Morning journal and courier., 1881-06-14
The Ways OF CnInrse DoIhestics,
From the San Francisco Bulletin.l

The shrewdnesS OF the Chlnese Is proven
bial and novel ways in which their shrewd-
ness is exercised are discovered every day.
Every Chinaman looks out for himself first,
last and all the time and after himself his
fellow Celestial, and lastly, and in a very
moderate degree, for his barbarian employer.
A Chinaman will look after his own interest
even to the detriment of others of his own
race. The singular actions of Chinese dom g.
tic servants have never to this time been ex-
planned. and they are mysteries to great
many housewives. House servants have
adopted novel mode of protection in their
positions, and they are aided by the employ
ment offices kept by Cinnamon, of which
there are some half-dozen in this city. For
instance, Chinaman has position which
brings him in SIS aweek. Hehears of a posi-
ton that would give him So week, and he
Immediately endeavors to get it. He succeeds,
but with characteristic foresightedness he ar
ranges that he can get his first portion back
should the new one not suit him. This he
does by writing on the wall. In some places
where new servant would be sure to see it
he writes some diabolical sentence concerning
the mistress or master of the house such as:
''This house no good very bad pay" Lady
she scold very much no good. In one case
few months ago Chinaman wrote by the
faucet at the sink in the kitchen; Man of
the house kill China boy and bury him in the
back yard new China boy is engaged to
finding these terrible stories of the horrible
way in which the employer treats the ser
wants, gets away as soon as he can. Ii the
bow who wrote on the wall before leaving
does not like his new place he goes back to
the house which he has left, saying that he
has returned from Sacramento or Stockton,
or any other place known to him only by
name, and wishes to go to work for them
again. The employers having had, perhaps,
q dozen Cinnamon in week, none of whom
would stay, are glad to get their old servant
back again, and welcome him almost with
open arms. utterly ignorant that he is the
cause of all their trouble in the household. In
a western addition dwelling Chinaman
wrote in his native hieroglyphics clause
which by Interpretation means, "Master cut
China boy with carving knife" Another
one reads: Lady throw stick of wood at
Chinaman.
Unprincipled employers need not think,
only one for Cinnamon writing their senti-
ments on the wall. If they are not paid they
get revenge by depicting their employers as
villains of the deepest dye in language SO
fierce that Belshazzar could not have been
more terrified when the 'tMene, meme tekel
Upharsin" appeared on the wall of his ban
quet-room than the unsuspecting Chinaman
who reads the fate of his predecessors In his
native tongue. China boys also take this
mode of revenge when they are discharged.
Employers should carefully watch the actions
of the boys between the time they are giving
notice to quit and the time they leave, IN or
der that no damaging statement be left behind.
1t has been known that remarks have been
printed on the walls of gardens where the
servants are required to sprinkle water from
a hose. But there is another reason for SO
many Chinese servants leaving places soon
after arrival. There is a combination exist
ing between the half-dozen Chinese employ
m l.
engaged at the employment Office commits
sion is paid by the employer. Chinaman
is sent to the house indicated, stays short
time and leaves. The employment Office then
gives HIM half the commission paip by the
employer. One energetic China boy can thus
go to many places in a month as there are
days, making good wages and doing almost
no work. The employment Offices can get
number of commissions from any person
hunting servant. It is said that all the in
telligence Offices kept by Cinnamon are in
league to keep up this underhand business,
and also in an endeavor to crowd out the one
off ce for procuring Chinese help in this city
managed by white men
Chinese laundrymen have similar method
of getting even with customers. When bills
are not paid they retain the clothes. and 1t ls
sometimes necessary to obtain them by at
tachment But the garments are returned In
a different condition from that in which they
were taken. Certain cabalistic figures on them
mean "Bad pay-no good" This is warning
to other laundrymen to be on their guard
Once a wash-man wrote on some clothes of
lady who was about to leave the part of the
city where he kept his place, Washing only
once in two weeks" It seems that the ways
of the Cinnamon are very treacherous. A
gentleman living in this city took Chinese
servant East with him during the centennial
year. He took him to all prominent places of
interest throughout the eastern States. After
returning to this city the servant, who had
lived about Is years with the family, left
without notice, saying that he had seen
enough, and did not want to stay any longer
with his employer,