THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND. SEPTEMBER 6, 1903.
MAN WITH THE
mu
r
The Satsuma Bracelet
(Copyright, 190S. by W. G. Chapman;
copyright In Great Britain.)
THAIDA was in Chicago. This was
enough to upset the dally orJer of
Clarke and myself and make work
out of the question. Just why she came
I was not Informed. Clarke. I knew, was
not In active correspondence with her
and since our thrilling experiences off
the gulf coast when we had rescued her
from the clutches of Count Armand de
Loup and his band of devil worshippers
he had not mentioned her name. But
now that she was at a fashionable North
Side hotel, looking, if It be possible, more
beautiful, more .queenly and more utterly
fascinating -than ever, he appeared to
live and move In another world. For my
self I could feast my eyes upon her by
the hour, but I dared not. for the sake of
friendship and loyalty and all that I held
most dear In my association with Clarke,
allow my mind to follow. My heart I
knew already was lost beyond my ever
regaining It. But It was a Joy to walk
the streets with her. to feel her presence
at one's side and to share the conscious
pride In the admiring looks that followed
her whenever she appeared in public.
I knew that there was a crowd and
despite Clarke's urging I let them do the
theaters alone, but every night I had a
seat In the orchestra where I could watch
Clarke's box. and never once did I see
aught of the play.
Right royally we entertained her In our
humble apartments. It was an afternoon
affair and I believe Clarke bankrupted
the resources of a certain caterer and an
equally well-known florist. Prof. Watrous
of the university was there, and Henry
A. Bolton left his busy office In the
street to drop in for an hour. Both those
men had visited our rooms on previous
occasions when In deep trouble and both
had reason -to be grateful to Clarke. Mr.
William F. Ship was there, in official life
ChJef Ship, the companion of many of
our adventures, our adversary at times,
but personally and privately a most fin
ished gentleman and fit to grace any oc
casion. Then there was almost every
body worth knowing In the literary and
artistic life of the city.
Among the guests and second only to
Thalda herself In beauty was Katharine
Randall. Clarke and I met her for the
first time. She was a guest of the Ar
matages and when our good and long
valued friend. Mrs. Armltage. telephoned,
asking the privilege of bringing her,, we
were quite unprepared, despite Mrs. Ar
matage's glowing description, for such a
vision of feminine pulchritude. She waa
Thatda'a direct opposite, a perfect blonde
with the 'clear blue eyes and the pink
and white skin that would have given
her the face of a doll had It not been for
the soul that ahone through It. Standing
beside Thalda they made perfect foils,
one .or the other, that but heightened the
beauty of each. Miss Randall was simply
dressed In a gown of white plna cloth
over white silk and the only Jewelry she
wore was a bracelet of peculiar design
satsuma medallions linked with gold, that
set off the beauty of her arm most ad
mlrably.
Naturally, and despite all Clarke's
wishes to the contrary, the conversation
turned to his achievements in the tele
pathlc solution of mysteries.
"Oh. I should dearly love to see you
solve a mystery, Mr. Clarke," said one
gushing miss whose advice to the love
lorn under the name of Madame Mer! Is
a feature of one of the afternoon dallies
"One mystery I shall not attempt to
solve," answered Clarke, gaily, "la how
so much worldly wisdom can be stored
In such a charmingly youthful little head
as yours."
Just then there was a ring at the tele
phone and Togo, our Jap boy, who an
swered it, said: "It's for Mr. Chief Ship."
The chief listened a while and then
said: "Yes, ask her to come up here. I
can see her for a few moments."
"It's the daughter of an old friend of
mine," ha explained, turning to Clarke.
"She seems to be in some sort of trou
ble and would not say at my office what
it was. Doubtless It does not amount to
anything and If I may talk with her in
your private study I shall not lose the
rest of your delightful party."
Clarke assured the chief that anything
in his possession was at his disposal,
provided it resulted 'in keeping him with
us. and a few moments afterward a large
red touring car guided by a begoggled
chauffeur and bearing a handsome young
woman in the tonneau stopped at our
door.
