The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-10

firm has q magnificent office in Pine
street. one that Mr.. Farson has built.
He has purchased 100000 worth of New
York bonds at one time, and he is the
holder OF something like SIS, 900 worth
of bonds issued by Havana, or to be
more exact. his firm is the holder of these
bonds
But making a good bond deal is mere
play in the opinion OF the head of the
f1rm compared with finding an ideal serv-
ant.
Il have been studying the servant prob
lem for twenty years" said Mr.. Farson,
when he was asked about his offer the
other day by a World correspondent.
Looking for a good servant girl is like
discriminating man looking for wife.
1t is mighty hard to find her.
Il suppose we have had a hundI ed serv
ants since we have lived in New York
and we have had difficulty in even keep
ing the bad ones. We have given them
the second best rooms in the house, al
lowed them 10 receive company in the
library, given them two days a week off,
and still they would leave US.
II have imported maids from England.
France and Germany. but 1t is the same
old story. AS soon as they breathe in
the atmosphere they develop the rest
lessness that ends in flight l am sure
that most of them appreciate kind and
considerable treatment. that they are as
well satisfied as~they could be anywhere
in domestic service, but the trouble is
that girls in this country engage in this
service as makeshift-a thing to carry
them along until they can marry or fall
into something better.
They regard it as Henry Ward Beecher
said school teachers looked upon their
professional temporary occupation while
waiting to see what the Lord would send
them.
In Europe domestic service is looked
upon as a life business. and those who en-
gage in il govern their conduct accord
ingly. looking forward only to a pension
or to passing their old age in comfort
on the savings from their wages. But
the moment these foreign servants come
over here they become more Independent,
more ambitious and more restless than
the native Americans
Il have made the offer in perfectly
good faith, and l expect to carry out my
agreement if 1 can find a servant who
is worthy of the amount of money l am
willing to leave her. OF course she shall
be paid liberal wages in the mean time,
just as If there was no reward in view.
Since my offer became public 1 have
been deluged with letters from girls who
think they can fill the bill. l never be-
fore realized how many girls held them
selves in such high esteem. They all an
with the utmost confidence 1 am
the very girl you are looking for Most
Of them want a part of the million in ad-
vance.
Ever so many applicants for the job
and the million have come to the house
and TO my Office. l see them all and l
read every letter that comes, for / am
determined that the ideal servant shall
not escape because Of any negligence on
my part. Perhaps half the applicants
frankly confess that they have never
been in domestic service, but they insist
hat their training and temperament are
such that they are sure they can per
form the required duties satisfactorily.
They do not seem to understand that 1t is
not my object 10 make a servant out OF
4 reduced gentlewoman, but to find
servant who is proud of her vocation and
anxious TO elevate it to the dignity 1t
deserves.
Thus far l have not found any candi
date whom ] was willing to give trial,
but I have hopes. 1 think 1 will discover
one who IS worth a million dollars"