The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-13
HOUSE GIRLS AND COOKS.
DIFFICULTY IN PROCURING SER
VlCEABLE HELP.


the Housowife-w Girls unobtaina-
BILE,
Bret Harte once wrote that "for ways
that are dark and tricks that are vain, the
heather Chincc is peculiar" The Celestial
has. however, a fellow-boing in exclusive
pccuiarites the negro. Some authorities
state with seeming absolute knowledge that
the Chinese live ON rice alone, but many
people Of Richmond can bear testimony
that the negro lives on nothing at all-and
grows fat. Not all the negroes. but great
many Of them exist in this paradoNical
way. and by their knowledge Of this secret
amnc they cause no little yindictiye wrath
TO be hcapcd on their heads. and no little in-
convenience and discomfort 10 the white
popuatiOn that are forced to employ theil'
I'm the summer the nesro's Thoughts are
generally about getting ont OF employ
mcni with dreams OF plenieous patches ol
melons. and perfect liie Of dcNll-may-
carcishncss. He grows lazy.
THE WOMEN.
The cOlorcd sister is not one whit less IN
tercstcd. In the winter she is perfectly
willing 10 stand over the hot stove. move
around lively. and set The table or do the
washing for the family in the kitchen, but
when the green apples ripcn and me grapes
take on "a purple hue she suddenly discovers
She has relatives i'm the country. No mem
Der of the household with whom she has been
stavine the past six months can Tenehi-
be- when Maria ever spoke oi her relatives
in The country before. She has neNe. asked
anyone Of them 10 drop ths oui-ol-lo"h rel
ai.ea line. But in "a moment cAanSe
fakes place in the quiet home. Maria LAS
M lasl thought ont her country friends ana
size must pay them visit. OF course, she
f. sorry 10 leave Mrs. Jones, she has al
WAYS been treated we'll but it Is her duty to|
/ see her only relatives. and she must leave
som time during the summer Inc peace
off the household is disturbed. and specula-
tiou is at once INDUCED in that VIII DING
| the family out OF such Chaos. charming
sister Annie SAYS that li Mana goes she
will iOlcgO the pleasure az her Trip ID the
! Roclbrdge Alum and help mamma do the
cooking. But mamma VIII not hear OF such
a proposal. and Annie is bundled To Tue
/ tram with becoming dignity Dy me MholV
! family.
Lille Nell tells mamma that 81 aint very
strong bat viii help you all | can ana
! Bob tine mischieyous says be VIII cut lhc
kinding wood when Maria goes.
/ MARIA LEAVES.
Atlast the day comes. Mamma gives
! Maria am old dress quite as good as new:
hut out of style The pere OF the household
nav, Maria her wages. and the night closes
around the house with one occupant less.
/ Robert has gone % led. after having peen
/ instructed To- get zap when hc IL called Nci
! is thinking of the great responsibility lit
/ Tie eirl can Dee subjected 90. and pere and
mere sit ON the porch discussing "the sings
and arrows Oi outrageous fortune.
ThcncNt morning daWns. Mamma, with
fathers aid. kudics tine Kitchen ire. Bobby
cuts the kiudlmg-Wo0d. and mashes ms
[ thumb i'm the process, and Nelly breaks a
pl9to while setting the table. This is be-
Ginning. but Fate has stuck his omnouS
seal ON the house. and day by day things
crow worse. Father gets into me haolt oil
taking his meals down town. Boldly piaN $
late i'm the afternoon and is late Tor supper
i and little Nell loses her appetite. While the
moor. tired mother. harassed % death 10y
every little petty trouble is glad when the
time for retiring has come.
COULDN'T GIT ONE.
Why. they could have easily gotten SER
want. Could they. SO one that has never
. assembled the Juneeulrau can have any idea
of fine limitless aud sublime beauty ~ Tie
scene. 80 one bat those who attempt %
hire servants I'm summer know the Nlsslrl-
tude. and trials of such an undertaking.
The negIO servant won't work IN the
summer. or al least the greater majority Of
them won't. They much prefer 10 lOal
about. live on crust and a cup of weak
coffee. and spend what money they nave III
VatermelOns aud excursions. OF course
there j. great many that Keep ihciI
nllces for three. tour or five years at time
int these are scarce and far between. The
average negro is the one that Is spoken or
~nc has as fixed ideas as the planets have
orbits. and any deyiatons from her settled
ouinian viii throw her whole mind IN one
state of chaotic emotion.
EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES.
. Tal,ine with men who carry on employ
} mpnt agencies. the reporter found on yester
day that every day be- had many applca
lions FROM IeOple IN nccu Of servants. 'h,
81 orthcm said: There are many negroes
70 know who if they were ont OF employment,
could well recommend. but TTeat number
IT them are totally unreliable. ihey pre-
p sent recommendations. but haIl inc uh'
, they arr t0rgcrire. in'i, 700, lhc -Ira
trouble Is that halloitnem 10 not know now
to cook. They have perfect cilrOnlcry anl
-, auplv for the place. Often the lady who
wishes "A cook wants one badly. and WI
take the first that comes. The applicant
e. saws She can cook. and after the fist day d
is clearly demonstrated she knows nOthlu-
aloul such matters. W hat Is the lazy q
foe She can do nothing, for il she were q
DISCHARGE that one. and get another
-, the latter would probably be usi
aS bad. 40, she doesn't discharge hcr
but teaches her cooking. Aiier sly
months of this schooling. some reia
tive in the country gets sick or for some
other reason the COOK leaves, and the lady
. f., forced To 90 through the same process
J again. This is exactly how the status %
! tine cost f., and ilc only remedy ! can Sec
for il j. 10 establish cooking schools. lncft
, is such thing. think. in progress io
white urls. but the negroes nccd IL worse
If they were taught the udmrnts oi coon
ing. am quite sure the next Generation
q would not have so much trouble with hhe'
c0lored help
WHITE GIRLS.
''Why can't YOU get white girls from the
Norih:'
don't know. except that they will no
come some have been brought down here
' but they dislike doing the same work ina
, they see NEGROES doing. ard as soon "a, they
can get out of thc situation they 40 So
They eventually land i'm cigarette or paper
, box factories. II is, ! think. SomeWh ma
peculiar. for they do fine very same worn q
the North, bat they come very lhuth lHoi'
important when they got south, an'
p ina few months some houses gre
needing new chambcr-maids on cooks. II
could ct them ! could provide over tw'
- hundred homes for usually intelligent irisl
or German girls in week. But effort
% have been made for them. and il does 10
wofk. so have given up the idea Of whit
o. labor some time ago. our system al pres
# ent know is bad. but it is the best We cal
do. 50 we all have 10 be satisfied. som
J.. wears hence. when Richmond Is larger
: then, perhaps, irish ana German -iIl7 ca
be- emplovad, but the present time is not ih
n one for such dreams Of peace and comfort
l. NEW ELECTIONS ORDERED.