The Washington herald., 1906-11-25
How Southern Husbands
Solved Servant Problem.
BIDDERS ON STEAMER PIER
Arrival of Immigrants at Charleston
Occasion of "A wild Rush to Secure
German and French seryants-GIris
Thought They Were I'm Danger of
Kidnapping-Engage on the Spot.

|
hear that there Is now In sight possible
solution Of the present servant-gir
problem which is not only practical, but
has already proved eminently successful
Last week there arrived in Charleston
the steamship Wittekind, of the North
German Lloyd service, bringing some 4ot
or 600 immigrants, who were landed di-
rectly on Southern soil, says the Atlanta
Constitution.
All Of these immigrants were brought
to Charleston under the direction of Com
missioner Of Immigration Watson, OF
South Carolina. BY railroad officials and
others who saw these at the time OF their
arrival, it was generally conceded that
they were much the finest body Of pro-
spective Americans that have landed in
this country in a long time. and were
not 10 be compared with the kind that
daily thrOng the station at Ellis Island
in New York. Many Of these we've eX-
pert weavers, and all we're Immediately
taken to their destination by a waiting
special train of the Southern Railway,
which proved to be a big factor IN the
bringing Of these immigrants 10 the
South.
Among the passengers on the Witte-
Kind were some forty or fifty German
and French servant maids, who came
| here for the purpose OF working AZ
servants in the homes OF Americans.
They were described by Atlantans who
saw them as being the very acme of
cleanliness, strong. and with rosy cheeks.
II was also evident that they belonged to
/ a very good class. and through inter-
prefers It was learned that they were well
trained In the duty OF cooks. serving
maids, and nurse maids.
Were Waiting on Pier.
! When It became known that these were
on the Wittekind some several days be-
fore its arrival in port. several prominent
men from Charleston and other South
Carolina cities. from Savannah, Atlanta,
and other Georgia cities went to the port
/ at the time Of the ships coming into port
An attempt was made by these 20 beard
/ the ship for the purpose of selecting maids
I from among those present But this priv
/ ilege was denied But no sooner had
1 these pretty, strong and intelligent-iook-
1 ms servants stepped from the gangway
/ than rush was made by these servant
seekers IN a way that brought the blushe5
I to the checks Of the new arrivals. ac-
[ lcording 10 the story told by an eyewitness.
At first this mad rush on the part OF
strong men TO solve the cry Of the kitchen
and the cause Of nervous headaches and
utter prostration on the part OF their
wives battling with the present condi-
tons rather startled the German and
French girls. l looked very much as II
an attempt was being made to capture
them. and for what purpose those most
concerned did not know. But several OF
the Interpreters present Immediately ex-
plainec that they were men merely seek
ing servants for the purpose Of keeping
Their homes In order. waiting upon their
wives, and caring for their children.
There were not nearly enough maids 20
60 around, and as this was evident. the
mad rush was precipitated with the land
Ing Of the passengers. When the amount
Of wages asked for was put by the inter-
prefer there came a long silence on the
part Of the new arrivals Finally one
asked the interpreter If he thought s. a
week would be too much. This announce
ment, according 10 the eyewitness, only
had the effect Of further exciting the
servant seekers. Not only did they offer
g. but they raised the bid until 1t seemed
ht;le less than an auction. and. except
for the fact that there were no matrf-
pared 20 scenes Of three centuries ago
when the colony was very young maids
were brought over and sold to the Vir-
ginia settlements on the James River at
50 many pounds Of tobacco. All of which
is most thrillingly described by Miss Mary
Johnson in To Have and 10 Hold"
Two Drought 10 Atlanta.
1t was no time until these German and
French maids were being whisked up
town until such time as the next train
would carry th-m and the lucky hus-
bands 10 their destination. Among the
fortunate winners in this scramble were
two Atlantans, one Of whom was Cen
eral Agent Barbour Thompson, Of the
Southern Railway. whose interests were
being looked after by a friend While
only a week has passed since the arrival
of the Wittekind, these servants have
proved to be quick to learn the language.
and have proved that they were trained
in their duties as only servants on the
continent are trained.
Apparently the only difficulty is the
provision Of COngenial companions. such
as viii keep them from getting home
sick. and at the same time not prove so
interesting as 70 lead them into the fields
Of matrimcny. To this end. these servants
are sending back to Germany and France
for the purpose Of bringing over other
servant girls among their relations and
friends
The Wittekind. after taking on a big
cargo Of cotton, viii return TO Bremen,
and then viii once more return to
Charleston, bringing other immigrants,
mill workers. and others. and more Ger
man and French sewing maids 1t is ex-
pected that the Wittekind viii bring this
next boatload Of passengers and land them
In Charleston some time in December, In
the meantime. Commissioner Watson Is
securing all kinds of orders to induce
more OF these servants who have proved
such a success to the South, and II is
certain that with the ships arrival there
viii be another scramble on the part of
anxious husbands with a much larger
delegation from Atlanta, as the renown
OF the maids who have come here is
spreading throughout the city and State
Chicago Movement Failed.
It Will be remembered that some time
ago a movement was started for the i'm
portation of a number Of white servant
girls from Chicago. This proposition fell
through because of the fact that the de-
mand for servants in Chicago Is pretty
much the same as In Atlanta, If not more
so. But at best. these servant girls would
have come here with all Of the high and
mighty airs Of a long service in this coun-
try, and according to housewives, would
have demanded reception-room privileges.
the returning Of the piano, and all of those
requirements which are only funny when
presented in the humorous periodicals.
But by this new plan the girls brought
here know nothing of the independence
pracdced among servants. equal suffrage
and all that sort Of thing which is neither
popular nor considered good form in the
Old Wnrla TI-l,IIc 4. tina fh.A 4hnr . 70