New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
SERVANTS FROM THE EAST.
QUALITIES SHOWN IN THE HOUSEHOLD bf
CHINESE AND JAPANESE DOMEsTICs.


who comes constantly in contact with both natioh'
alities.
II don't agree with YOU" argued the mistress Oh
an uptown house. where long experience inciuoes
knowledge Of many and divers kinds OF servants
my Chinese cook is model. He has been with us
three years, and has given entire satisfaction.
"The Japanese is more adaptable. brighter quick
er than the Chinese" 1t was urged
"Yes but the japanese is obstinate. III ne taxes
a notion that a thing should be done certain way
he'll listen to your directions, but he'll carry out MS
own ideas. A Chnaman will never deviate IN the
slightest from what you tell him to do"
And thereby make himself very ridiculous on oc-
casion" was the rejoinder "A Chinaman ls BIO"
to change his ways; he is Joined to his IDOLS nrst
and last The japanese is all alert to learn new
methods"
.Vrhere did I get my Chinese cook?" said the
mistress Of the house. Through my laundryman.
The laundryman has washed and ironed for US
from Monday morning until Saturday night, longer
than I can remember now. He is treasure
He and the cook room together Tney are
quiet and respectful, and though there are hVe
other servants in the household. OF English ana
Swedish origin they never have any disagree
ments We had negro coachman for some months
and he and the cook did not affiliate at all we
valued the Chinese most, so got rid of the coach
man.
II should say that good Chinese servants chiei
virtues are his exquisite neatness, reliability ana
wonderful economy. This cook lived whiie IN
San Francisco and there acquired entire mastery
OF the American way OF cooking with considera-
Bile idea of French economy. Nothing Is ever
wasted stolen or thrown away. and often ne sur
prses me with dishes concocted out Of odds ana
ends that had not thought OF. Palataoie dshes
too. not tasteless nor yet over seasoned.
Wages? He gets si5. Some of them ask so
and $50, even more. but these are content. Inc
in IA mil
and often have visitors staying in the house. and
seamstress and extra help from time to time. He
prepares the servants Z o'clock breakfast tnen
ours. gets the servants IL O'CLOCK iuncheoh
before the regular lunch, and gives them their
o'clock meal while dinner Is In progress. In the
interval he is always ready TO send up an extra
lunch or dinner to the sewing women, or to meet
any unusual demands made upon him. he gets
out OF temper sometimes. OF course. being human;
but invariably by the next day his mood has cleared
again and he is serene. / am impressed with his
neatness. His garb permits a glimpse OF unoer-
garments and they always snowy white; be-
sides, each day notice undervests ana articles Oh
personal wear washed and hung out afresh spot
of grease or of any kind is never discernibe
on the kitchen floor or tables; the least morsei
spilled is scrubbed up directly.
The Chinese are more initiative than the Jap
anese" she continued. They are more conserva-
tive more individual. and harder TO deal with. per-
haps but they have native business sense, and II
they see anything done twice 1t Is rarely necessary
that they should Il done third time before they
can do It exactly like the original. took young
Chnaman, not over seventeen, out OF one OF the
mission sch ools lie known to the COOK. VINO
took an interest in him. That boy could speak but
little English. but 1t amazing how quickly he
learned the uses and names OF articles about the
house In a few weeks his trainer had him waiting
on the table. setting the table and doing
other things In precise imitation OF the way
no saw them done. Many OF the chinese
look solid and stupid. but there Is Keen
perception underneath their dull exterior A Jap
anese is perhaps. quicker. more adaptable. but ne
is not as painstakins persistent as the Chinese
Al least. that has been my experience. Neither OF
them is given 10 drinking. and they don't want TO
have company like other servants"
There are numbers OF Cinnamon in New-York anx-
ious TO obtain domestic employment, but. owing to
the high wages the best OF them demand they have
TO fall back on various laundries for an occupation
until some appreciative housekeeper ferrets them
out and engrafts them on the domestic tree. There
are no Chinese women employed as domestics In the
city, except In few families OF wcll-to-do Chinese
merchants in the realms Of Pell-st. who are well
able to have luxures in their households. but who
live In those undesirable quarters simply because
habit has made the region familiar The women.
owing the peculiar opinions OF the Chinese race
regarding the SEX have not had the advantages OF
the men, and said TO lack intelligence Cn the ag'
grcgate) and to be inclclcnt
wants. This Is not true OF the women OF Japan. |
There are a number of japanese girls employed by |
New-York ladies' and their efficiency is much COM
mended
MY Japanese maid is a gem!" testified one we'll |
pleased mistress 80 dainty, petite. picturesque
and intelligent. She is unique"
"Do you think you can keep her long?" inquired a |
friend.
Two years anyhow" the reply. but she will
eventually go back to the East. am Informed by |
gentleman who has been In Toxic that she belongs |
TO a good family; that her father Is merchant and
that she came to America simply TO learn the ways
and customs OF the country and TO perfect herself
In English She learns English readily. Her father
told this gentleman that he was building home |
for his daughter. so that when she got ready 10 |
come home marry and settle down. her own roof |
tree would be ready for her. am going TO the |
country usual this summer and with the Oriental |
draperies and japanese appointments that Will |
have scattered about my maid will be in perfect |
keeping Her olive skin. black eyes and that charm
Ing native costume will appear to great advantage
There other Japanese girls In domestic service
n New-York but their environments have not been |
as favorable as in the of the Toxic handmade. |
Several OF these came to tho United States at the
line OF the Chicago exposition. the expense Of their
.eturn passage being included In the contract under
which they were engaged Unscrupulous managers |
turned them adrlft In a strange country and they |
came to New-York In search of employment. The |
regulation employment bureaus, dealing with the |
English Irish. German and Swedish domestics are
bewildering TO these Eastern unfortunates. Like
the Chinese, they do not seem to get In touch with
these facilities for getting places Numbers or
newly landed Japanese apply to the Consul OF their
ma ton in NewYork for aid In getting position.
He being busy man, and not recognizing that
peculiar department as legitimate branch OF MS
business turns the applicants over TO his assistants
who, In conjunction with certain Japanese already
located in the city. find temporary homes for the
newcomers. These girls, cast adrlft In New YORK.
10 the Japanese Institute In Brooklyn for ad-
vice and help and after learning something OF the
language and the country, secured positions as
maids OF all work in families who undertook to care
or their needs Their wages are small and few have
yet made sufficient money to enable them to return
home. Some get places at the summer resorts 10
serve tea in Japanese booths. number OF other
Japanese maids have been brought to the city by
families returning from protracted residence In