Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-25
WAYS OF JAPANESE
DoMEsT1Cs
As Revealed 10 the Housewives OF the
Pacific Coast.


(From the New York SUM
| On the Pacisc coast whore there Is
now and then an cutlery against the vel
| low peril. the japanese servant appears
| to nave but one aim in lfc-education
! Every September scores of boys seek
: light work that will enable them to earn
| their board and to have time for school
or college. japanese boys OF high caste
| CONSIDER it privilege to work in an
American household. whore an intimate
knowledge ~ habits of thought as well
as of domestic customs is to be OBJ
| tanned.
The Oriental character is inscrutable to
| the Occidental. No matter how we'll a
| japanese boy speaks English and no
| matter how ready he may appear to be
| In discussing any topic introduced there
| Is always sharp boundary lire of CON
| versation-a line that prevents an I'M
| dcrstanding of the oriental process OF
| reasoning. His point Of view Is only par
| tally exposed. fls ws'ld of thought can
never be fully explored.
These facts account for many incidents
sometimes irritating and often amusing
| in tho experience Of the California house
Keeper. If 1t happens that a woman who
Is not book lover possesses a servant
who Is college graduate the possibilities
Of startling dialogue are many.
A housekeeper who had rather a small
stock OF patience went into her kitchen
one day to direct the preparation of din
ner. She found George George is
favorite name with the Japanese So
1ourner. Just RS John IL with the Chinese
porting over a book
What are you read'ng," she asked.
"Schopenhauer," George replied
DO you think you can understand such
philosophy" the mistress inquired.
Yes. honorable madam. l understand
1t; ! apply It. When you come to tell
ne how to cook 1t Is good to remember
what the white man says about women.
read here, then not mind what you
say" was the answer given in dignined
manner as George put his book upon the
-four bin.
Another housekeeper went to rescue
burning roast intended for dinner. She
discovered that her japanese cook had
been SO deeply absorbed In DarWins
Origin OF Species hat he forgot to look
into the oven. When she rebuked him
he answered quite calmly:
II try to find out why Americans eat
so much meat. The ape who was the
Caucasians grandfather many genera
lions back did not live on beef"
IF the ape was the white mans an
cestor. he must have been the broww
mans grandfather too" answered the
mistress Of the house.
mo, no. the cook contradicted. but he
contented himself with the simple de-
NAL.
II happened that a resident OF Los
Angeles. tho sister of an officer in the
United States army. employed Jap
anese hoy who had served in the war
with Russia. The Japanese hoy moved
about the house In the noiseless manner
tina. is inRratiating to an employer,
and his mistress thought him rare ac-
QUESTION.
One morning after she had returned
from week end visit the servant bent
his head and scraped one foot on the rug
before her in the manner most approved
by the transplanted Japanese.
Il go way" he announced. II not like
what your brother thinks OF my country.
We not ready to fight YOU"
"Vhy. how do You know what Colonel
Blank thinks'' asked the mistress in
surprise
"While you gone I read oil letters in
your desk" he confessed without shame.
How dare YOU touch nay letters" eX
claimed the woman. Don't YOU know
that il is most dishonarahlc to read
persons letters"
II come to this country to learn all
about Americans" he answered.
Since the recent war the japanese have
shown self-anpreria in many WAYS