The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-08
SEEING THE VEST INDIES.
Housek o ping In Jamnicn-The Negro Ser
wants and Market People.


parlor. dining room. kitchen. four rooms. and |
rooms In an clubhouse for the black servants. |
We brought with US our own linen and silver;
everything else was supplied with the
house. though there were. OF course. few |
deficiencies which we had to nll. For this
We pay Is month. As yct few people
have gone to Jamaica to spend the win.
ter only. and the demand for dwelling
places has boon 40 small that the prices are
entirely unsettled. When we first began our
search for o furnished house We could hear
OF only two or three on the whole island; but
within the next month we had about dozen
offered to US. in different places and at varying
rates. from five pounds to twenty-five a
month. That which We secured was really
very comfortable and in good order. There
Ia but one serious fault to be found with 1t.
Only one Of the bedrooms Is ceiled. In the
others the partitions run up to the sloping
roof. which 10 matched with palm. through
few accidental breaks in which the rain de-
sends If there 10 . really severe storm.
while in all weathers lizards. MICE and cock
reaches are liable to mako their way in All
these Invaders seem 70 become especially
,s tm a,ee for ss hnman Of
rooms 10 get sufficiently accustomed to the
80 mods bSs al
SsTy non IN 1o tGe h h9s ut the
We keep three women servants-cook. cham
who waits on ,he table. Xxhe,her a man AZ
Washing il given out I find that each woman
does. perhaps. two-thirds az much work as
In ali their movements and like TO stand about
and talk when they have chance; but It would
do less work than q white woman. they do 1t
steadily and always as well as they know how.
idea Of throwing up their situations Tor frivo-
lous causes. as we hear that the negroes In our
feet English whica they speak and the DIM
Guilty which they find In understanding per-
w Of often Sye e at
least a great deal more Intelligent than they
seem T to eur Is,,I observer o,o ,.,,,.,
labor TO their work than any white woman
would do. Az our floors arc solid mahogany.
flooring. Every morning the hopsemaid firsr
with 4 coinblne brush made Of the top OF q cocoa
nut husk. cut on 50 as 70 expose the stiff inner
maid 20 to her depository Of oranges, pick out
"orange juice cut of, de dirt. Oranges very
she went on her marrow bones. taxing hold Of
the round cocoanut brush with both hands,
Of oTee Gsy oor IN the IS
in this way every day, and the mahogany
sa a. has t.
Tho blacks cannot be- called neat workers
but is hrd at to h e b how much mo- OF "t is .
them to work with such AS our servants re-
ceive. Our chambermaid. for instances. has no
and then gather the sweepings into her apron
with her hands. Our butler has little china
bowl to wash her silver and cups and saucers
in and rag to wash them with. and expects
nothing better. The cook has next to nothing
ages rs we'll as she does Tor within a very mar
row range OF dishes she cooks quite acceptn.
lug the house that should have stove. Ibid
after We arrived. and then found the tiny stove
standing on the sort Of high hearth on which
stovepipe at all. and Only one or two covers. the
rest being lost; and H yet the cook hnd never
found its way out. when the wind favored.
through openings In the roof. But in all cases
with. they made use OF them more faithfully,
and took better care OF them. than should
The one. thing about. them which is really
disagrerable Is their infexihle disposition to
ives nm seem sst
but nothinS to en-, Is safe and you never know
the trouble: but soon found It was necessary
to lock up everything to do 1t Immediately
after each meal. ana to count every smallest
article given out for cooking. They stole with
c ce' kss ba Ga ta, Often ak I'm the
whole OF something provided for the next meal.
so That. before we began to lock the things up,
we would occas ionaily find ourselves sitting IN
surprise before half empty table. II asked
wnu d say: Dunno missus. dev all gone"
hs " We pay hrsa s
lings n week apiece tsixpence more than the
thev always provide their own food out Of their
wages. 1t would require n much more highly
n q sply 700 on
| a portion OF such wages and put better food on
their sWployer's table without taking a share
consider II fair to get what they can for them
selves. but also regard 1t "a meritorious to get
Us much IA possible for their friends
AT first We had some trouble about getting
| provisions. but when it WAS once understood
We We had no further .jiiicaliy. We have some
really excellent beef sent up to us from the
and Inferior beef is brought around in the mid.
die o; the week at from tourpencs ha,psnny to
Ash is brought around twice a week By the fish:
chickens. which. however. though voraeious.
a aS Fo4 can get t
we ' pay s!xpsnce n pound, ior tarkeys nine:
pence and for DUCKS four shlines = pair.
two Three shops snna 10 load "ai
| at these we can get toerahls groceries at
something more than New , York prices. Twice
| shops the market Ia held where we buy all
our other supplies. Here. at about o'clock in
| the morning the negroes begin to assemble
each coming np the mountain road with a big
basket or mahogany tray on her head heap
The women are al dressed In freshly starched
| dresses and handannns. and generally wear
necklaces, OF bright beads. l'rny have on neck
seed which they twist In many strands around
| their necks Once in while n donkey with
laden PAINTERS Will appear, and group of the
patient little animals always stand under the
pmento trees near BY waiting for heir mas tiers.
| The women There are always many mora
women than men at the market take their
trays Off their heads unpack the few dozen
tables. which they have brought. and spread
| them out before them in little piles on the
on the gresn. and you wind IN and out among
them stepping carefully not, 10 tread on the
| little heaps ar, the most desirable. and about
| how many OF them 1t VIII take to SUPPORT Your