The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-23
Men as Servants.

The negroe, Chinaman and Japanese
have been successfully employed as do
mes ties for many years. but the white
"housework man" the American. If YOU
Will, Is a comparatively new product. Two
years ago he was scarcely known; today
he may be found in every large city from
San Francisco TO Boston, and not only
the want departments of the newspapers
but the Intelligence offices. attest the
steadily growing demand for him. lie is
however, the product of no school in
stitution or organization; If he shows ef-
fcency I'm his chosen line of work il has
como through natural adaptability, and
a faculty for close and careful observation
rather than from scientific or domestic
training.
The experiment OF employing white men
for general housework IL so new that
full estimate of the merits or demerits of
the system cannot at this time be given.
hut in scorces of cases which have come
q the writer's notice the experiment has
been a qualified success. qualified. be-
cause the mistress has I'm many cases
been able to find flaws in the system, but
fewer perhaps, where men were employed
thar in a corresponding number of wo-
men. Chicago experimentalist tells OF
an unexpected visit which she made late
one night below stairs" Her housework
man was holding reception i'm honor OF
ample supper was spread, there were
quantities Of wet goods" the room was
blue with tobacco smoke. and all the
guests were more or less under the infiu-
ence of liquor. The banquet was permit
ted Go proceed. but the servant was dis
charged next day. Cigarette smoking ap-
pears to be the general fault among
young men who engage as household SER
wants, and the liquor habit is much more
prevalent among the male than female
lelp. lt Is admitted by many, however.
that men are fully as honest and trust
worthy women.
A young man OF 20, a native of Vermont,
after "a mesgre education, ran away from
hone and eventually found himself I'm the
numbering camps of the northwest. He
was not fitted physically for the rough
life of a lumberman. SO on his applica-
tion for employment at one of the camps
ne was Instructed in cooking. He also ac-
| aured a certain knowledge OF rough
| houscwork washing. scrubbing and bed
| making After year of this work ne
drifted TO New York city. Without money
| work or friends. he resorted TO the wan'
| columns of the daily papers, where he
| found that young man was wanted TO do
general housework by fashionable Eas
| end family. He had never been inside
| such a house, but I'm no way daunted, ~
| imp-ovised letter OF recommendation
| from his last mistress, presented IL an'
| was Immediately engaged at 81 week
! with the understanding that he was com
\ petent 20 do any and all the work re
| uuired of girl in the same position.
| II was only by close observation and g
| careful study OF cook books that he go
| over the rough places. but confidence
I tstfffs WIN knowledge and I'm three months
| he was receiving s. week for his ser
| vices. in less than a year he had gradu
| ated srom the East end kitchen To on'
| in fashionable uptown hotel, where al
| steward ne received S25 a week. So gooC
| houseNori< man was lost TO the world
| And Eight here seems TO lie the difficulty
| The Young white man of spirit. wit an'
| intelligence is not satisfied with the dul
routine and small wages attending domes
| tic services Good Housekeeping.