Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-16
WHERE WOMEN ARE BUTCHERS.
Because of Wars Devastation They
Took the Places of Men.

Because Of Wars Devastation They
Took the Places of Men.
OF all the occupations that Of
butcher seems one Of the least suitable
for the fair sex; yet there is at least
one country where this trade is entire
ly monopolized by women and mo men
need apply"
That country is Paraguay, where
many occupations which among us are
invariably assumed by the sterner sex,
fall to the lot Of women. The cause OF
this state of things is the heroic war
waged by Paraguay more than 30 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 to-
tai annihilation Of the able-bodied male
population of the country, and the re-
suits may be read in the following fig-
ures: Population of Paraguay in 1867,
l,00 I'D
termination Of the war; 1t amounted to
only 221,O79, and Of these nearly all
were women, children and very old
men. When the war was over the peo-
pie had been reduced to the most alb
ject proverty and were on the verge of
starvation, being driven to such ex-
pedients as to eat cats, dogs and
horses. Worse still, owing to the de-
struction of the male population, per-
feet anarchy prevailed, and all the
work formerly performed by males fell
on the fair sex. They rebuilt the
houses which had been burned down,
titled the fields and wove for them
selves rough homespun clothing from
the cotton grown on their own fields.
To this day the butchers in all parts
of Paraguay are women. In the pub
lie slaughter houses the cattle are dis
patched by men who sever the spinal
column by cutting it with a sharp cut
lass just behind the nape Of the neck.
When the animal falls to the ground
it's throat is cut and it is allowed to
bled to death. This Is the only part
of the work done by men. Carcasses
are then conveyed to the butchers
stalls where the meat Is cut up and
sawed by women, who are dexterous IN
the use of the saw and knife. 1t is then
served out to customers, also by wo-
men-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 a penny.
Women of all ages act the part or
butchers: some are young and pretty,
others old and wrinkled. The women
are great bargainers and keen as mus
tard 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
on their own account acquire modest
fortune.
In the larger towns the meat Is only
allowed to be sold in the public market
place where stalls (owned by the NUM-
cipality) are let at auction to the high
est 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 precau-
ton for a warm climate. The result Is
that just previous to closing time there
is a great reduction in prices and
crowd of bargain hunters appear on
the scene-economica house wives,
keepers of cheap restaurants and the
like-rather than see the meat thrown
away or DESTROYED the keepers Of the
stalls sell the remainder at almost any
price.-Milwaukee Sentinel.