SALA ON BARMAIDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1223, 7 August 1885, Page 3

SALA ON BARMAIDS.

“Pretty barraiida,”. remarked Mr Sala, when interviewed on the subject, “ form with us in England a social institution. They are very well conducted, sprightly girls, as a rule, and many of them get good husbands, if they are only sensible enough—and most of them are—to keep virtuous. Spiers and Pond, the eminent refreshment caterers, and who own hotels in many parts ot England—are hotel millionaires, in fact—introduced the system of employing barmaids. Spiers and Pond came from Australia. They were the first to revolutionise the Eng lish system of the railway refreshment rooms. Thev established a service of pretty, cheerful barmaids at all the various buffets with which they were connected. Their barmaids are not only renowned for their good looks, civility, and smart business abilities, but also for their very decorus demeanor and virtuous reputations. At almost every refreshment room in England the ordinary public toast of travellers is ‘The Pretty Barmaid At the Ludgate Hill Buffet, London, a large number of these barmaids arc employed—all virtuous and prettygirls. It is a charming sight to see them marching, two and two, to the Temple Church, iu charge of an ap» pointed attendant, in the pretty uuU forms provided by Spiers and Pond.” “ Then T understand that you ap prove of the employment of the barmaids and lady waitresses'}”—“ Certainly. A pretty girl is preferab'e to a man, because she lends a gentleness and charm to social amenities, which could never be created by a man. A refinement, too, is added to the surroundings. She is a cheek, to, on the use of bad language, or to the indul gence of prankish boisterousness A I barmaid, too, does not bet and make books on the next horse race, and I perhaps lose more than she can afford, and then perhaps filch the difference out of her employer’s till, as many barmen have been known to do. She dosen’t smoke and swear and hobnob with drunken guests. I know that the opposing argument is that pretty barmaids encourage immoderate drinking, and lure brainless young fops to frequent bars. 1 have seen some of this, but 1 always noticed that such a brainless young fop didn’t want much allurement If the barmaid were not there, he, instead of sucking his cauo and staring at her with stupid round sheep’s eyes, would be haunting the billiard rooms and ruining himself ’ey fancy beta We like ‘ The Pretty Bar* maid’—* The Little Barmaid’—iu England. Further, we like ‘The Buxom Landlady,’ whom wo find here and there, and with respect to whom there is always a comfort in her cheery smile ann her ready bustling activity in attending to our wants. Barmaids are treated with universal respect and courtesy in England—and they do-

serve it.”