Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-24
TIE SERVANT GIRL PRoBLBM

Some unknown writer, presumably q
white lady under the caption OF "rhe
Dearth of Reliable Servant Girls" and
over the nom-de-plume OF House
keeper" contributes an article to the
Richmond DTsP ITCH of the 18sh inst.
While JOHN e. EPPs aud his crowd
are clamoring for separation, this
white lady is equally as emphatic in
calling for the mixing OF the races.
Indeed, so earnest is she that it is
apparent thstshe is DESTROYS OF Invok-
ing the aid of the law to compel these
colored girls to stay under the same
roof with the white folks.
In this respect, she occupies the
same position held by the DISPATCH,
and her communication was inspired
BY its editorial uttersnces upon that
subject. She says:
ITO the Editor of Che Dispatch:
l was about to take up my pen to
suggest the establishments OF Q local
bureau of information concerning SER
wants, never having heard OF the sug-
gestion being made, when I read your
editorial OF recent date on The Ser.
want Girl Problem
And again.
81 had thought, too, of some of the
hindrsnces, such as the almost con-
slant shifting of the servant popula-
ton from one State to another, aud of
their assuming different names; but
Mr.. Editor, the Negroes in this citY,
and presume elsewhere, have regu-
lsrly organised societies Co protect
their interests as working class from
tn o impositioDs of the whites When
questioned upon the subj est, they have
corroborated tbs statement. but fire.
quently remark that they are not in
tiuenced personally by any of the So
cieties' rules. OF course, this is said
to mislead those who employ them
Now and then one Of them. q little
more independent. will be bold enough
TO speak plsinlV ABOUT their rules, as
on an OCCASION / recall: A woman WAS
spoken to in reference to doing the
IA nily washing. Upon seeing it, how
ever, she said she reekoued she had
better ask the permission Of her so
ciety first, aEd it wss only by much
pleading couid persuade her to take
it. The next week and thereafter she
yielded to the advice of her society, as
she failed TO report for duty"
This lady is giving US some interest
ing Information. She continues:
"You have truthtully and plainly
represented the attitude of the Negro
servants here when you say they m AXE
little or no apology for losing q day or
two from work and quitting ones en-
ployment when Shey please, while up
North unless their excuse is OF the best
they are docked for lost time, and
when they quit before their engage
ment is out without due notice, for
felt their wages"
The very essence of freedom is the
right to work when one desires and
quit when one feels like it.
To insist that servant should re-
main in the employers service whsth-
er she will or no is to insist thst the
employer shall employ q servant
whether the employer will or no.
II one is fair proposition, the other
mast be.
But "Housekeeper" asks q ques
ton:
"Now, viii you not please explain
why we cannos have ss rigid rules here
az they have up North ?"
You can have the same rigid rule
here, il you pay the same kind o
wages. She says
cit seems unreasona able that we OF tn,
cities Of Virginia should by most ar
duous mental labor be continu ALL
| qualifying raw recruits from the rura
districts just TO see them quit to FL
more exalted stations with the wealth
Ter and more exacting families of tn
North.
Should they return to their nativ
State we find them, perhaps, bette
drilled in their work (for the nerther
people will not tolerate their inetfi
cheney like the southerners do), bu
with FEELINGS OF concilistion to thei
employers much less"
And again:
"At the North they are told that W
are their greatest enemies, and IL.
had not been for them (the northern
ers) tho South would still have thsr
In bonds of slavery. So many OF thoa
who return are not disposed TO hir
themselves out 90 maids or cooks, bu
prefer the more independent line {
taking In washing sJ home. Even thl