The Washington herald., 1909-08-22

esty and / DO show justice to my en-
ployes, replied Sixmilliens, somewhat
nettled.
''Ah. do your" said L Didn't you tell
me the other day that yen knew Jepson
was stealing your wines. but that you
had rather stand the leakage than dismiss
him, because he was so necessary 10 your
comfort? And then When Mr.. Carter's
little girl was sick and his accounts few
cents out Of the way, didn't you dismiss
him without giving him an opportunity
&c explain? Don't you pay your chef
5000 year and keep him In elegance?
And weren't you complaining the other
day that your head bookkeeper. who gets
only $3.50. asked for a raise when his
last baby came? II remember rightly.
you then swore a mighty oath that poor
people had no right 70 nave children
win you kindly note the look OF benign
satisfaction on the face OF that greasy
Frenchman who cooks your capOns. how
bland and content and altogether happy
he seems; and then will you compare him
with Scott. decent man, a good citizen,
the father Of a fine family, who looks
worried. harassed, almost desperate at
times? Is X justice because Blondet
makes you physically comfortable 10 let
him live like a sybarlte while you grind
down Scott?''
And so we talked on, but our talk led
to nothing. though sixmiuions did finally
reluctantly admit that I had both right
and reason on my side. but how" he
asked. how can one fight against a sys-
tem?" Now as yet there is no system
controlling domestic service in America.
bat the plutocrats are gradually forming
one. and forming very bad one When
reflect how bad It is find myself echo
ing the wish Of Andrew d. White. our
Minister some time at the German court,
that ne might introduce the municipal
government Of the North European cities
into America. Stay-at-home Americans
are always asking why so many OF their
compatriots find life I'm Europe agreeable.
One Of the chief reasons is the excellence
OF the domestic servants. especially in
Germany, and I venture 10 say there is
no happier or more contented class than
these same German servants But the
Germans make good servants only when
they are under the discipline that obtains
In the fatherland. Once in this land OF
the free they are soon ruined and cor
rupted. They become selfish. self-seeking,
and. under the influence Of incompetent
housekeepers. impairment even. which is
almost unknown in Germany. where serv-
ants respect both themselves and their
employers
But then the German government Is
not for the rich only, but for the entire
people There the rights OF the lowest
servant are as much respected as those
Of the royal family. There is no buying
W OF justice in the Kaiser's kingdom. A
servant cannot leave his employers In a
pet nor can a master dismiss a servant
from caprice. If the former leaves his
position without good reason he forfeits
HIS wages for the entire time OF hts con-
tract. II the latter dismisses his servant
for some within or for some alleged mis-
demeanor that he cannot prove. he must
pay the man TO whom he has done this
injustice his wages for the entire period
OF his contract But there are few legal
disputes between master and man. The
law protects them both. and the cond!-
lions are perfectly understood before a
domestic takes service in a family. II is
rare. too. that one comes across a dis
honest or incompetent servant, for every
servant must register at the police Office.
giving his birth. origin, and the work he
is engaged IN. He must show recommen-