第52章 SHALL WE BE RUINED BY CHINESE CHEAP LABOUR?(3)

Wilkins,"but it does seem a bit wrong that if our own chaps are willin'and anxious to work,after all they've done,too,in the way of getting the mines for us,they shouldn't be allowed the job.""Again,Mrs.Wilkins,it is difficult to arrive at a just conclusion,"I said."The mine-owner,according to his enemies,hates the British workman with the natural instinct that evil creatures feel towards the noble and virtuous.He will go to trouble and expense merely to spite the British workman,to keep him out of South Africa.According to his friends,the mine-owner sets his face against the idea of white labour for two reasons.First and foremost,it is not nice work;the mine-owner hates the thought of his beloved white brother toiling in the mines.It is not right that the noble white man should demean himself by such work.Secondly,white labour is too expensive.If for digging gold men had to be paid anything like the same prices they are paid for digging coal,the mines could not be worked.The world would lose the gold that the mine-owner is anxious to bestow upon it.

"The mine-owner,following his own inclinations,would take a little farm,grow potatoes,and live a beautiful life--perhaps write a little poetry.A slave to sense of duty,he is chained to the philanthropic work of gold-mining.If we hamper him and worry him the danger is that he will get angry with us--possibly he will order his fiery chariot and return to where he came from.""Well,'e can't take the gold with him,wherever 'e goes to?"argued Mrs.Wilkins.

"You talk,Mrs.Wilkins,"I said,"as if the gold were of more value to the world than is the mine-owner.""Well,isn't it?"demanded Mrs.Wilkins.

"It's a new idea,Mrs.Wilkins,"I answered;"it wants thinking out."HOW TO SOLVE THE SERVANT PROBLEM.

"I am glad to see,Mrs.Wilkins,"I said,"that the Women's Domestic Guild of America has succeeded in solving the servant girl problem--none too soon,one might almost say."

"Ah,"said Mrs.Wilkins,as she took the cover off the bacon and gave an extra polish to the mustard-pot with her apron,"they are clever people over there;leastways,so I've always 'eard.""This,their latest,Mrs.Wilkins,"I said,"I am inclined to regard as their greatest triumph.My hope is that the Women's Domestic Guild of America,when it has finished with the United States and Canada,will,perhaps,see its way to establishing a branch in England.There are ladies of my acquaintance who would welcome,Ifeel sure,any really satisfactory solution of the problem.""Well,good luck to it,is all I say,"responded Mrs.Wilkins,"and if it makes all the gals contented with their places,and all the mistresses satisfied with what they've got and 'appy in their minds,why,God bless it,say I.""The mistake hitherto,"I said,"from what I read,appears to have been that the right servant was not sent to the right place.What the Women's Domestic Guild of America proposes to do is to find the right servant for the right place.You see the difference,don't you,Mrs.Wilkins?""That's the secret,"agreed Mrs.Wilkins.They don't anticipate any difficulty in getting the right sort of gal,I take it?""I gather not,Mrs.Wilkins,"I replied.

Mrs.Wilkins is of a pessimistic turn of mind.

"I am not so sure about it,"she said;"the Almighty don't seem to 'ave made too many of that sort.Unless these American ladies that you speak of are going to start a factory of their own.I am afraid there is disappointment in store for them.""Don't throw cold water on the idea before it is fairly started,Mrs.

Wilkins,"I pleaded.

"Well,sir,"said Mrs.Wilkins,"I 'ave been a gal myself in service;and in my time I've 'ad a few mistresses of my own,and I've 'eard a good deal about others.There are ladies and ladies,as you may know,sir,and some of them,if they aren't exactly angels,are about as near to it as can be looked for in this climate,and they are not the ones that do most of the complaining.But,as for the average mistress--well it ain't a gal she wants,it's a plaster image,without any natural innards--a sort of thing as ain't 'uman,and ain't to be found in 'uman nature.And then she'd grumble at it,if it didn't 'appen to be able to be in two places at once.""You fear that the standard for that 'right girl'is likely to be set a trifle too high Mrs.Wilkins,"I suggested.

"That 'right gal,'according to the notions of some of 'em,"retorted Mrs.Wilkins,"'er place ain't down 'ere among us mere mortals;'er place is up in 'eaven with a 'arp and a golden crown.There's my niece,Emma,I don't say she is a saint,but a better 'earted,'arder working gal,at twenty pounds a year,you don't expect to find,unless maybe you're a natural born fool that can't 'elp yourself.

She wanted a place.She 'ad been 'ome for nearly six months,nursing 'er old father,as 'ad been down all the winter with rheumatic fever;and 'ard-put to it she was for a few clothes.You 'ear 'em talk about gals as insists on an hour a day for practising the piano,and the right to invite their young man to spend the evening with them in the drawing-room.Perhaps it is meant to be funny;I ain't come across that type of gal myself,outside the pictures in the comic papers;and I'll never believe,till I see 'er myself,that anybody else 'as.They sent 'er from the registry office to a lady at Clapton.

"'I 'ope you are good at getting up early in the morning?'says the lady,'I like a gal as rises cheerfully to 'er work.'

"'Well,ma'am,'says Emma,'I can't say as I've got a passion for it.

But it's one of those things that 'as to be done,and I guess I've learnt the trick.'

"'I'm a great believer in early rising,'says my lady;'in the morning,one is always fresher for one's work;my 'usband and the younger children breakfast at 'arf past seven;myself and my eldest daughter 'ave our breakfest in bed at eight.'

'That'll be all right,ma'am,'says Emma.

"'And I 'ope,'says the lady,'you are of an amiable disposition.