Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-09-15

N"''' Ni"'' 4"Nl il' IhlllHk Al'A ~"
ceived In their other duties THIS
was intended 10 maintain the proper
/ distance between employer and scry-
ant, and yet IN q sense, allow them
/ 10 be perfectly familiar. The Jap
anese servant bows low 10 her mis-
! trcss always addressing her in ho
tone Of voice used by an inferior 10 a
superior, yet she joins in conyor-
sation between her mistress and cal
/ lers, Joking laughing and conyersing
/ like all ther est for In this respect
she is regarded as their social equal.
/ one would suppose under such con-
/ ditiOns servants would become too
forward, but the japanese servant
never does. Their training, taste and
good breeding forbid this and no
greater insult can be offered 10 Jap
anese servant than TO tell him he does
not know his place. The position Of
n servant in japan may be judged by
the fact that, though master or mis-
trcss always speak 10 her as n sorv-
ant, yet caller or guest must always
use the tone Of equality and address
her as san (miss). In the absence Of
the mistress servants are expected 20
entertain all callers and they are
trained to do this with such perfec-
| tion Of gentle manners and politeness
that stranger never knows but that
he Is addressing the landlord or the
lady Of the house. In Japan, il is
always considered matter of the ut
most importance for an upper servant
To be well hammered, for he is expect
ed to properly entertain his masters
guests when the latter is absent Art
cr rubbing his knees together and
kissing and kowtowng Glowing low),
he invites YOU 10 seat on the floor.
lie will then offer you five cups of tea
1t Is the number Of cups that signi-
iics not the number Of cal.ers-thcn
dropping on his heels with ease and
grace, begins "A conversation humble
To n degree, but perfectly easy and
familiar until his master arrives to
relieve him. Even after that he may
remain in the room and cut into the
conversation with laugh and joke as
opportunity permits.
A japanese mistress does all the
marketing ana usually early in the
day. When she returns home she
finds that the servants have finished
their simple duties, for there is not
as much to do as i'm our western
homes; no fires to replenish, furni-
ture TO polish and clean, carpets to
sweep and but little linen to wash
and mend. So servants spend much
OF their time sewing and chatting to-
gether. As a rule there are more
servants than actually needed which
is because they are so cheap. Plenty
of girls are ready to fill the lower
places for their board and clothes
while upper servants only receive
sums, often as low as $3.50 per
month.
When n servant wishes to leave her
employer she never gives direct no
uce, for that would be considered the
very acme Of all rudeness. Instead
she begs leave TO visit her 1lome, a
relative or some one who needs her
assistance. Upon the day she is due
to return, a long and elaborate
apology for her nonarriVal is sent,
saying that most unfortunately for
her happiness she can not be spared
from where she is at. 1t is then un-
derstood that she viii not return. In
like manner no mistress tells a serV-
ant that she does not suit. A polite
explanation that it will be inconveni- |
ent to accept her services at the pres |
ent time is sent through a third party. !
In the evening the entire family, |
including servants, gather in the main
room of the house, the master and |
mistress sitting near the stove, close
by the large paper lantern. The maids
glide in and sit at the proper distance
with their sewing If they have any. |
There is conversation in which every |
one is expected to take part or the |
master may read aloud from book of
historical romances or fairy stories, |
during which the servants chatter and
laugh over Joke and story as unre-
servedly as the most important mem
ber Of the household.
When bedtime arrives the quilts are
brought out of cupboards and spread, |
care being taken that no one sleeps
with the head to the north, for that
is the position In which the dead are
laid out, and so Is a most unlucky one |
for the living. Then the little wooden |
neck rests, which are used as pillows, |
are set in their places and every one
goes to bod. The Japanese day is over |
until tomorrow, when it will begin |
again with each person doing his or
her work cheerfully, with no one
feeling, that he or she is so much |
above or below another that they may !
not be helpful to each other and COM
panionable. And yet some people call |
these people heathens.
When / told japanese gentleman
that in America 1t was quite COM
mon for employer to treat his serv-
ants in many ways which showed he
reagrded them as menials, he looked
at me as though l had uttered an alb
surdity which almost passed tho
bounds Of human credulity. What a
piece of vulgar stupidity said hel rs
the man who takes care Of my cattle,
or tends to my store, or clerks in my
bank to be more respected and hon
ored than he or she to whom I en-
trust the care Of my wife and chill