East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-07-27

"A yellow pearl" is what a house
holder in this part of the country
calls the Chinese servant, and have
yet to meet the person who does not
agree that the problem OF comforta-
BILE and economical living is solved by
the little yellow man from the king
dom Of the sun, says a correspondent
to the Seattle Star, from Vancouver,
r. c.
The people of Victoria and Van
couver are bewailing the effect of the
law passed by the Canadian govern
ment about is months ago placing
a head tax OF $500 on all Chinese inn
migrants The immediate effect Of
this has been to increase the cost Of
a Chinaman in the kitchen from S1S
to $50 and $25 a month.
There Is an almost unanimous
preference in all this country for the
Chinese as compared with the Japan
ese servant. The statement may be
made broader; there is growing
prejudice against the Japanese in all
capacities
The Chinese who come to Cauada
Is content to be a servant. That is
his chief recommendation. W hile
the Japanese cook will be found read
ing a book on botany, or algebra, and
who is burning the midnight oil TO
prepare himself 10 be a professor in
a japanese college, the Chinese, in the
same position, is content to leave book
learning and the nigh places IN lie
to the Caucasian race. While the Jap
IS in monthly danger Of going to an
other place where more wages may
be had. or of leaving to return to his
native land. the Chinese is faithful
and contented to remain.
The Chinese are said to be more
truthful. Often, it is admitted the
Chinaman will become a sphinx, and
be afflicted with a sudden inability
TO understand the English language,
but he will not lie. The Jap. on the
other hand, will spin aplausible yarn.
The Chinaman is always respect
ful; his patience is inexhaustible; he
may not show any great amount of
feeling but he does not take offense.
He is quiet; he is never i'll; he is neat,
economical and industrious. He does
all the work that maid-servant will
do, and in addition splits the wood,
makes the fires, cuts the grass and
does all the work of an outside man.
Both Chinese and Japs are excel
lent cooks. They seem to have a spe-
cial knack for pastry. Tney are good
buyers, and many householders would
much rather let him do the buying
than to do it himself.
Wing lives at home-that rs he
goes home at nights, someYhere, to
Chinatown, to his pipe, his Chinese
lottery, his inveterate small gambling,
and mild dissipations. But he is al
ways On hand in the morning; or If he
is not there, there is another little
yellow boy who looks so much like
him, and who fits so easily into his
place that the householder gets half
through breakfast before discovering
the change.
Mr.. w. c. Nicol, editor and proprie-
tor of the Vancouver Daily Province,
would like TO see the Chinese given
free admission and have the japanese
kept out entirely.
81 am in favor of excluding Chinese
or any labor where It comes into dis
astrous competition with American
labor" said Mr.. Nicol. But the
Chinese who come TO America do not
compete with our labor. It is appar-
emily a case of these servants or none
We have no servant classes. The
man or woman in Canada or the
United States is not content to be a
servant all his or her life. The result
- 81.
and Of Eastern Canada are harassed
and distressed by the impossbility to
get competent house service. Now,
right at their doors are the people
who are willing and anxious to do
this work for them.
But l would exclude the Japanese
entirely. They are too ambitious and
too crafty to be trusted as competi-
tor with our labor"