Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-06-14
looiss Dcporlmsui,
Position and Wages Of Domsstioa

Position and wages OF Domestics.
Our article on The Management Of Domes.
tics, in q recent number, has called forth 9
Communication from an experienced friend,
Who, as our readers will see, takes exception
to our remarks, and thirks the hired help
should be placed on an equality. IL NOT on a
higher level than The family with whom they
live. s 80. 4, i. s,.l s.-l - {. 4.
No definite rules we think can be laid down
with regard 70 their position. so much will de-
pend upon their Individual Character. The
fact OF laboring iOr wages degrades no one. and
all practices based upon so false a premise,
should be discarded. We have bad neat, re.
fined ohrstaiu girls, whom we did treat as we
would sister. yet large majority Of the fs-
male help in this country are foreigners, and
coarse degraded ones. whose influence over
your children you would depreciAte, and with
whose tastes, habits and thoughts, you can
have no more sympathy than they can with
yours. ....-.. ar-. .-4-..,
Our Mend may say that such are not eft"
help yet such 10 greater or less degree are
often the best that can be obtained, and far
better than none /: but this class Of persons,
however efficient in work, you would be unl
willing 10 place on perfect equality with your
selves. Though desiring to do them good,
you cannot make them companions, neither
would you were they married and living near
you; and this would not, we think. be the best
way to benefit them.
| II is on the whole fortunate, we think, that
even poor help can generally find employment,
for it is blessing TO the girls themselves, that
will be felt for generations TO come. Indeed
this is one Of the most efficient means we have
tu Amsricanize foreigners not only the modes
Of cooking and living, but the social and NOR
al influences OF the family is felt BY those who
are soon to be wives ani mothers. We should
seek to elevate and improve all and il they
can be brought upon the same level with your
selves. by all means do so.
With regard 10 the time and wages to be al
lowed them, some Of course deserve much
more than others, yet as general rule we
think they receive too little.
| JOSEPHINE BATEHAM Although not a sub
scriber for your periodical, l sometimes have
the privilege Of reading it. l am. of course,
particularly interested In the Ladies' Depart
ment hoping il may be a means Of edifying
that, in the midst Of household cares, worn
down by i'll health, and still striving to lay hold
Of whatever may lawfully draw their thoughts
little way from their monotonous toll,
that which adds to the feast of reason, is al.
ways welcome. observed in your number Of
the LIST inst. an article on "The Management
Of Domestiss," aud though not much given
either TO quauelling or crlticising, feel very
much like dissenting from it in some particu.
lars
Why sh ould not domestic who is ct IN.
mate OF any family, whatever be It's level, be
placed on an equality with il? have but one
daughter, who, by the way, is a smart girl,
though not old enough to "work out" yet; but
il ". live to see her arrived al womanhood,
intend she shall think it her duty, though she
may never be obliged to, as often, as she can
10 assist those who need "help," and that fol
reasonable wages /; and shall expect to see hel
placed on at least as hrgh footing ss those she
tries to ''help." have frequently had "hireC
belp,' and when it was really good help
felt so grateful. that 1 rather desired L
place 1t on a higher rather than lower plat
form than myself.
About wages, we ought surely to make
difference. Some will help almost as mucl
TO waste as to work, while others will tax,
more time for reading, and attention to the
wardrobe" than any prudent housewife car
afford TO pay for One dislikes to pay much
! for less than half the amount OF work she hal
herself performed, not only day after day, bul
year after year, without thinking it a great
task, either, (It is no: the privilege of "old
women" to bragS) If cannot get hired help
which from any cause cannot place on leve
with my family, why then so long as CAT
crawl along. mean to do without
AN 0LD WOMAN.
Somcrton, Belmont Co., o., 9Th mo, l2Lh, '55