Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-08

Al tnis instance, quite appropriately, the
servant problem is a serious one all over the
country, but in the way of regular double
twisted prize-puzzle problem Of that kind
Washington is just little in the lead of every
other city on the continent. In other cities
the difficulty is divided among the races Of the
earth; English and Irish, French and German,
American and Swede, each, sooner or later,
has spoon in the broth and even the China
man has his inning. But here in Washington
we don't make such nice distinctions. 1t is
simply colored and white--mostly colored.
There is an ideal darkey servant we all have in
mind. but rarely get into our kitchens. As q
general thing the "culled ladies and gentle
men" who condescend to abide with us for a
consideration have all the incompetence and
arrogance of their foreign brethren with few
native vices added. The trouble is, as one Of
the most intelligent and faithful of colored
servants once said to me, "Dis yer city Is jes'
chuck full o lazy, no account niggahs that
doan want to do nothin' but set an look at de
Capitol and treasury and fleet what q mighty
fine thing it is to live in Washington"
SIX wEEKs EXPERIENCE.
My experience with this class began six weeks
ago, when the cook that had long been the apple
Of our eyes having fallen in love completed her
period Of usefulness in the family.
The first experiment was named Mary. She
could neither cook nor do any other manner OF
| work known TO civilization but she was harmless
except that her dense stupidity had tendency to
infame the passions Of the family to the pitch
| of murder, or at least personal violence, and SO
to keep out Of the police courts we accepted her
resignation before the end Of the week.
Then tried Ida. Ida detailed to me the
| proper way in which Homework should be done
and incidentally gave me some valuable hints as
| to the best method Of removing accumulated
| grease from pots, kettles and other utensils
There was no doubt but that she knew how to
work, but some way she failed to put her knowl-
Lad oo%,, =
| symptoms Of mental unsoundness. Conceiving
a desire for q certain pudding one day, ven
tured down to ask her If she could do any thing
with recipe.
II don't never have nothin to do with any
receipt books" she remarked scornfully. "My
| cookin is all brain work"
And FRAMEWORK cooking being too ETHEREAL
for us she had to go.
LOUISE AND HER "BooM-DE-AYE."
The next was Louise. who had distressingly
civil habit Of separating my conversation into
clauses Of two and three words by a running
fire of ''yessum-" She was pretty good cook,
but dirty beyond any attempt at description.
However, we worried along until one night,
| SOME friends having come in for their first in
formal call there rose to the library such q din
/ that we all jun ped. My first thought was that
some Of our colored neighbors in the alley were
having charivari. 1t kept up until eyes be-
| gan to rove and conversation became disjointed,
until embarrassment and nervousness were SO
visible in me that could do nothing but num-
| BILE some sort Of apology and retire to investi-
gate. As descended to the kitchen the racket
grew louder, and when l opened the door there
| at $50 O'Clock, with not a dish washed, was my
Lady Louise singing ''Boom-de-aye" and kick
ing up her heels among the pots and skiets.
| Maggie was then engaged and although she
| made 1t point to do exactly contrary to what
she was told, family council, decided that in
view Of the fact that encampment week and
houseful OF company were approaching, it
would be better to endure the evil we had than
| to fly to one we knew not of. Under her re-
gime, however. the larder was in the chronic
condition of Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard,
in spite Of the fact that my marketing allow
ance was laid out with lavishness never before
equaled. l had to dismiss her.
i IN THE NURSERY.
About this time, to make life still sweeter, il
became desirable to make a change Of nurse
and to that end sent for nv former trusty
cook, who came Of respectable Virginia
family, to inquire il she might not have some
relative who would be reliable nurse After
deep reflection she said she didn't know Of any
one unless, perhaps, her grandmother would
come. This suggestion not being received with
enthusiasm she proceeded to descant upon the
J entire untrustworthiness Of nurses in general
and, as was her habit pointed her remarks with
an impressive illustration.
"Why, l know Of nurse" she said seriously
''and they used to put something in the baby
J wash water, and the nurse let the baby drink
some of 1t and it killed it. Yes, nam, it jes
died. And now the lady says she wouldn' I
recommend that nurse no way"
An experienced aunt was finally suggested
/ and engaged. and now Betty and the baby run
the family to suit themselves, for Betty speed.
lily ingratiated herself so securely into the boys
affections and is SO good to him that his dotine
parents arc persistently blind and deaf to any
shortcomings in other directions.
''DIsENcoURAGED."
By this time, to use Betty's expression, had
become pretty "disencouraged," and decided
to try "settled white woman" This wal
another Mary, and she was SO entirely SETTLED
that she made no attempt whatever to keeI
pace with her work. Tuesday afternoon, very
little Roadway having been made with the iron
ing, thought would help matters along By
preparing the vegetables and making a desser
for dinner: Requiring some strips of bacor
for seasoning purposes l requested Mary t.
&c. it for me from the store ROOM Not :
move. Trusting she had no. heard repeated
my request q little louder. Then she spoke.
Tim not used mum, to havin such messin
on ironin' day. Where have lived they al
ways has a roast or br'iled steak or the like and
can't put up wild no messin'." Needless Il
say my wrath was at boiling point but con
trolling my voice as well as possible I said
quietly:
"lou will get me the bacon, Mary"
'1ndade III not" shaking a towel ou
viciously," till finishes me work. II yez want
the bacon get it yourself"
How longed to fell her to the earth. In
stead said: ''You will get the bacon at one,
or leave the house. Understand, / am mistress
here and allow no one to dictate to me what
shall cook on ironing day or any other day.
Every well, mum. and that's the raison ye ca,
never kape girl You're known all over Wash
ington."
And she went. 1t Is very soothing to reflect
though, that on the principle that it is bette
. to make q bad impression than no impression
at all, cut a more prominent figure in Wash
ington than had dreamed.
TIRE FUNERAL DODGE.
The next day 1 took in another damsel who's
name have forgotten and Thursday morning
she announced that she was obliged to 60 t
the funeral Of q friend. While I was gettinl
dinner, the mourner not having returned,
boy came to the door saying she had beeI
taken violently i'll and wanted 50 cents to pa.
for medicine procured from q drug store TO
her. My husband, who came in at the moment
assured the messenger of his firm conviction
| that he Was o liar, but nevertheless gave hin
the money-and we haven't seen the half dolla
or the moumer since.
BACK TO coLoRRD.
had had enough Of white servants and fel
back again on the colored.
49, H. - IL huA