The young woman alighted and tha
chief met her at the door and was
closeted with her for some ten or fifteen
minutes. When he returned his face
wore a puzzled look and he beckoned to
Clarke and whispered:
"I'd like you to hear Miss Atwell's
story. I shouldn't be surprised If it was
mora In your line than mine."
"You go also, Mr. Sexton." graciously
urged Thalda. who must have seen that
I was bursting with impatience. "I'll
play the hostess while you both are
away."
So excusing ourselves as best we might
to the wondering company who already
scenfcd the longed-for mystery, Clarke
and I followed the chief into the study.
"Now. Miss Atwell." said the chief,
whea the brief formality of introduction
waa over. "I want you to tell Mr. Clarke
your story Just as you have told it to
me." '
"As I told Mr. Ship." began the young
woman. "I am engaged to be married to
Lieut. Morton Robinson, of the army. Ho
has been in the Philippines for the last
two years, this being his second term of
d.ty there. He will sail for home shortly
and when he arrives we were to have
been married, but with what I have to
tell you unexplained I do not feel that I
can look him In the face again," and her
eyes became suffused with tears.
Clarke encouraged her gently and she
resumed.
"It's the things he has sent me. the
most beautiful things you ever saw, and
now I haven't a single one of them, and
what is worse, I cannot explain how or
why they disappeared. It seems like
fate. Every single thing he has given
me has been something to -wear or some
handsome piece of Jewelry, and the very
first time I have put any of them on it
has disappeared as completely and as
mysteriously as if it Just melted into
air.
"First it was a harmless tortoiseshell
and gold comb. It could never be dupli
cated in this country, for I have searched
the shops ever since for one. The very
first time I wore it I lost it. and I never
lost a comb before in my life.
"Then Lieut. Robinson sent me a
beautiful little Jeweled brooch In the
shape of a stiletto.. It was set with
rubles, diamonds and sapphires he had
picked up in Ceylon on his way out .and
he had them mounted in Manila. I kept
It three months before wearing it, and
then I was invited to a box party and
the temptation was too great. I knew
the . fastening was secure and I. was con
scious all during the performance it was
there, but when I gt home at night It
was gone and I cried all the rest of the
night.
"Then there was my wonderful cameo.
Lieut. Robinson got it in Malta and had
it mounted in the most beautiful native
fHShion In China. I wore it for a belt
buckle and not only was the fastening
secure, but I took the precaution of
sewing It to the belt. The very first
time I wore it out of the house it disap
peared. And though Mr. Ship will never
believe me. I solemnly declare that the
threads which went through the filigree
work of gold were not broken."
"And have you advertised any of these
articles or reported them to the police?"
questioned Clarke.
"My best men have worked on every
case except the last whk-h Miss Atwell
has yet to tell you," said the chief. "We
have raked the pawnshops of the city
with a fine-toothed comb, and I believe
Miss Atwell's father has spent pretty
nearly the value of the articles in adver
Using bills. But tell him of the bracelet.
Miss Atwell."
"It was a bracelet of medallions of
antique aatsuma ware, linked together
with curiously wrought bands of gold. I
received It two months ago, but I had
been so unlucky with all the rest of his
presents that I resolved never to wear
it when I thought how I had lost the
others, but what's the use of having nice
things If you can't wear them? So last
night when I was going to a dance at the
North Shore Country Club I wore the
bracelet. But previously I had taken It
to a Jeweler and had a little gold chain
and padlock put on It in addition to the
other fastening. It made it perfectly se
cure. More than, that I had elbow gloves
on over It when I got In the auto to come
home. I know it was on my arm when
I got into the car. When I took my gloves
oft It was gone. I could not believe my
eyes. I went right out and searched the
stairs, the walk, the steps to- the port
cochere. every place that I might have
dropped It between the car and the room.
Then I telephoned to the garage and had
them look all through the tonneau, but
It was of no use. I even ordered thOyCar
back to the house, had them run it under
the strong Hsht In the port cochere and
then I turned out all the cushions and
searched every corner of it myself. But
it availed nothing.
