Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-06-22
WAKEENEY. KANSAS SATURDAY, JUNE 22 1896

As BARRIERS, walters, coachmen and
janitors they are quite up to the mark
of the proud Caucasian. In fact, I am
not sure but that they are superior to
the whites in the avocations I have
mentioned. In previous letter have
described the almost incredible arro-
gance and ignorance of the average
white janitor in New York. I elab-
Grated the theory that he was a sur
v1v1ng relic of the prehistoric cave
man, with just sufficient intelligence to
build fire, and readily understood
penchant for living in cellar.
AS barber the colored gentleman
Is to be commended, and he is to be
found in many of the most fashionable
tonsorial parlors Although the negro
delights to impart valuable social, sta
tistical and meteorological information,
he manages to restrain his ear-breath-
ing conversation better than his white
ccnfrere. However, like the white ton
serial artist, if a customer has one hair
left on his head, he, the artist, has the
courage to suggest miraculous hair
restorer of his invention. Like the
minstrel man, the colored barber is not
as black as he is painted.
But it is as an aristocratic coachman,
or footman, that the colored man APP
pears to the greatest advantage. The
imported English automatic or joint
less footman, who has good turning
lathe leg and an air of impenetrable
gloom, is very good in his way, but on
points of personal majesty and incom-
prehensible dignity he cannot hold
candle to the darlzy, The best speci-
mems are to be seen on Fifth avenue,
and on the boxes of coaches adorned
with armorial bearings. l saw one the
other day in green froclz coat, cordu-
roy trousers, white duck overgaiters
and sharp-toed patent leather boots.
He wore the neatest of yellow kid
gloves, a natty beaver hat, and his
shoulders were covered by a magnif-
cent sealslzin cape. He was seated by
the side of the driver on the box, and
the look he cast at shabby white
tramp who shufled past was one of the
most superior things | have seen in
New York. The colored funlzey is al
ways calm and his collection of fea-
lures wears an expression of naughty
languor, which is not natural to the
negro. He shines by the reflected light
of his millionaire employer. It is worth
while to come to New York just to look
at him from respectful distance. /
don't think he can be found outside of
Gotham.
As a waiter, the colored man is great,
but as a head waiter he is grand,
gloomy and particular. However, you
must not call him ''head waiter" or he
will call you down by informing you
that his proper designation is dining
room superintendent. He stands in
the middle of the hotel dining-room
with his arms folded and pose that
suggests the picture of Napoleon at ST.
Helena.
He is man of naughty mien,
To whom all patrons cater,
AS if he were cross between
A king and dictator
The highest round on the waiter lad
der is the head waiter. He is distin-
guished from the ordinary waiter by
his inimitable pose, and, also, by his
wearing white shirt and longer tails
to his coat.
The ordinary colored waiter is more
polite than the white New Y Yorl1 waiter,
but he is up to date in all the tricks OF