Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-23

pravity which belongs to inanimate things. and
all Of the kitchen furniture had Joined in q con-
spiracy to destroy the amiability of my d spo-
sition. Bridget. after accepting our third best
ribbons and second best shoes. not only with
expressions Of overwhelming gratitude. but ex-
tolling US as members Of the Heavenly Hosts
had left US taking with her our best jewelry and
best dresses. A search for her and q day in the
police courts had resulted in a severe attack OF
pneumonia for my sister. and great physical and
nervous fatigue for myself.
had managed to prepare q dinner for the
family the previous evening and had made
coffee for breakfast, and now that was alone 1
sat down among the debris of these feasts and
looked about me in despair | knew that a
backache was waiting tor me in the dish pan
aud headache In the stove. | could do the
work. but | would be thoroughly demoraliZed
and-the printer might at any moment send for
copy. was, as most women are To a certain
degree slave to household work The printer
could wait. the dishes must be done. had Just
armed myself with this yirtuous resolution when
there came a low tap at the kitchen door and a
China boy about fourteen or fifteen years old
presented himself
His face ,oos childlike and bland. so was his
voice. so We're his manners
How do. Ne worlee all same you. John
washee Saclamento Sleet fetch him." he said
without moving muscle or pausins To take
breath. knew he meant that our laundry man
IN sacramento street. TO whom had applied tue
previous day Tor help. had sent MIN.
" Ali right. John. all right" | said. while he
proceeded t0removc his Shoes and replace them
by list slippers very much turned up at the toes
and then to put on a fine white linen apron in
place of his blue blouse.
He understood but few words of English but
his comprehension of what was required Ia be
done and what Was expected of him. seemed to
me ptenomenally quick.
The cheerful .all li@htee all lightee' with
which me responded to all my Instructions. WAS
reassurng. the Instructions | must admit
We're vague A comprehensive sweep of the
hands over the dishes and pointing to soap and
water. was ABOUT the extent. | escaped from
the Kitchen inwardly rejoicing that 1 had left
such al Intelligent machine at work there
Verify, he proved himself a machine that
morning But the intelligence. Alas perfect
obedience and discretion We're. it seemed, in
compatible.
When came to the kitchen two hours later
exc ldined in diSmay:
Why. john What on earth are you doing?
" hat have you done!
Name. All Hop Sing; John all same he
! said. smiling placidy.
He was calmly washing the kitchen poker and
/ drying it on one of the cup towels.
No. no. said, augrily taking it from him
| and violently shaking my mead.
Alice Wash:' he inquired with mild astonish-
ment.
True. | had told him to wash everything. and
floor. but | had not counted on such literal
obedience. The bath hrci. and the box of stove
polish were carefully DRYING in the window. the
candies were neatly arranged near the stove,
the coal scuttie was clean and shining. In fact.
there had been a general inuudation. But a
scotding would be lost on him. That is one of
the trials i'm getting a newly arrived Celestial
Alter my nrst establishment and anger were
| over went patiently to work to sl,ot5 hin what
! things were to be done and what were to be left
undone. 1t was only few days before our
kitchen was perfect i'm it's order and a marvel of
Cleanliness Clarence King, one of the cleyerest
and most obServant of our writer's on life on our
Pacific coast. shows us the anomaly that the
Chinese are constantly presenting. Collectively
they are unspeakably filthy individually they
| are often pnenomenaly clean.
Our John or Hop Sing. was fair example.
The white linen aprons which he wore for his
work were immaculate. His long supple hands
and well shaped fingers We're always ciean. His
queue. always firmly braided and wound round
ana round his head. was never awry. When
he handled the broom the carpets were
we'll swept No dust iurked in the corners
or bits Of thread hid away under tables Chairs.
He made some mistakes. but always on the side
OF OVeT-ZealOusnesS. and he was not only will
ing but anxious to learn. He especially delight
ed in new ideas and his face fairly beameG when
new duty. which indicated greater trust in
has capacities, was assigned him. The front
door knob was his great pride and can even
now see the profound satisfaction with which
he regarded it as he added innumerable finishing
touches. As polisher Of windows he was an
immense success | fancy he regarded this OPP
Grafton as religious rite, and afterwafd made
sacrifices to some Of his gods on account of it.
was conscious that lie had this feeling for a
long time before l could discover any rea-
son for it. But at last | understood it.
| always gave him newspapers for dry
ing and polishing the windows. and found
he regarded them with peculiar reverence. Ii
mas been my misfortune to struggle with ser
wants about the destruction of newspapers. L
generally threaten them with all the terrors of
the law If they venture to take even a scrap
without my special permission. So thoroughly
had l impressed this lesson on Hop that he
Thought the newspaper was my peculiar god.
and he feared to bring down misfortune upon
himself should he show any disrespect to it.
1t was only few weeks before Hop proved
himself very efficient servant. We were pre-
JUDGED against Chinese cooking. having heard
| some horrible things in regard to it. SO that
while with us H(o never made any advance in
that art. But as housema;d he became very
expert and thorough l look back to the days
we spent in that little cottage on San Francis
co hill top, with Hop Sing as our assistant. as
in many respects the most comfortable house
keeping of my experience.
The wages We paid this Celestial treasure
were a dollar and quarter a week. He came
every morning at half-past six. made the fire.
boiled the water for the coffee. and then rang
the bell to awaken us. We were only three i'm
family. and it was no trouble to prepare our
own simple breakfast. Hop Sing then put
everything in order. Every pan was shining;
the pots could be handled with cambria hand
kerchief without soiling it; the tea-kettle never
had a collection Of dust and vapor about the
nozzle and handle; and when it was time to
cook the dinner, the vegetables were prepared
the stove was clean and the fire perfect Under
these conditions cooking was easy. even with
out a Reformer stove. l could imagine it a
pleasure with one
have never been able to teach a girl to do
what our fourteen-year-od "China boy learned
IN few weeks without trouble III f., one thinr
that makes housekeeping so great a tax Oh the
houSekeeper. is the fact that it is so difficult to
get servant who is responsible for the duties
she assumes. She always needs looking after
and she generally fOrgets l used to think that
Hop Sing never forgot anything. We never
carried on our minds the burden of his work
In few months he learned to express himself
In pigeon-English. if not with great fuency. at
least picturesquey and with force. His dis
elimination. and his ability to put two and two
together was something very amusing. Some
where he had picked up the idea OF the common
Specification 'high-toned." and our guests were |
accurately classed by him as .'ail samee YOU or
not according to standard which he estab- |