The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-03
WHITE SERVANT GIRLS.
A MOVEMENT SAID TO BE AFOOT
TO IMPORT THEM.
Difficulties in the Way of supplanting
CoIored with white Help-The Question
of Caste Among the Laboring Glasses
Girls Abundant in New York.

Colored with white HeIp-The Question
of Caste Among the Laboring Ciss.es-
Girls Abundant in New York.
The Richmond correspondent Of the
Washington star recently wrote 10 his
paper that there is a movement aiOOi here
| TO do away with negro servants and sup
plant them with white girls: and that an
organization has already been formed ~
quiet way 10 import them. lie add, \
prominent citizen suggests that pubic
meeting be called in the next few days 10
boom" the movement wealthy
broker has published letter in
which he saws 1.-The question. What
shall we do with the negro IL before
the people to-day demanding an answer
more emphatic than ever before. We must
deal with it. and without further delay. in
some positive way. Say what the s-ntimon-
talists of the North may the Southern people
have been patient and forbeaiing long
enough and 10 stand longer in our own li.hi
as 10 be untrue 10 our section and 10
those who are to follow in our places. We
have argued and pleaded with these people
only to receive their answer at the polls:
/ We are opposed 10 YOU and your methods
Freedom and education have resulted thus
| far i'm an increased percentage Of luhacy
among the negroes never before dreamed Of.
while morally the race j. drifting most rap
idly into condition simply deplorable and
alarming"
DIFFICULTIES N THE WAY.
The scheme is good. but the leader, in it
will find many formidable obstacles in their
path that NAV prevent its cOnsummatiOn.
In the first place, white girls cannot be
procured even by importation, who will
| long remain in service H. dOmestics. after
thew learn Of the lively and increasing de-
mand for their services in the cigar
ettc. cheroot and paper-bOS factO-
rie>. I'm a factory an intelligent
and industrious girl Of sixteen or eighteen
years can make more than twice as much
rs employment in the Susehold would pay
her. and besides have more time Of her own.
Many girls have come here from the coun-
try and accepted places as nurses or house
maids. but as soon rs the green
wore on they Nenturcd TO try fac
tory work. and found it paid. \
house girl can get scarcely more than $ OF
SO month and board, and have 10 work
from early in the morning until or O'Clock
at night, while an expert factory operative.
working from 10 &, can make from - to
SO week. The difference il considerable
and any smart girl who assumes the role of
"domestique' soon sees that She Is vast
ing her time.
NEGRO RIVALRY. q
In the second place. the negro comes go
prominently into the vocation Of servant
that a white girl, if She is a resident, will
not engage i'm such work. If She is
"A stranger, She will get out Of it as
soon rs she becomes acquainted with
the state of affairs in the south. In
the North most of the hclp-a very large
| proportion of it's white. but il girls were
imported here from the North. on from
abroad. they would not be long in finding
! out that in the capacity Of servant they are
looked down upon. and can obtain no social
rccOgntiOn.cyc from the humber classes Of
people. who have their castles as well a.
the upper sets. \ factory girl wouldn't
associate with "a house girl any more than
society girl would 60 with factory girl.
and thus the life of a domestic in it, outside
social relations with the outside would be
50 far from pleasant that she would essape
into store or factory rs soon H. the oppOr-
iuniiy offered itself.
THE LADIES WANT THEM.
The ladies Of Richmond would Dc only too
glad 10 have white help. for the negroes.
with the possible exception Of some few old
''mammies," who haye been in the families
since before the war, are utterly incapable
and unreliable. And the education the
negro girls are receiving in the schools tend
| 10 prOpOrtiOnately unfit them for the only
calling they can practice here.
WHITE MECHANICS.
There are about 10000 white mechanics
in Richmond. but none of their children 20
into service. their parents. Of course, think
ing it beneath their station.
II is proposed by the leaders in the move
10 induce thrifty swiss. German. Swedish.
and Irish families 10 come TO Richmond and
accept homes here, and il is expected that
If a sufficient large party of immigrants il
secured in "A bulk, that the number Of girls
will be more than enough TO stock the facto-
res. and leave large surplus who would
establish themselves as servants.
\ move was made here three or four
years ago 10 procure white girls TO take the
place Of the negroes, but il failed. because
il was not pushed.
ALADY's VIEWS.
II would be only glad To have white ser
wants in my Kitchen and nursery" said a
lady Yesterday. ''lor the negroes are Just aw- /
ful. They are the bane of hOuseseeper's
life. lOu can never depend on them. They I
come and apply for situations without any /
knowledge whatever of the duties which /
they are engaged TO perform. In nine cases /
out OF ten they can't bake pan of bread. /
bitl ttl III vi iod>l Ut uIbll. ana unless i
one watches them very carefully they will /
bring food To the table either burnt or 80
badly cooked that il can't be eaten. oh, /
they're terror; and at the very time YOU
want them most they get sick or have to 20
away 10 see their aunts, or some
other fictitious relatives. Every chance
they get they steal provisions. or
# they have access 10 the chambers. they
whatever they think will not be
missed before they get away. for they don't
stay at any one place more than four or five
months. and never IN the summer time.
That's their holiday, which they spend i'm
he country eating watermelons and laying
lrolnd in tie sun. Don't talk TO me about I
negro servants. There's nothing | have to
'ontend with that causes me more trouble.
10 BE HAD IN NEW YORK.
Since the agitation Of this servant girl
question the attention Of II. stephens
'uild, ~ west Fourteenth street. has been :
allied TO the subject. and the ladies In ,
barge have offered TO supply rs many a