher
seems one of the least suitable for the
fair sex; yet there is at least one coun-
try where this trade is entirely moRopo-
Iized by women and no men need ap-
ply"
That country Is Paraguay. where
many occupations which among US are
invariably assumed by the sterner sex
fall to the lost OF the women. The cause
of this state of things is the heroic war
waged by Paraguay more than thirty
years ago against the overwhelming
forces Of Brazil. the Argentine republic,
and Uruguay combined This war, which
lasted FIVE years, bore many singular
points Of resemblance to the recent Boer
war. It ended in the almost total an
initiation of the able-bodied male popu-
latIon OF the country, and the results
may be read IN the following figures:
Population Of Paraguay In 1857, 1887, 439;
in 1873 (th'ee years after the termina-
ton of the war; II amounted to only
221. 079: and OF these nearly all were
NDA4tGy NntAAA ell anu FE5 O2h 4l4Ntt-
when the war was over the people had
been reduced TO the most abject poverty
and were on the verge of starva-
ton, being driven to such expedients as
to eat cats. dogs. and horses Worse
still. owing TO the destruction Of the
qlale population, perfect anarchy pre-
vailed. and ali the work formerly per
ECr nv Col EuT
They rebuilt the houses which had been
burned down. titled the fields and wove
for themselves rough homespun cloth
ing from the cotton grown on their own
fields
To this day the butchers in all parts
of Paraguay are women IN the public
slaughter houses the cattle are dis
patched by men, who sever the spinal
column by cutting Il with a sharp cut
lass just behind the nape of the neck.
When the animal falls TO the ground
its throat IS cut. and It IS allowed to
bleed to death. This is the only part OF
the work done by men. The animal is
skinned and otherwise prepared by wom-
en- CaTCasses are then conveyed to the
butchers stalls. where the meat is cut
up and sawed by women. who are dex-
ferrous In the use of the saw and knife
II is then ser ed out 70 customers. also
by women-not generally by weight. but
by the piece-and the price is so low
that a pound Of the best meat may be
bought for about penny.
Women Of all ages act the part Of
butchers; some are young and pref y
others old and wrinkled. The women
are great bargaiuers, and keen as mUs-
taTd. TO pull new arrival almost to
pieces in the hope Of securing his Gus
tom These women butchers earn good
Wages, and many Of those in business
OF their own account acquire a modest
fortune
In the larger towns the meat is only
allowed to be sold in the public market
place, where stalls (owned by the mu-
nicipality) are let at auction to the
highest bidders The public have every
security that the meat is fresh. for all
that is left unsOld at night is destroyed
by the authorities-a needful precaution
IN warm climate The result is that
just previous to closing time there is d
great reduction IL prices, and a crowd
OF bargain hunters appear on the scene.
economical housewives, keepers of cheap
restaurants. and the like - for. rather
than see the meat thrown away or de-
stroyed, the keepers of the stalls sell
the remnants at almost any price
Baltimore Sun,