The age-herald., 1899-09-06
SERVANT PROBLEM I
 IN THE SOUTH

@~@ - - ~ A & From the Memphis Commercial-Appea1. z The cook is a domestic problem.
 The good housewife in Memphis has been put out completely during the summer on account of the cook. and there has been more complaining along this line than ever before in the history of the city.
 It is due probably to the fact that the southern people depend almost entirely upon the negro so far as house servants are concerned. During the summer months the negro finds it easier to make a living on account of the condition of the markets so far as the food supply is concerned. When the vegetables begin to come in the negro servant becomes more independent. Living becomes much cheaper. The aver age negro during this season can work A week and live a month on the earnings This may offer the explanation for the trouble which different families in Mem phis have experienced on account of A failure to get cooks during the summer.
 
 the hot season which has just begun to end than ever before in the city of Mem phis, and the philosophic housewife cannot account for the increased trouble. It is a recurring problem, and comes and goes With the summer season.
 Several years ago there was some talk of an organization among the good women In Memphis who are forced to depend so largely upon the negro help in their homes and the organization was to deal with not only the cook problem, but with the nurse problem as well. But the plan never as- sumed any definite shape, and there was no more talk about it until during the sum- mer which is now ending. It is not likely that any steps will be taken along this line very soon, but there is a growing senti- ment in favor of dealing vigorously with the worthless element of society that is involved in the complaints which are being made by the housewives.
 White help is not available.
 The negroes who are employed as cooks and nurses seem to understand this. But when the women of Memphis were dis cussing an organization, they simply in- tended to do their own work until they could make more satisfactory arrange ments. They did not mean to shut the negro out. They simply wanted to raise the standard of efficiency in colored serv- ants, and to inculcate idea of faithful ness that would prove of benefit to both the employer and the employed.
 In Memphis, where there is so much wealth, and such a vast population, the problem has assumed considerable pro- portions It is impossible to estimate the number of cooks who are employed in the city of Memphis but it would run up into the thousands. The same thing is true of the nurses, and there is a vast number of washerwomen who would probably come within reach of any reform that might be put on foot
 Loaf all summer and work in the win ter.
 This has been the motto of the class of servants complained of. In the summer living is easy enough for the negro who does not want much. Food is easily ob- tained. Clothes are cheaper. Summer food and summer clothes are the lighter kind. And as for a place to sleep O nights, this was easy enough. Nature is abundantly generous in the summer time and there is no need of too much protec- tion from the elements, and if room cannot be found in a hovel somewhere with some friend, why there is still room somewhere else under the broad expanse-a messy mound, perhaps, or the soft, spongy sward in some secluded place. Shelter could be found at any rate, and so the essential things of life could be provded-food, clothing and a place to sleep-scanty food, perhaps, and scanty clothing, but still enough to fill the aching void and clothe the naked limbs. When winter comes blast ing on work can be had and they seek a safer shelter and out of their earnings they can secure heavier clothes
 And thus it goes from year to year.