The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-20
TIE SERVANT PROBLEM.
The Southern WOman's Trials as Depicted
by a Charleston Lady.

10y Charleston Lady.
To THE EDITOR OF THE srN-Sr: States
| men, retormers, philanthropsts are all strv-
! Ing for civil service reform. but harder task
| awaits the woman who undertakes TO reform
a most uncivil service. What thrilling tales
can we not unfold of the daily onslaught OF
| domestic lifei Who has yet truly described
| the sorrows of the housekeeper md the trials
| that come in the wake OF every cold wave:
| when cooks come late in the morning with
| misery in the head: when the African maid
comes not at ALL or appears with threatening
| mien; when the water freezes over the 1oin-
| tain and icicles hang from the Cstern; when
| the tank freezes on the housetop, while the
| gas goes out in the chamber below: when
the waterppes overflow into the kitchen.
while husbands growl over q late, underdone
breakfast,
What visions now arise of cooks who do
not permit us to enter our own Kitchens, who
| take boarders support large families en-
terrain their friends, and all al our expense;
of maids who put on airs. while dressing
more fashionably than ourselves, who never
dust, sweep in midhoor once a week, keep
Ms to a strict account, and 10 whom we dare
not give aword of renonstrance, fearing they
will discharge us with bad character; OF
buffers who get drunk. sleep half the day, and
finally disappear with the family silver We
read OF car strikes. coal strikes Russian
strikes, but more omnous to us are the high
strikes of the African washerlady. who
retains our garments two weeks, wears them
in the meanwhile. sends them in three shades
darker, with extra demands for each pocket
handkerchief
For every disease under the sun a cure
seems to be found. but what remedy has been
discovered for Africantis? When We hear
tina, on the ud accent Sea Islands agents are
selling hundreds of illuminated pictures Of
the dinner party given % Booker Washington
at the White II ouse, that the President gazes
at his protega with a benign. fatherly smile,
while across The tahlecloth is written in large
ask, what will viii be the end thereof surely
the ghost of Scipio Africanus has been rising
at our eadts 5ps sG bae hme ann sbboaen
or below us. but never alongside of US. Bu,
I do not propose here to deal with the social
and political status of the negro, but merely
to touch upon the changed conditions in
southern domesti service. -,
queen %" Of COOKS held her rieh'fni sway IN
the kitchen. Daddy Sambo presided with
respectful dignity over the pantry and dining
oushly that ole miss was not ashamed TO
ON Gp sd k aT%h the or IT
floor in order, hoasiinS that she swept under
he rugs and behind the furniture. Th bile
P fpn s sambS Pomps " ana Chloe lave ali de.
parted, giving place TO a very green hired
Other causes can also he found for our
present domestic complications, namely, that
women are drifting more and more from their
domestic nlootings and engaging in multiplied
social and benevolent aCtivlties abroa az.
drift drift Of woman n work in this age is ou, Of the
home and We naturally ask What is to be the
| fate Of the homes OF theluture? When women
| history, build monuments. churches, hos.
pitfalls. plant trees. clean up the highways and
| byways, while keeping the street lamps
trimmed and a burning, it is no wonder that
| our own doorsteps become dlnRy and our
lamps 60 out. at home. ,tMne recently needed
are still sadly in need Of REPAIRS I would
not discourage the missionary in any field,
| but sometimes women undertake too much,
spreading themselves over all creation and
| leaving but very Thin layer of gold behind
b, goes fcmsh at nome From her
come the uplifting power. and the woman
: who can train servants and children while
serves a crown OF immorte les in this world
I am sure ST. Peter wi ask no questions when
she seeks t" enter the neSt SrhrlP %l
! for though no woman desires to keep her
nose forever in the soup tureen, Or to WELD
yet by such plain. domestic implements men
and women li>e. In an ever changing world
! ilizcd or uncivilzed, cannot do without cooks.
| He can dispense with books, art. science,
even love, but his dinner, never Moreover
| But il the servant problem remains vexa-
! tious question on our Southern coast, it will
"isew sH.se' In Canada wealthy families are
breaking up elegant homes and boarding;
In WashnEton hT Ga'a j. t ME. in tie 3, place
servants scarcely permit their employers
70 i've in their own hGmGf In s some c,ss
| hoods and will not live in fats. In tho mid
dlc, and upper portions OF 2ur state, tn the
| valleys Of the Piedmont, there are seasons
uhn is i'm
price. The whites work in factories; all
/ trained colored servants are transported
| remain are busy getting religion. getting
education or clicking cotton that a real ser
ne hey d" C" Come they "a
Our hired girl came at o'clock 4. NJ, or
Ranss,sTs &C., Of a W la AT e, !, on Snaays
She PLAYED on the organ AZ g Rather an
unsatisfactory ARRANGEMENT? Yes. But for
ha darby did De ws rcSs d"y
until she disappeared in the midst OF IA hot
| wave. os degrees in the shade, 4 sense Of
week was cleaning up all day, and in
| dreams all might host OF unwashed pots and
pans marched around me. Yes. it Was sweep.
| sweep. sweep,
Till the brain hogan to swim:
Dust, dust, dust.
TIL the eyes were heavy and dim.
Sofas and tables and chairs.
While cloud OF dust arose on high.
And stuffed my head and cars
Then It was thai learned the trials OF dat
colored lady in de kitchen. and almost felt
| that | would embrace Miss Bedela Brown
! on her return. How fully then could l SYM
| pathize with
| That old woman who always was tired.
| For she lived In house where help was not hired
| Her last words earth were:
| Dear friends. | am going
| Where sweeping Amt done, nor chun'nE. nor
sewing,
will be where loud anthems forever are ringing,
But having no voice, will get rid Of the singing.
| And everything there will he just to my wishes;
| For where they don't cat there Is no washing OF
| dishes
Don't mourn for me now. don't mourn for me ne ver
| am going to do nothing for ever and ever.
SOUTHERN WOMAN,
CHARLESTON. 8. c.. June II.