Salisbury 



bar of the hotel was to be found every sort and 

 condition of man who had come in for a drink 

 and chat, or was merely on the prowl. You 

 ordered drinks, but were not asked to pay cash 

 for same. Of course, they did not refuse to take 

 the coin of the realm, but it was the custom to 

 sign a " Good for," or piece of paper with your 

 name. These were ultimately totalled in a bill 

 for the whole amount, covering perhaps a week 

 or a month, according as your credit was at 

 high or low water. I found my little batch 

 embodied in my weekly bill at the hotel. This 

 system saved trouble and time to the bar tender, 

 and was, I take it, of considerable assistance to 

 some of the men who were habitually " stony- 

 broke," but who paid when they could. It seems 

 that ready cash is not always the best form of 

 exchange in a business such as this ; a man will 

 often drink more or give away more if he is not 

 asked to weigh in at once with the " ready." 

 A man, even if he knew no trade, could easily 

 earn his ten shillings a day, whilst a mechanic 

 or mason, or one who knew his particular trade 

 well, could earn twice this amount, but it must 

 be remembered that the cost of living was 

 correspondingly high, so that little, if any, money 

 was to be saved. At the time I speak of all 

 stores had to be transported from the nearest rail- 

 head in ox- waggons. The freighters charged, and 



made, good money, but the stuff was a long 



89 



