The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-05-26
: The Heather Chinec.
MRs. NFGUs.-No. 6.

Ma. EDIroR,-T have not taken my pen in
hand for some time past, owing to n good deal of
domestic prc-occu Yati0:- | have not n large
establishment but my small house requires all my
attention. In the matter Of domestic help we
have peculiar difficulties. lived a while ago in
a big city Of America, where " servant-galism >
was the y"xed question Of the domestic house
hold. and where Bridget invariably ruled the
roast. Here i; is lie = Heather Chinese" He
is the master Of the domestic situation. | have
been for some time getting along with a culinary
John at S. per week who prepared our b~eelstcak
and biscuit. hash and kobbOogee' with a uniform
ity OF quality and style, until my little table cir
Gle became rCbellloUs against my Celestial chef,
and would have 10 more of bis cookery. So I
relpiccd a: the recent numerous arrivals OF China
men and presumed that | would have ample
choice of culinary artists ut my own price. |
dismissed The inyasiable John we had had some
time. aud commissioned an agent to send INC a
new CLinaman as q cook. One came with bag
gage in n wallet, and smoking a cigarette. lie
says, &" Nc plenty sabe coOkee Shongkung me
cookee too muchcc En~glishmen.' | was reioiced
to get an experienced cook from the great and
luxurious city Of HOngkong. | gave him charge
of ing kitchen. After giving him due time to
have fully entered upon his professional duties |
stepped respectfully into his department to observe
the progress OF my new chef decuisine. |
cautiously removed n lid from n boiler and
observed Il heterogeneous mass of potatoes and
cabbage, and on enquiring about the roast. was
answered MIC cook him bime bye. fix 'um
potato and kobboogee all same China" | saw
that had to deal with a wild Chinaman with no
more knowledge Of cookery than a gorilla, and
SO | dispensed with his services instanter, and
checrIully observed his departure with wallet in
hand and cigarette in his mouth. The next day
tried Chiaaman, NJ. ,. lie was a quiet
meek-eycd heather, and when | came to observe
the progress of the preparation of a meal. |
found the biscust burning IN tie stove and OBJ
sarua6 the Celestial IA a Et1tC af nhlivinDs heat
tude and noting a peculiar d~rug-like odor, saw
that | had obtained this time n confirmed opium
smoker.
No. 3. had some IitJIe recommendation and
had some island experience and lie prepared q
passable meal, but lac insisted upon such exact
official hours, and uF0n such a large space of
time for his own pigeon that | would have 10 re-
gard his hclT rs only an occasional Official service.
And indeed, the time he gave 10 he left him such
a wide margin Of other time, that he could have
readily fulfilled the Office OF cook for two or per-
haps three other households, in case they varied
a little their time Of meals.
No. 1 was a nice young Chinaman. lie ap-
peared cleanly and attentive, and | began to con-
graduate myself that | had obtained Il ~satisfac-
tory cook until j discovered that | must fast or
partnke Of cold lunches on Sundays. My China
man had became a disciple OF = Massa Lam0n-'-
When | and mine demonstrated about our COM
Portable and appetising Sunday repast Wong
Long Cue said - Too muchee wantce read book
writcc all same Englishwan. BIme by | plenty
sabe, plenty makee money So, as We couldn't
give up our Sunday dinners with a friend or two.
we had to part with the capable Long Cue.
No. 5 had been trained a little by experienced
hands, and gave US toleTab!c satisfaction. and |
felt that ] had his services quite reasonably at 81
a week. " Then = second Tay-day came around
Long 500 said to me, = Too small moncc." l,
fearing to lose a to!erably satisfactory and much
needed servant, agreed to an advance of a dollar.
Again. when the next Saturday or payday came
around, my satisfactory cook told me that Mr..
So-and-so, a n~eighbor, had offered to give him
much more than | could afford, and SO | was
again and am now withou a cook.
1t has been much discussed here that there
should be some special legislation to regulate
domestic service, but | think the correction of
wIatever 3evil may exist in regard to domestic
service GiSd be we'll corrected by housekeepers
tbemse, There should be some discussion