"Now, Mr. Ship cays you can help me
find these tilings. Every one of them
would be easily Identified, for every
one Is unique. And besides I have one
of the medallions of the bracelet still
which was loose, so I took It out. fear
ing to lose it."
"Have you it with you?" eagerly
asked Clarke.
Miss Atwell opened a gold chain bag;
that she carried and handed us a little
medallion. I looked at it intently, and
a suspicion that had been forming in
my mind became a- certainty. It was
identical with the medallions in the
bracelet on "Katharine Randall's beauti
ful arm.
"If you will return at this time to
morrow. Miss Atwell," said Clarke, "I
think I can restore your bracelet, or at
least have trace of it. As for the other
things, we shall see."
Miss Atwell left with brightened face,
and as we turned once more to our
guest Clarke whispered: "Make' no
mention, either of you,- of the bracelet
on the arm of the blonde girl. Miss
Randall, but notice If It has a link
missing."
Soon after I found myself sitting be
side her, with Clarke on the other side.
"We were speaking of mysteries a
short time ago. Miss Randall," quietly
remarked Clarke. "That Is a curious
bracelet you have, and I warrant it has
a mystery about it."
I watched the blood for a moment
mount in her lovely cheeks, but she
lifted her arm, and turning It that we
might sec, said:
"Yes, it certainly is an odd bauble,
but I'm sure there is no mystery about
it."
The circlet was complete. Not a me
dallion was missing.
When the party broke up Clarke sig
nified to Chief Ship to remain. Thaida
had not yet made her adieus.
"I have told you, chief," said Clarke,
"how with Thaida' s help we eolved the
mysterious murder revolving about the
'Blue Bokhara' in New York. I know
you are skeptical. I am myself, but if
Thalda will help us it will do no harm
to test her powers in this case."
"I will do anything you wish to help,
Carlton," answered Thaida, seating her
self In a reclining chair.
Clarke quickly put her first in the
hypnotic and then in the cataleptic
state. Then pressing againet her fore
head the satsuma medallion Irora Miss
Atwell's bracelet, he said:
Look well into the past. Thaida. and
tell us what you see.'
The voice came soft and cadenced
like a message from the unknown.
I see a tropic port. There are white
houses back upon a Dcauuiui nui.
White roads of shell twine their way
up the slope. At Its foot and run
ning down to the harbor is a military
post. Soldiers are all about, bathing
in the azure waters of the harbor,
smoking and sipping their drinks un
der the verandas. They are Americans.
Back on the hills stands one native
house of white plaster more preten-
JMV
tious than the rest. Upon it broad
veranda swings a hammock, and in it
languidly reclines a beautiful young
girl. She is dark of skin and hair and
her deep black eyes glow like coals of
fire. On her arm there is a bracelet
of quaint and curious design. It is of
satsuma medallions, like one that I
have seen, linked with finely wrought
gold.
"At the young girl's feet elts an of
ficer In khaki and putees. He is an
American, and he lifts his boyish sun
darkened face to hers and his soul goes
out to her in his eyes while she toys
with the bracelet on her arm and an
swers his love messages In kind.
"But wait, they are speaking. It Is
Spanish."
"Translate it, Thalda."
" 'It waa so good of you, light of my
life, to give me this beautiful thing,'
says the girl. 'But you must not spend
all the money your- government gives
you thus. Some day you will take me
back to your own land and ws shall
need other things besides combs of
tortoise and gold, and Jeweled stilettos
and cameos and this.'
" "They are nothing, answers the
young orticer. surely 1 may give
pretty things to my wife, though they
cannot make her more beautiful than
she is." 0
"Tour wife, Morton? Tell me again
that the marriage Is a good, one. I
know you gave the friar much money,
$5 gold, but there are times when I
start out of my dreams and see. the
face of a girl, and she Is fair and of
your own race and I epeak to her in
the night. She tells me that I shall
never see that far-off country of yours.
And then I look again and see her fair
form and she has my comb In her hair
and my 'Stiletto at fcer throat, and my
cameo at her waist and my bracelet on
her arm.'
