A BARMAID IN REPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 677, 1 July 1882, Page 2

A BARMAID IN REPLY.

To the Editor.

X have understood hitherto that your journal was “ tho people’s " paper of Ashburton, and I was surprised to find on Thursday evening last, your newspaper advocating depriving one class of “ the people” of theirmeansof a livelihood. You say that females should not be allowed is bar-tenders, and hope to see them soon

superseded by men, and you say that they often “fall.” Now, Sir, do they often “fall”? I maintain that barmaids are as virtuous, and no more frequently “ fall ” than do women in other walks of life who are oast on their own resources for a livelihood. As well advocate doing away with maid servants, and replacing them With Chinamen. I can assure you, Sir, that we see so much that is despicable in your sox, while pursuing our avocation, that a woman must be weak indeed who

“falls.” No, Sir, we see sufficient c your sex to prevent our “falling” int your traps. It is only those who ar viciously inclined among us —and unfoi tunately there are such —who go astray and they would do the same no doubt i they ptirsned any other calling. And a to the first step in the downward pathdrink —I can assure you, Sir, that we se. so much of the evils of intemperance, tha wo are less likely to “fall ” into bad way in that respect than is the girl who per haps sees less of the misery which dt ink ing to excess undoubtedly causes. Pos sibly, Sir, you got your ideas from one o the inane puppies who delight to loung< over a bar swinging their half-crowr canes and puffing their threepenny cigars, and who occasionally “shout” for us thinking, no doubt, that we swallow theii drink and their stupid compliments al the same time. I can tell you, Sir, that we do neither one nor the other. I think that people who write for the newspapers should be careful what they say, and not endeavor to rob a much-maligned and hard-working class of the means of earning a living. This is the first time I have written to a newspaper, and I hope you will be good enough to print my letter — and also, please Sir, correct any errors in the grammar—as it is sent you in the hope that the matter may, as you say, be “ publicly ventilated”; and, Mr Editor, I have just a little bit of woman’s curiosity, and would like to see how my letter looks in a newspaper.—lam, etc., A Bakmaid, [We have much pleasure in giving our correspondent’s letter publication. We can understand her resenting any suggestions which may tend towards depriving her of her occupation. That is quite natural. But in urging the abolition of the “ bar” as a trade for women, we wrote on public grounds, and feel sure that our remarks will be fully endorsed by every reflective person. There are scores of pursuits which may be undertaken by women which do not subject her to the degrading influences inseparable from tap-room life. As we pointed out in our article, America supplies a case in point—or rather thousands of cases.—Ed. G.]