New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-10
TRAIL OF THE DISHCLOTH.
SERVANT PROBLEM IN THE COUNTRY
GROWS STEADILY WORSE

There seems 10 be place in America" said
woman. yesterday. where the American matron
fee away and be at rest The trail of the
dishcloth is over it all. I went the other day 10
visit friends in the country. They live in
famous old historic house in the heart Of the
Mohawk Valley. a house that has been in the fam
tly since the Revolution. The station is named
after them; they are the only great people OF the
place; a book distributing company leaves q pack
axe Of the latest books their hall table every
fortnight; they are people who have resources of
pleasure within themselves: they can come to
New-York whenever they like; there are neither
social rivalries TO weary social problems 70
make afraid. 1t would .Ast here, q any
where there might be peace.
But I found them living under the pail Of
great an oyershadowing fear. The fear Is that
Mary may leave them. Mary is a coIored girl who
has been in the family these many years. The day
Q arrived Mary did not wait table. Some days
She did and some days she didn't. found that the
family never knew when they sat down 20 table
whether Mary going 20 walt or not. Nobody
spoke TO her about it. No one ever gave her or
ders. No one asked her TO do anything They
afraid. Mary was good to them. Her rule
was a gentle one but the hand OF steel
beneath the velvet glove. Her reign was
absolute. because II she left the women
looked forward nothing but doing the
tire work OF that great house themselves They
had money to hire a second girl. but no second
-rl would go there. They had out their
hearts and their soes on the stones OF New York
looking for a girl who would go five hours from
New-York. They could not find who would
20 hve minutes. Consequently the entire policy OF
their lives is shaped by Mary. II they wish to
have guests they consult Mary. II they wish to go
south for the winter they consult Mary. II they
wish TO keep a they consult Mary. Mary de-
-ides. And they thank their lucky stars that they
have Mary 10 decide.
'One would think that there might be farmers
daughters round about, but there are no Farmers
left-at least, no American farmers There are
irish farmers any more. The Mohawk
Valley is now included In the abandoned farm re-
zion. NV friends have three farms Not one OF
Them Is worked On two OF them the houses nave
been boarded up for years. On the home farm
there are some exceedingly rich fields down In the
river bottom. These are rented 10 Slays, who raise
truck gardens TO supply the nearest FACTORY town.
All through that section or the valley those spa
cious pretty, typical old American farmnouses
are occupied by Poles, when thew are occupied al
an The Poles are the only people who VIII take
the land at all and they keep me pig In the par
Tor along with the rest Of the family.
My friend has had an Interstate eApeFlenicsS
with the servant question When her father dleC
All his property in Iowa land, ana her DTeau
and butter comes from an Iowa farm She BogSs5
10 this farm for six weeks every spring. She coulu
make 5000 year more from ~ II she @oulu az NJ
there an the year round. This, she says. she
would be willing do for the sake or the money
II she could get a girl But IN Iowa she mas h2S
even a Mary. She get absolutely no one. A
she lives there il means simply me AZ, VIII ' d
disbcloth IN hand. and she says she "lil not ~
il Her brother has "A beautiful farm N iowa dhu
mas built beautiful house. But his VIE Is 500
10 that house. She has never had q servant since
she went there live her ire y SpeIIlts "a
the kitchen There is Ex-Governor OK the state
living near them. and aithough money ~ ho W
iect with him. hts wife has 10 live In lhe same
way Male helm can be got in Iowa. because theIe
RlIt country boys IN New-York will not DC hTeo
men anv more than their sisters viii be girls.