Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-03-14
A NEW PHASE OF THE SERVANT
QUESTION.
(By Louise B. Cummings.)

their pipes Other prisoners were either
lounging about or taking exercise walk
ing to and fro, while the guards kept
an eve out for all to make sure that
they were not getting together In one
or more groups. The two men smoking
together, though they had no acquaint-
ance, opened conversation in the usual
way.
what are you here forT asked one.
"The servant question"
whats the servant question got to
do with yer bein' within walls?''
"Oh. it's long story; but. seem
we've nothing better to do. / don't
mind tellin' it to you
go on"
1--WE always made 1t rule to work
through servants. can get more adj
vantages by takin' 'em in to a deal
than in any other way, They make
it dead easy for Teller The easiest
job ever got was this way. | was
walkin' along Il street in a suburban
town, where the houses wasn't too
near together, lookin' for ii job. when
| come to a decent lookin' house-not
too fine, for in the finest they have
safes: nor too poor lookin. for In them
kind they don't have nothin 10 put in
safes: but the middle kind. where they
have good things. butnot so valuable
that they keep 'eln out o. the way las
| was sayin. | come to house of the
middle kind and. goin' around to the
back door, knocked and asked the
maid if there wars any old clothes in
the house they didn't want. ] was out
Of a Job and would be glad of any
thing | could get
"She Hooked at me, and. says she:
You don't want any old clothes. You're
lookin' for a job but not the ordinary
kind Of a job-one with more profit in
it than dom odd jobs at 20 cents an
hour
"She looked at me kind Of KNOWN
and / twigged right off. wouldn't
mind a pard,' says. and she asked
me what meant and l says halves
That's fair she says. When do you
Whit 10 DeSlu W. always WOi n
at night says. when other people is
sleepin''
"WeIl. made a deal with her right
Off. and was to do the job the next
night. The maid was goin to have
friends to dinner then. and she was
always expected to put away the sill
yer, the best bein' brought on on swell
occasions. took to that ldee and
pulled out a flyer to bind the bargain.
After takin' my instructions how to git
in and what to do next goes away.
"The next night about II o'clock
went 70 the house. and they was jist
| putin out the lights. A cop went by
| slingin' his night stick. so | waited till
he'd put block or two between me
| and him: then l went into the bacl;
yard and sat down in dark place for
| half an hour. giyin' 'em time to get to
! sleep The maid had left stepladder
| outside. cause it was basement
! house. and | was to git in at a back
| kitchen winder on the main floor.
81 put off the job till / felt that all
| that was goin' to sleep had gone there
| then | puts the stepladder agin the
| wall and goes up to the winder II
went up as slick as If it had been
! creased. and. feelin'. / found the maid
had soaped it. This made me feel sure
| she wasn't trickin' me and was dom
everything to help me on. | got dowI
| to the floor inside and follered the Ill
rection she'd given me, passin from
| the dinin' room into the pantry. where
the maid said she was goin' to leave
the silver. telin' her mistress the mex
mornin' she'd forgot to take it to hel
room. where she kept it nights. so sh'
wouldn't have to waken any one by
| gittin' it in the mornint
~ got into the panty all right ant
was feelin' for the swag when al
/ electric went up. and there stood col
at each of the pantry doors. They ha(
me cOoUcd mp. and ] was covered b.
| both Of 'em NJ the same time
1T WIS nl up with me. of course
They rlapped the bracelets on me ant
! to"i' me ont into the hall All tn,
! H.-h'. was turned mp, and Downstairs
| saw the gentleman OF the house com
| IN. w.Ui the maid behind him. onl.
! ,:py MI WIS dressed in their regua
c!",'n'S was Ill broke mp by seein
~ nlnid dressed like aIahy.
Well said the gentleman to hi
wife. this dnin' your own houseworl
Is = Sarin' III more ways than one
.Snt II. my dear? There's n thOusan,
'ol'urs' worth Of property held on t
rs yorr helm maid ana cook and al
he other servants. and III put half o
4 it into breell fpr. you'' Then. turn
IL fa the cops. he said to EN-: A yea
AGO. wErn wt waS spendiD' thousan
| ,hlarS II ye;p Tor servants. we los
$..Gt0 more into:se ni.ht. Luckily m
wife likes ho,isewoFR. isn't literary
don't write runc,s for woman's club
and is Il profitable woman to have i
the house. Qa
Then he list takes her In his arm
and gives her smack. and she wa
the proudest loolsin' woman you eve
seen But | noticed that when sh
seen me between two cops she locke
| Co.