The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-27
s.UNCLES" AND "AUNTIES. j"
Washington Negroes Losing Their
Hold on Domestic Service

Washington Negroes Losing Their
Hold on Domestic Service.
The advertising columns of the local
newspaper tell a story beyond the need
of any editorial comment. of the way
the oncomiug genera ton of negroes in
this borderland between North and
South have lost their grip on domestic
service as a livelihood, says d Washing
ton correspondent A few years ago
white servant was a rarity in Washing
ton. = few fashionable persons from
the north had brought their retinue with
them for a season al the capital. and
some other pilgrims who had never seen
much of negroes and did not care 10
undertake needless experiments. were
willing TO pay the higher wages and
endure the airs of Biddy and the stub
bornness of Gretchen The rest of the
white population found themselves very
comfortable with the native cOlored
help In those DAVIS the aroma of the
slavery era had not quite disaODearcd
from TIE atmosphere of the city. al
though the legal acts of emancipation
had faded into the historic past A large
part of the older generation. born IN
slavery. still survived and bore an i'm
pOrtant part in the local activities CT
their race Their own lives. and the in
fuence they still exerted over s..e
younger fellows were all in the direc-
ton Of industry even if not notable
thrift. of fa5thfulness to humble trusts
and Of pleasant relations with the
whites Ignorant as most of them were
of the learning Of books, obstinate as
some were in the pursuit OF an idea
which might be in conflict with the gen
eral trend % things, and cause Great
inconvenience. their desire to do right
as they knew it. and their WILLINGNESS
to work for reasonable wages. attached
the white people 10 them. ana 2IlsSed
them to be regarded as the saliva ton Of
local employers from the domestic ser
want problem which was vexing resi-
dents of other cities
All that is changed now The last
generation of .uncIes' and "altutias'
has passed away Their children and
grandchildren. unframed in the old
fashioned notion that hard wJsk and
good manners are the only commodities
for which they can find a steady market
in the homes OF the whites. are mostly
leading a DrecariOus existence The
professions and mercantile life offer few
openings for them. and they are wont
to live from hand to mouth, taking their
chances of picking I'D enough to keep
soul and body together, but laying by
no store for the future. and utterly
careless of holding on to even their
present opportunities if it means the
sacrifice of their freedom or comfort
They viii take z place this week and
leave 1t without notice the next They
will make engagements which they have
no means or expectation OF fulfilling.
They have not the patience or applica-
ton to learn a trade like laundry work.
or acquire the drill of an expert horse
maid. They lack res0urcefulness in per-
forming their tasks. but are adopts at
connecting excuses for leaving them uE-
done
Here and there is found a young ne
gro brought up in the old school of do
nestle service, whose cheerfulness, civ
ility. and readiness to do his fair part
distinguish him from his fellows. He
is always in demand. and he can earn
more today than his predecessor could
90 years ago, because of the increasing
rarity of his type But the growing use
of the word white in the advertise
nents for help wanted. and the intinna
lions heard and read OH every side that
no negroes need apply for certain va
cant situations in white households, tell
7 a lamentable story.
Further south. as much COMPLAINT IS
not heard. though it is not wholly uE-
known The traditions of personal ser
vice there are better preserved. In the
north the negro is variously regarded
as servant. but there are not enough
J negroes in that section to allow o. gen.
eraliza tons Here we get the drift from
the south nOrthward. as well as the in
/ digenous colored population, and the
combination is not all that could be de-
sired. The most valuable negro help
now has TO be iTnDOrted directly from
the south. Virginia furnishes the best
+ quality. perhaps because the climate Of
I that state is not so enervatin. as that
line
Occasionally a police report reveals the
real meaning of the idleness and list
lessness among the younger negroes
here Now and then some pubic man
Will sound a warning ike that uttered
by District Commissioner Wright few
years ago, which. thanks to the infer
ence and interferences of political busy
bodies out hunting for the colored vote.
caused his retirement from Office But
the facts remain and are a menace
which cannot be ignored. What Booker
Washington is doing in the far south to-
day IS more needed a the capital of the
nation than perhaps any other one thing.
An American Found Dead in Paris.
New York. Nov. z7.-Francis ReubeI
( Bryan. an American. has been found in
his room. shot through the heart. presIlnl-
ably by himself. says a World Dispatch
from Paris He was 70 years OF age and
came originally from Philadelphia About
fortnight ago Bryan consented to quit
his apartment for a sanitarium- He left