HOUSEHOLD HELP. 347 



izens, recognizing their proper place in the community, 

 and quite content to render due respect to their white 

 neighbors,, though they look down upon the " poor white 

 trash," and in many instances justly so. And in return they 

 receive the respect and support of those around them. 



We could name several within a radius of five miles of 

 our present home, who are the owners of broad lands, a 

 horse and wagon, great fields of cotton and corn, flourish- 

 ing groves and a comfortable house ; such a property and 

 such a home as thousands of educated men in the North 

 and West, and East and South, toil all their lives without 

 attaining to one half their value and comfort. 



And in the older Southern States there are many such 

 examples as these of the ''poor, down-trodden negroes of 

 the South," who are so industriously held up to view and 

 waved aloft by certain desperate politicians of the North. 

 The status and treatment of the negro, under the same 

 circumstances, is far better in the South than in the North, 

 and it is full time that this fact should be universally ac- 

 knowledged, as it is already by many of that race them- 

 selves. 



But these negroes of the better class are the exceptions 

 in Florida, and are very rarely available for servants. 



The younger generation only " hires out" for household 

 work, and all are ' ' cooks," no matter whether they know 

 how to make a loaf of bread, a pie, a pudding, or even to 

 cook an ordinary "meat and vegetable dinner," or not; 

 and it is more frequently "not" than otherwise. 



The housekeeper who engages the ordinary Florida cook 

 must make up her mind to "endure all things," or do her 

 own work. The probability is strong that after a time she 

 will come to the conclusion that the latter alternative not 

 only involves less expense, but less wear and tear to nerve, 

 temper, and strength. 