"And then the young officer rises
and strokes back her raven hair and
puts his arm about her.
"'My foolish little Jesuclta,' he says;
'the old Tagalog hag hae again been
telling thee talcs of witchcraft. Are
we not bound to each other by a tie
that could not be strengthened by the
friar nor broken by the faces of thy
dreams? Think of the little child, my
Jesuclta, and forget the dreams.'
" 'And if I should not live to look
upon Its little face, promise me, my
soul, that the fair one of my dreams
never shall have aught of mine, but all
you will keep for the little one."
" 'I promise it, Jesuclta Mai,' and he
seals the promise with a kis."
Thalda paused in her recital, and
Clarke Epoke:
li-rimmar ystcncs. by
i - " .
ASM AM7ffl(7f5Jf
"Follow the braclet closely where it
touches the lives of- those who have
handled It. What next do you seer
"I see a darkened room In which
many candles are burning. Upon a
bier of bamboo lies the body of a
young girl. The bracelet is on her arm.
By her side lies the corpse of a new
born child. On bended knees a man in
khaki uniform sobs as only a strong
man can sob. Until the morning he is
shaken with his grief. A distant bugle
sounds. He arises, and unclasping from
the pallid arm the bracelet he presses
ft to his Hps and places it within his
blouse next his heart."
Again Thaida paused while we sat
silent and breathless, but under
Clarke's gentle urging she began once
more.
"I see a fair-haired girl in a beauti
ful, richly furnished home. She is open
ing a box, and from It she takes the
bracelet I listen. She Is speaking. '
"'Oh, mamma,' she saye, 'see what
Lieutenant Robinson has sent me," and
she holds the bracelet before the eyes
of an elderly woman.
" 'It is beautiful, but I hope you will
not be as careless with it as you have
been with everything else he has sent
you,' says thie woman."
Again the cadenced voice stopped,
and again Clarke gently commanded. .
"I see the bracelet now upon the arm
of the young woman. She is alighting
from an automobile and as she puts
her hand out upon the tonneau door
a figure steps from out the darkness.
It Is the native glrUwho once wore
the bracelet. No, that cannot1 be. She
lay dead in a white house in a tropical
isle. It is her astral self, for she re-,
moves, despite its fastenings, the brace
let from its outstretched arm."
"The bracelet, Thaida: follow It!"
"I next see it upon the arm of a
fair-haired girl. It is not the one who
is In the automobile. Wait, I know her.
I saw her today in'-this room. I see
her now in a dingy shop. She is match
ing medallions from a tray held by a
cringing Japanese with those of the
bracelet. She finds one that is the ex
act duplicate and . she takes off the
bracelet and hands It to the Japanese.
It has left her. I can see no more."
"But how did Bhe possess it, Thalda?
Answer me."
"I cannot see."
"You must, Thaida."
"I cannot. Wake me, Carlton. I am
tired unto death."
With a look of disappointment Clarke
brought Thalda back to the normal
state and she lay back in her chair
and closed her eyes in complete ex
haustion. Clarke turned to the chief.
"What do you think of it?" he asked.
Think of It!" blurted Ship. "What
is the use of thinking? Its all rank
fol de rol, of course, but recover the
goods for Miss Atwell and I'll well.
I'll concede nothing, but I'll take off
my hat to you. Now, how do you ex
plain all this?"
"Professor Denton has given all the
explanation possible in his admirable
treatise on psychometry. He holds that
things as persons have souls, ergo a
past, and this of course explains noth
ing at all."
"And perhaps," exploded the chief,
"you can explain to me how this Fili
pino ghost woman got that bracelet oft
Miss Atwell's arm, granting she fas
tened It as she says," and the chief
loooked at Clarke in triumph.
- "That is most easily explained," mur
mured Clarke with a twinkle in his
eye. "It merely establishes Professor
Zollner's theory of the 'fourth dimen
sion.' A disembodied spirit being ad
mittedly 'fourth dimensional,' the lim
its of length, breadth arid thickness do
not circumscribe its activities. Ab
surdly simple, as you readily see."
