Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-12
Peculiar Traits Shown by Differ
ent NationaIities.
Conduct Of Swedish, German, Scotch
and Other Occupants Described by
Aaent-Amerlcans Pay Most,
but Want Earth.

n
ing agent was, What nationality,
please?" Being from New England,
says the New York Times, the pro-
spective tenant replied by asking,
"Why do you want to know"
II meant no offense," said the agent,
II only thought that by finding out
your nationality l could refer you at
once to certain buildings on my list
that would be apt to please YOU
The prospective tenant had half a
notion to get angry.
II don't see what my nationality has
got to do with finding suitable flat"
she said.
1T has a good deal to do with It,"
said the agent. Now, l can see that
you are an American born and bred.
This is delicate question that you
have plunged me into, but since am
in it l mean to founder around lit
tie while longer and tell you a few
facts pertaining to the merits and de-
merits of different nationalities view
ed in the light Of flathouse tenants.
First of all, want to speak from
the standpoint Of prompt payment If
my success in business depended upon
each tenant paying his rent exactly
when it was due, I should try to fill all
my houses with Scotchmen.
Never have l lost a cent on a
Scotchman, and never have / had to
wait. Understand, 1 am not making
the rash assertion that it is impossible
for a Scotchman to be dishonest while
everybody else is trying his best to
cheat me. The point wish to make
is that personally I have never suffer
ed loss at the hands of Scot.
But they give trouble in other
ways. They are inclined to be quar-
relsome and raise so many rows with
the other tenants through the dumb
waiter shaft that it keeps the janitor
busy Strengthening out domestic
snarls. In all my buildings where
Scotchmen reside I select janitor
with an even disposition and diplo-
matte gifts. 1t doesn't matter go
much about his ability to scrub floors
and keep the furnace going. Utilita-
rian accomplishments are secondary
consideration.
Taken all in all, the most peaceable
people I get in my houses COME from
Sweden. You never hear a peep out
Of a Swede. He doesn't bother his
neighbor and he doesn't bother me, I'M
less he has extreme provocation. AS
rule he is good pay, too. +
"ThevQnly fault I have to find with
him is s fondness for moving. A
lease Is dead letter in his eye, and
he has nj more conjunction about
moving without a days notice than
he has about going to bed when he lf. is
sleepy" ; ......,.'
The prospective tenant inquired
timidly what we're the chief character
istics of Americans as tenants.
Their supreme selfishness," said
the agent. "They have not a spark
of consideration for landlord.
"They want the earth. They never
get through asking for improvements.
They are not content to get the walls
tinted and the woodwork painted and
the plumbing fixed once or twice a
year. They want new decorations ev-
cry month, and all the trimmings must
be first class. Americans pay big
prices for their flats, but there is not
really SO much profit in catering to
them as to other nationalities, for the
simple reason that I have to pay out
nearly all my income in trying to
keep the building up to the style they
demand.
THE people who ask for the least
are the Italians and the French. They
take almost any old thing I feel like
giving them, the French meekly pro-
viding their own decorations and the
Italians going without.
Il like Germans pretty we'll, too,
but they are hard on flats. never
could understand how they manage
to inflict so much damage on walls
and floors. Judging by an apartment
just vacated by large German fam
lily, one would think that their star
piece of furniture was battering
ram.
Russians also have an abnormally
developed bump Of destructiyeness,
though they hold a special spire
against glass. 1 have one house that
is occupied by ten Russian families
II they were not compelled to repair
their own damages it would keep me
poor putting in new windows and
gas globes.
II also rent to English people. I
have three houses mostly filled with
them at present. They're all right, too
But when you come down to facts all
my tenants are nice people, only I
thought it might not be amiss while on
the subject of nationality to mention
a few Of the peculiarities Of EACH"