The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-22
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JAPANESE SER WANTS.
A Very Possible Solution of the Most
Vexed Domestic Problem.

] n very EOtstDie int nOSt
Vexed Domestic Problem.
The servant question, that much
vexed and most disquieting of domestic
problems, seems likely to be solved at
/ last, the japanese are coming into the
counHy and show capacity and
| adaptability for the art of serving that
/ should make the needless Irish and
| the arrogant English and every other
/ description of help" look to their
| laurels.
! The japanese have a great admira-
/ ton for America and American ways.
! They come here to seek their fortune,
| note the good wages and good home.
offered for domestic service. and eagerly
/ avail themselves of the opportunity.
! My japanese maid is a gem,s says
! the mistress of a handsome home.
/ She is neat, quick, absolutely uaob-
trusive, and las. but not least, she
never wants to go out or to take day
off, and rarely has a visitor.
''Will she stay. 90 you think?" this
happy mistress is asked.
Two years anyway, and that is just
IS months longer than most servants
remain in a place. She is the daughter
of a Toxic merchant and came to
learn the language and customs. She
could speak English tolerably we'll be-
fore she came. When she took the po-
sition with me she engaged to stay
two years, and 1 am sure she s5ill keep
her word"
How do the Japanese compare with
the Chinese as servantS?" a gentleman
asked OF a lifelong friend who had
had experience with help of both nd
tionalities.
There is no comparison" was the
reply. THE Chinese are efficient, but
they are awfully set in their ways. If
you give a Chinaman ar order today
he will do that very same thing the
next day and every other day, no mat
! ter how absurd it may be, unless ex-
pressly told not to do so. A japanese
will use his own judgment and save
you 2 lot of bother. The japanese
catch on to things very quickly end
they are naturally courteous and oblig
ing They don't mind work. either.
have a friend whose one servant is
Japanese girl, and she does the work of
the entire house for less wages than
German or Swede would and just as
thoroughly.
What delights me with the japanese
is that they are so careful and eco
nonical,'' this lady continued. Moth
ing is ever wasted in the kitchen since
Bohma was installed, and my butchers
bills are lessened considerably. Then
he is always scrubbing up the tables
and dressprs, and / believe he puts on
clean clothing every day. l always see
his washing hanging out late in the
afternoon"
Inquiry discovers that there. are a
great many Japanese in the big cities
of the Union and that every sildp that
comes brings fresh relay of 20 or so.
\ Japanese mission established in
Brooklyn finds homes for any number
of these adventures. AS the new-com
erS, no matter what their proficiency
or social standing may be, are totally
unacquainted with localities. the rate
of wages, etc. chey gladly acceTG the
domestic service which gives them
shelter and food for present needs. The
managers report that those supplied
with places invariably give satisfac-
ton. A number OF Japanese girls and
women who came over to the worlds
fair, were stranded IN the country and
have had to support themselves as best
they could. All Of these have taken
refuge in homework or have been en-
gagged as sewing maids. They came
originally tc dance or sing or form
part of the furnishing of a japanese
booth or domestic interior" Their aim
after being dismissed, was to make
money enough to return home, but, as
IS not unusual, they see the advantage
of life in America and have decided to
live here.
Of late years many business men
have lived for months or years in
Japan, having tllefr families in resi-
dence. Their japanese servants have
accompanied them to America and
nefghbors of these returning absentees,
noting the efficiency of the eastern do
nestle. have gotten them to bring out
relatives or friends to serve in a like
capacity in their households; thus the
infection spreads. The japanese con-
sui in New York has sometimes as
many as % applications in a single
day for servants.
Il want a cook and a butler, I hear
the Japanese are so thorough and re-
liable" says a servant-hunflng house
keeper. You must excuse my troilo-
ling you she adds, as it dawns on her
that the consul does not necessarily
keep an employment agency.
we sometimes find places for our
coun.rymen newly landed says the
consul. and he turns her over to his
secretary who. in turn, directs her to
an uptown fiat where Columbia col
lege student keeps an impromptu intel
hgence bureau for fellows of his race.
These college aspirants think well of
the $40 or $50 month which such po-