"Simple, humph!" grunted the chief.
"But how oh, what's the use."
"That is what I have long ago decid
ed, chief. What's the use? So I am
not going to speculate upon the un
knowable, but if the intangible offers
a clew I simply follow It to the tangi
ble and there, as you express It, I find
'the goods.' "
"And you would accuse this Miss
Randall on such flimsy evidence as
this?"
"There will be nothing so blunt as a
police accusation, chief. I shall leave
that to you, though it will be unneces
sary, and try what finesse will accom
plish. I will have the goods' here for
Miss Atwell when she calls tomorrow."
"I have always known you were a
wonderful man, Mr. Clarke," said the
chief, as he made his adieus.
Our long acquaintance with Mrs. Ar.
matage made formality unnecessary,
and to Clarke's telephone message, say
ing he wished to see her on a matter
of importance and would bring Thaida
and myself, she replied that she had
no other engagements and would be at
home to us all evening.
So with Thalda, now fully herself
again, we proceeded by cab, after a
light repast, to Mrs. Armatage's beau
tiful South Side home. On the way
Clarke told Thaida the complete story.
"And now I shall be guided by your
advice," he said. "For I have never
known your wonderful feminine intui
tion to be at fault."
"Then tell Mrs. Armitage just what you J
frank lovell nelson.
want. Tou can trust her. She knows her
guest and knows how to act. If Miss
Randall has the other ornaments my
'power," as you call It, has not been at
fault. . If she has not, she doubtless can
prove property rights in the bracelet. If
there has been any dishonesty you may
be sure Mrs. Armatage is not the woman
to shield it."
And Thaida was right, as she always is.
Mrs. Armatage's eyes opened 4n wonder
as she heard the story.
"Yes, yes," she exclaimed, when Clarke
had finished, "Katharine has them, every
one of them. I've seen them all on her
dresser and admired them. Heavens, yes,
they may have been advertised. I never
look at the classified columns. And I
never asked Katharine where ehe got
them. But, Mr. Clarke, there can't be
anything wrong. Katharine Is in her
rooms now and Just to prove my faith in
her. Til call her down here and before all
of you ask her where she got these trin
kets. There cannot be anything wrong
with my little Katharine."
"Oh. yes. there can be, auntie," wailed
a tear-choked voice, and a fair-haired
glrJ staggered from behind the portiere
anS emptied into the lap of the astonished
Mrs. Armatage a tortoise comb, a cameo,
a Jeweled stiletto brooch and a medal
lion bracelet. Then she fell at Mrs. Arm
atage's feet, and, burying her face In that
good woman's lap, sobbed as if her heart
would break.
Mrs. Armatage soothed her and she
finally lifted her tear-stained face and
said:
"Auntie. I am very, very wicked, and I
want to confess it all. I overheard you
talking and I slipped down with the
things and heard it all. You know when
I first came to Chicago I told you how
lucky I, was. Every time almost I went
out on the street I found some beautiful
thing. I found all these. They were al
ways lying on, the sidewalk Just as If
someone had Just dropped them. I knew
they were not mine, but I wanted to keep
them so badly. I tried not to look at the
classified ads., and from that moment
classified ads. had a perfect fascination
.for me. Whenever I picked up a paper
they were staring at me. At last I saw
one. It Just caught my eye:
" 'Lost Satsuma medallion bracelet.'
"I tore up the paper without reading
any farther, and told myself I hadn't
read it. I had the bracelet repaired so
German Compared With English
Teuton Servant. Far More Human in His Relations AVith Employers.
Lond- n Mall.
GERMAN lady, whose uncle at one
J time occupied an important dlplo-
matic post in London told me
that her aunt was immensely surprised
to find that every one of her English
servants knew his or her work, and
did it without supervision, but that
none of them would do anything else.
This lady, not knowing English
ways, used to make the mistake at first
of asking a servant to do what she
wanted done Instead of what the ser
vant had engaged to do; but she soon
found that , the first housemaid would
rather leave than All a matchbox it was
the second housemaid's place to fill;
and what surprised her most was to
find that her English friends sympath
ized with the housemaid's position, and
to "believe in every one minding his
own business." they said.
