Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-04-28
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL

LETTER FROM 1HE CAflfAl'
Local Topics, Including the boy
colt 4 Dissertation on our
t!tris-A Little Common Sense
TaIk on the subject ~ House
work A slight Aiiusion 10
Politics -Gubernatori1i MUS
ings-Iteception OF the chinese
Minister and It's Political Sig
niticauce.
EDIToR HERALD: The capital city is
reposing under clear sky, and its deni-
zens are enjoying the bright sunshine OF
II midsummer day, tempered by an at
mosphefe just fresh and balmy enough
to make one feel that "winter is lingering
in the lap of spring" But serene as is
the atmosphere, it fails to altogether
communicate its serenity TO the people OF
this city, who are sgitated by local dis
turbanoes which seem to be at their
best, or worst, when nature does all in
her power TO impart sunshine and cheer
fulness to the social fabric.
THE BOYCOTT
Has come in to create dissension and
heartburning, and one.half the commu-
nifty is at swords points with the other
half. There are few places In the State
where the Chinese are more firmly en-
grated upon the industries OF the local
ity than here. With one notable excep.
tion (Senator Routier) the fruit-raisers
and farmers and op.growers OF this
county seem to be unalterably opposed
TO the boycott. They have 80 long been
accustomed to have their farms worked
and their fruits aud hops picked by
cooIie labor tcheap, docile and unexact-
inR) that they cannot bring themselves
to tavorably consider the just claims of
their own rice. Many set up the obiec-
ton of the impossib,liiy of procuring
white men or boys to take the places OF
the Chinese. But tho answer TO this is
that cheap fares in tho past few months
have greatly increased the number OF
willing white laborers in our State; and
the example OF senator Reuter-, who says
no has never had any difficulty in get
ting all the white help he required,
would seem to point to the fact that
this objection is not only now not tena-
BILE, but has been so in the past. The
fact is-and IL is substantiated by many
who are well acquainted with the labor
system Of the farmers and fruit growers
OF this region-that the employers are
generally averseto supply ing to their help
such decent accommodations and fare as
IA naal 10 And | aIanant
too. that the higher wages tho white
laborer would require cuts an important
figure In their pro-Chinese attitude
Against the cupidity of gain, reasoning
will not make much Roadway; but II is
nevertheless true that II the 100000
Chinese laborers in this State were sup
planted by that number of white men,
an impulse would be given to every in
dustry, including that of the farm and
the orchard, that would necessarily re-
act favorably upon all employers and all
industries In this city the boycott
seems to have
STARTED AT THE WRONG END.
The first step taken was to spy out
every family that employed q Chinese
cook or servant, and publish 1t offensive.
ly. Now, it il certain that some one
must do the Homework required. Ii
one sends away his Chinese house.
worker there must be some one to take
his place. | know family here that
has been assiduously trying TO get a
competent "girl' for several months, and
has not succetd ed. Our own girls scorn
to hire out. Not one In a thousand will
stoop to do housew ork. They all want
to get places in shops or to learn trades,
at which even when successful they can
earn the merest pittance. Good homes
are awaiting them in many families, but
they falsely consider II IA degradation to
accept them with the contingency Of do
ing housework. glory in that honora-
BILE ambition which urges every man and
woman to ''rise out of tue prison of
their mean estate, but when the fact is
palpable that everybody cannot reach
the upper ring in the ladder, those
whose place is naturally ut the foot
ought to accept the situation and try to
become perfect in their sphere. False
pride should give way to good sense,
aud the strong girl, fitted to do house,
work, should consider that the educa
ton of domestic employment would
make her a far more acceptable mate to
the mechanic and artizan than any taw.
dry accomplishments she might acquire
behind counter or in learning any OF
the precarious trades allotted to woman.
However, this one thing is certain, the
Chinese servants will not go until their
places can be filled by others. And this
opens wide field of speculation as to
who are the ones that shall fill them.
II it be not "our girls" 1t will be some.
body else's girls; and in that case the
wives of ourfuture lsborers and NEE hanics
and artizans will go to their bridal homes
innocent of the art OF making the hus.
band OF their choice happy by brewing
him iirst.rate cup of coffee or cooking
him dinner that he will applaud to the
echo. All, how many of the unhappy
homes In our land are made so because
the queen of the house is not also
queen in the kitchen And how many
divorces have had their origin in the in
ability of the wife to prepare for the
husband palatable breakfast aud a
digestible dinner!
SPEAKING OF DINNERS
Reminds me of politics-in the same
way that Mr. Burton was reminded of
the Grand Opera of Paris when he en-
tered q western skating rink. But after
all there is more suggestion OF dinners
in politics than one would suppose at
first thought Successful politics
means good dinners and good breakfasts
too. And unsuccessful politics means
dinners, good or bad, for the unsuccess-
ful politician is bound to dine, no mat