Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-16
THE SEHVAN QUESTION.
BY CHRISTINE rERHUNE HERRICK.
fnOpurilLfed 1850

PART II.
In the main the Irish servant is more
honest than the colored one, Butter ard
sugar melt away with painful rapidly,
but in respect 10 these and other stores 1t
is the duty OF the mistress to the servant
no less than to herself 10 exercise a keen
supervision over what is consumed in the
kitchen. 1t Is not flattering to our vanity
to.charge much of our honesty to our
surroundings rather than to our innate
sense OF right, but this is the case more
often than we ere willing to admit. The
lines dividing meum and tuum are not
always as clearly defined among the
lower classes as could be desired. IL
requires something stronger and more
pervaslve than surface integrity 10 resist
the manifold temptations to pllfer with
which servants are encOm passed. In
like circumstances would her superiors in
station stand the test as well?
1t is the emplOyer'G business to guard
against the danger OF such failings, not
by offensive espionage, but by exact
knowledge OF how long certain materials
should last and by careful inquiry into
possible wastes when they disappear with
undue CELEBRITY.
Inc lUlpO5slDllIJy IN many portions OF
the country OF obtaining colored servants
and the revolt against the tyranny of the
Irish girl have created a demand for
Swedish and German help. The placard
in the window of the English INTEL gence
office, mo Irish need apply" has an
echo on this side OF the water in the ap-
plicatiOns 800 deep, say Castle Garden
officials for competent German servants.
MANY in the delight Of their release from
the HiberDian yoke proclaim loudly the
superiority Of the Teuton madchen over
those OF every other nationality. They
aver that she is more tidy in person,
works more neatly, is more respectful in
demeanor than her competitors, although
apt to lie stolid, and that she "knows her
place." There is sufficient explanation for
the pos session OF ali these qualities by the
German servant. In her native country
domestic economy is reduced to a science.
In a family OF seven there is often but one
maid-Oi-all-work. She il is VINO dOes The
cooking. sweeping, sclubbIng, busting,
marketing and general Homework, and
has the care OF the children. She IL
allowed but one evening out in a fortnigh t.
Her meals are served out TO her by her
mistress, and under no circumstances
will the maid help herself to more. All
disputes between the two are seItled by
the police, and even good servant rarely
s12. To the dieDstmadohen VINO comes TO
this country the mild rules and practice
in most households seem the widest
liberty after the strict regime TO which
she has been accustomed.
With the Irish servant the case IL re-
Versed. II would seem almost that she
sought to revenge upon the Saxon race
the injuries and expressions her nation
has received al their hands. The reaction
frnT a a NJ mr. fshx
ness Of the Irish howell is so great that she
acquires an arrogance commensurate
with her former subsection.
The question of Chinese cheap labor,
however important it NAV be in the West,
has hardly assumed sufficient shape In
Eastern cities TO call lOr serious con-
sideration. 1t is safe 10 remark, however,
that some decades yet Will probably
elapse before Americans will adapt them
selves to the plan OF having all their
housework done by men.
In point Of numbers the Irish and
negroes about balance each other. while
other nationalities arc, compared with
them. decidedly in the minority. or
English servants we know little by ex-
perlence, our knowledge OF them being
derived chiefly from the glowing accounts
brought US by those American travellers
who have been so fortunate as 10 have
their attendance at private houses Ia
England. According to what we gather
from this source and from printed &C.
counts the strict division Of social lines Is
not confined to the better class, but
fourishes as rankly in the high life below
stairs illustrated by British caricaturists.
In families OF quality the cook must have
q scullion or Kitchen maid to wait upon
her, and absolutely refuses To touch
broom or bring pail OF water. while the
butler would he overwhelmed with in
dignation we're be requested 10 answer
the door bell or fetch bod OF coal. These
exalted officials. OF course, receive cor
responding wages. The novels OF Dickens
aud other prominent English writer's have
made Ne familiar with the slavery or
general Homework servant Of the lover
and middle Glasses. II the better rank NJ
d0mesiics would have 10 drop their
aristOcfatic notions and noble domestic
ideas before they could hope 70 achieve
success Ia the United states, Il IA happily
true that IN this land The oppression VI
auch unfortunate little waifs ~ the
MarchioneAs would be well nigh impos-
sibie.