© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

7/3/1953 - Servants Advice by Peter Bird Martin

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF URRENT JORLD AFFAIRS PBM Meikle Hotel Servant Advice Salisbury Southern Rhodesia July Mr alter S Rogers Institute 0urrent Affairs Fifth Avenue New New York Dear Mr Roers I donlt scare remember native Southern Rhodesia years removed savage A J Bull longtime resident Salisbury manager Meikle Hotel where I etayir today again dining spotting Bull office apparently nothir occupy thoughts rented house Part leasing bargain native house employ Bull somewhat baldln fatherly manner began advice which quotation above theme That Bull But He glasses china spite He steal canlt leave without reason By Julia almost visibly alarmed until Bul should treat servant would treat child That become familiar phrase relaxed smile Before St Louis heard friend tobacco planter Salisbury Miss Sours renting house thing showed various rooms occupy And pamphlet issued Department Public Relations Southern Rhodesia Almost every European Salsbury house As I Southern Rhodesia These specially trained their quarters entitled special ration allotments require special handling Miss Souza instance lives modest story house To living rooms kitchen dining bedrooms bathroom garden employs One cooks clean other cares garden appearance outside house The cookin inside cleaning considered He arrives early mornir prepares serves He never takes Miss Souza The government pamphlet entitled Your 3errant You PBM The African modest Be modest before before Respect ideas about women You think savage cases moral outlook little eommon never allows small native Eirl ppear naked before little should After serves prepares breakfast while Miss S getting clothing After kfast washes dishes spends mornin cleaning house S prepares dinner luncheon because found likes clean takes about consequently middle He thins Miss S about She native learns perform method For instance sweeper clean He prefers hands knees small brush The times sweeper accordin Miss S damage furniture either intentionally accidentally loscriesis thorough Each given completely There taken through He finishes cleaning after lunch except Monday washes clothin household linen quarters He before supper utensils pregare dinner After finished dinner dishes returns quarters There schools thought about treatment native house servants One school native Will understand liberally The other school advocates treatment Miss De S belongs latter school Her servant speaks English insulted orders Kitchen Kaffir language English native which generally household orders His knowledge English opinion Puts above common garden variety servants In conversation Julie Miss S outlined followir rules maintaining discipline keeping house I Never strike house Never become angry without Just cause Make orders given clearly Be pleasant overbearing Always allotment payment Treat servant though small child Your Servant YOU Department Public Relations Southern Rhodesia One reasons Miss S considered three years Bull other trouble maintainir staff hotel dining According sense responsibility They hav__ therefore accumulated enough money clothin cattle which purchase leave Sometimes return Bull asked where always vlsitin relative Every native relative usually mother Be visited native servant finds hotel confining accordin Bull He somewhat amazed Miss S planned visit mother during proposed Enlnd asked agreed On other Miss S friends servants Io periods thatthey respond normally treatment In pamphlet suggested houseboy given afternoon afternoon evening durinE which would required return prepare supper As I noted above Miss gives every afternoon evening She exceeds suggested allowance shown below SUGGESTED MISS S Corn Meat quality slightly Vegetables twice twice there Sugar I Dried beans Salt I As required As Is required Table scraps Tea Whatever None Whaver Is Soap None I The pamphlet suggests cookboys receive wages fromR pounds month houseboys recelve shillins month dependin previous experience Miss S combination house cookboy I0 month Her arden receives month which slightly suggested It interesting Miss S keeps Cleopatra receives2Ibs while native servants Ibs By comparison Julie would imp6esible experienced servants United States anythin suggested Each employer which means responsible conduct natives employed Miss S natives sleep small brick property It quarters flies mosquitoes other insects She supply clean clothin become native hospital Sallsury All natives their quarters clock night unless their employer grants special attend party visit friend relative These special passes ranted rarely police around Salisbury question natives found their quarters after Natives alloed boarders friends spend night Miss S worry bicycle crunched driveway night It police officer checkin everything right native house Julie asked Mias S servants could obtained replace disappeared night visit mother Just Mrs Martin answer Soon around other natives If Never under circumstance If natives there somethlr wrong house dishes Needless until July comes house Sincerely yours Peter Bird Martin Received New York