In most German households there is
no such thing as the strict division of
labor Insisted on here. Your cook will
be delighted to make a blouse for you,
and your nurse will torn out the din
lngroom, while your chambermaid will
take the child for an airing if you or
der it so. They are more human in
their relation to their employers. The
English servant fixea a gulf between
herself and the most domestic mistress.
The German brings her intimate Joys
and sorrows to a good Herrschaft, and
expects their sympathy.
When a girl has bad luck and en
gages with a bad Herrschaft, she is
worse off than in England, because she
Is more in the power of her employers
and of the police than she would be
here. She has to have a bienstbuch,
an official book in which her age and
personal anjiearance are registered. In
this book her employers write her
character. It is under the control of
the police, and has to be shown to
them when she leaves and when she
enters a situation. It Is hardly neces
sary to say that when a girl does any
thing seriously bad, and her employers
record it in the book, the book gets
"lost." Then the police Interfere, and
make it extremely disagreeable for the
girl.
A friend told me that In the confu
sion of a removal her own highly val
ued servant lost her Dienstbuch, or,
rather, my friend lost it, for employers
usually keep It while a girl Is in their
service; and though she took the blame
on herself and explained that the book
was lost, the police were most offensive
about it. Germans have often told me
that servants as a class have' good rea
son to complain of police insolence and
brutality.
I have in my possession the exact
copy of the entries in a Dienstbuch
that belonged to a girl who had been
in several situations. None of them
tells anything of her qualities and
knowledge, but one mistress com
plains that Anna Schmidt's behavior
did not please her. Anna Schmidt's
present mistress assured me that this
meant that a son of the house had an
noyed the girl with his attentions,( and
she had in consequence treated him
with some brusquerle. But when Eng
lish servants write to the papers and
ask to have the Dientsbuch system
here, I always wonder how they would
like their failings or their misfortunes
sent with them from place to place in
black and white; every fresh start made
difficult, and every bad trait recorded
against them as long as they earn their
dally bread.
There is no give and take of person
al character in Germany. Ladles do
not see the last lady with whom a
girl has lived. They advertise, or they
go to a registry office where servants
are waiting to be engaged. In Berlin
every third house seems to be a regis
try office, and you hear as many com
plaints of the people who keep them as
you hear here. So the government has
set up a large public registry in Char
lottenburg, where both sides can get
what they want without paying fees.
Wages are much lower in Germany
than here. Some years ago you could
get a good cook for from 7 to 12, but
those days are past. Now you hear' of
a general servant getting from 10 to
11. and a good lain cook from 15 up- ,
it could not be Identified. I never dared
to wear any of them until this afternoon,
when I couldn't resist putting on the
bracelet, and when Mr. Clarke said there
must be a mystery about it, I thought I
should faint."
''Was the bracelet locked when you
found it. Miss Randall?" asked Clarke,
gently.
"Yes. I had to take it to a locksmith
and have a key fitted for it," said the
penitent girl, as she rose" and fled from
her self-inflicted auto-da-fe.
"Do not be too hard on her, Mrs. Ar
matage. Just remember what a tempta
tion these things would be to any of us
women," pleaded Thalda, as we said good
night.
' Promptly on the minute next afternoon
Miss Atwell's big touring car rolled up
to our door. We received her in the li
brary and Clarke held in his hands a lit
tle jewel case.
"If this box contains the Jewels you
have lost, and I restore them to you, may
I exact of you a solemn promise, Ml.-e
Atwell?" said Clarke.
"I'll promise anything, Mr. Clarke,"
said the girl, impulsively.
"Then promise me first that you will
never wear one of those ornaments hut
that 'you will keep them as sacred heir
looms for your children, when that time
shall come. Second, that when you are
married to Lieutenant Rob'neon you will
never ask him more than lie chooses to
tell you of his experiences in the Philip
pines; and third, if he ever seems to have
a burled grief you will be very gentle
with him. and never for one moment let
a pang of Jealousy have a place in your
heart. Do you promise all this?"
