ONLY A BARMAID.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5146, 20 September 1877, Page 2

ONLY A BARMAID.

IN REPLY. Do you know, “M.” or “N.,” what you were talking about? “Only a barmaid” And you pretend to know what it means and what it does not mean. Some think you are a lady, and some that you are a gentleman, but I am sure you are neither. Are you quite sure that you possess universal knowledge ? Do yeu not know that there are many gentlewomen to whom the drudgery of the kitchen, the utter subservience of the parlor, the miserable pittance of the needlewoman, are gall and bitterness ? Do you not know that they feel themselves as well entitled as your lady wife or superfine daughter to that elegant leisure of piano and sofa, purchased perhaps at a greater sacrifice of self-respect than is implied in being a barmaid? How do you suppose they can best attain it ? By cleanin'* your boots, brushing your coat, or sweeping your passages ? No. They choose, knowing themselves that there is nothing necessarily derogatory in it, to take the position of barmaids. Is there anything in that subversive of order or morality ? I—a lady—say, No. There are few that come to be served by a good, frank, innocent, and well-conducted girl at a bar but feel bound to observe the proprieties. Let but a brute—and there are brutes, some of whom appear in print—use improper terms or language, and ten for one of the men around—the “debased sottish fellows” —will interpose to stay the babbling idiot. Why then should I leave the bar ? If ought unbecoming has been said in my presence to provoke a laugh, it was the speaker and not I that was amenable to the feelin<* of shame. The drunkard—poor fellow—would he drink less without me ? Have I not often, and with success, dissuaded from excess? And you talk of our conquests, “M.” Are you not ashamed of your poor jealousy ? What for are your balls, at which you appear in dress to which mine is modesty. Look at home, “ M.” If by your sour, cross, and unsympathetic nature you have driven your chosen to seek elsewhere some gleams of consolation, take a lesson from your own homily. Turn over a new leaf—be pleasant, kindly, charitable—and in time you will have cause to be grateful to one who has no hesitation in signing herself Barmaid.