-------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Honest. | +-------------+-------------+-------------+ | Male. | Female. | Total. | +------+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+ | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | -------------------------+------+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+ Very | 12 | 12 | 226 | 28.2 | 238 | 26.4 | Yes | 81 | 81 | 504 | 62.9 | 585 | 64.9 | Fairly so | -- | -- | 3 | 0.4 | 3 | 0.3 | "So far as I know," or | | | | | | | "I think so." | 4 | 4 | 57 | 7.1 | 61 | 6.8 | No | -- | -- | 6 | 0.7 | 6 | 0.6 | Decidedly no | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Not stated | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.7 | 9 | 1.0 | -------------------------+------+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+ Total | 100 | 100 | 802 | 100 | 902 | 100 | -------------------------+------+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+ Total percent | 11.1 | 88.9 | 100 | -------------------------+------+------+-----+-------+-----+-------+ These testimonials furnish a body of evidence contrary to the current opinion of criticism and blame, and direct attention to other causes for whatever unsatisfactory part that Negroes are playing in this line of service in the City. These causes may be looked for in the increasing number of European immigrants; in the growing ambition and effort of Negro wage-earners, sharing the feeling of all native-born Americans, to get away from personal and domestic service and to enter fields of work with better wages, shorter hours, and more independence.[64] To this may be added the increasing custom, indicating prejudice of well-to-do Americans, of giving preference to European servants.[65] The efficiency of Negro skilled workmen is indicated in the replies of 37 employers, summarized in Chapter IV. (See p. 77, _supra_.) If they had ever employed Negroes, they were asked whether in comparison with white workmen Negro workmen were: 1. Faster, equal or slower in speed. 2. Better, equal or poorer in quality of work done. 3. More, equally or less reliable. The consensus of opinion expressed was that the Negro workmen whom they had employed measured up to the white, and there was a general belief that Negroes usually had to be well above the average to secure and hold a place in the skilled trades.