"I promise," said the girl, wondertngly,
wliile her woman's curiosity struggled
for the mastery.
Clarke's thoughtful tact was unneces
sary, for Lieutenant Robinson was des
tined never to become the husband of
Miss Atwell. Before the war was out the
list of officers killed in a punitive expedi
tion against the treacherous Moros of
Mindanao contained his name.
"And do you believe he really had a
beautiful native wife who once wore those
jewels?" I asked Clarke, when he 6howed
me the paper.
"Sexton, I don't know," was all I could
get out of him.
(Next week: "The Pursuit of the Silver
Skull.")
ward. These are servants who would
get from 22 to 30 in England, and
more in America. But the wages of
German servants are supplemented at
Christmas by a system of tips and
presents that Is neither one of free gift
nor of business-like payment. Germans
groan under It, but every nation knows
how hard it is to depart from one of
I these traditional, indefinite customs.
In a household account book that a
friend showed me I found the follow
ing entry: Christmas present for the
servant. 30 marks in money. House
linen, 9m. 50 pf. Pincushion, lm. 6 pf.
Five small presents. In all 42 marks.
Was not contented." My friend told
me that German servants now expect
to get a quarter of their wages In
money and presents at Christmas.
House linen is often given, becauso a
German girl in service is always sav
ing with might and main for her wed
ding outfit. In Germany the bride
buys both furniture and linen, and in
the poorer" classes about 30 Is con
sidered sufficient for this purpose.
Domestic servants in Germany also
come under the law that obliges all
persons below a certain income to pro
vide for their old age. The postoffico
issues cards and stamps, and one of
these stamps must be dated and affixed
to the card every Monday. Sometimes
the employers buy the cards and stamps,
and show them at the postofflce once
a month; sometimes they expect the
servant io pay half the money required.
Women who go out by the day get
their stamps at the house they work
In on Monday. If a girl marries she
may cease to insure, and may have a
sum of money toward her outfit. In
that case she will receive no old-age
peiTslon. But if she goes on with her
insurance she will have from 15 to
20 marks a month from the state after
the age of 70.
In cases of illness employers are
legally bound to provide for their do
mestic servants during the term of
notice agreed on. At least, this in so
In Prussia, and the term varies from a
fortnight to three months. Mosc house
holders in Germany subscribe to an in
surance company that provides medical
help, sends a patient to an infirmary
when necessary, and even pays for
wine and food ordered by its own doc
tors. '
A German kitchen is marvelously
bright and clean, but it is not as com
fortably furnished as an English
kitchen, nor will a German servant, as
a rule, set the table for tidy kitchen
meals. Her morning meal will consist
of coffee and rye bread without butter,
but in the middle of the morning she
will expect a second breakfast of rye
bread and meat or sausage. She will
be allowed coffee and beer or wine
with her meals, but not cea; and, ex
cept for the scarcity of butter in mid
dle class households, she will, as a
rule, live very well.
Some years ago German servants
made no attempt to dress like ladles,
and even now what they do in this
way is a trifle compared to the extrav
agant "get-up" of an English cook or
parlor maid on her Sunday layout. A
German girl is not ashamed of being
a servant, and on week days she goes
to market with a large basket and an
umbrella, but without a hat. In
Hamburg girls who waited at taVle
used to wear light cotton gowns with
elbow sleeves, but nowadays Hamburg
has adopted our English livery of a
black gown with a white cap and
apron. In most German cities maid
servants wear what they please, and I
have myself dined with people whose
sllvr, glass and food were lrreproaon
able, while the young women who
waited on us wore decollete tartan
blouse, large, cheap lace collars and
brooches of sham diamonds. Some la
dies keep smart white aprons to lend
their servants on state occasions, oui
the laciest apron will not do much for
a girl in a sloppy colored blouse and a
plaid necktie with floating ends.
But these same girls who dress so
abominably always have stores of
strong, neat body linen, and knitted
stockings. A girl knits the stockings
herself as she stands at the street door
on summer evenings and gossips wlta
her. friends.