New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-25
WESTERN "HELP."
Correspondence Of Tho ". Y. Tribune.

NAPERvILLE, ILL.,, July l6, 1857.
The proper relations of employer and employee
involve great social and political problem. In
deed, it becomes at last the only problem. The
condition of servants, perhaps more than the cond-
ton of women, indicates the Christianity Of nation
In the South, we have an institutiOn-eyery mas
ter is a despot, every servant chattel. In the
arstocratc houses OF New.York and Boston, bar.
riers, for the moment almost as fatal those which
divide the castles of Indie, separate him who is
served from him who serves-JOhn Dean and his
bride to the contrary notwithstanding. The En-
glsbman, who, according to Emerson, believes in
"a Providence that does not treat with levlty
"pOund sterling" maintains system cOngenlal 10
his religion. A lady in London told me that she
would never venture to make her own bed so long
as she wished to retain the respect of her dOmes-
tics. 1t will not do she said, - to assume any Of
'the drudgery of their GLASS; or grant them any OF
I" the privileges of our own; for the slightest indu
"genCe of this sort, neglect Of the conventional
"barriers, only encourages lnsoence and purchases
their contempt"
Should the proud SOutherner, or the arstocrat OF
Of New-YOrk or London witness the working OF
our Western system Cor rather no system) OF SER
wants, am afraid he would be but the more firmly
convinced of the righteousness, or, at least neces
sity of his own domestic institutions. Thus the
Mchammedan and Mormon deduce arguments in
favor of poyeamy from the evils attending the free
dom Of Christian wives.
The Western women themselves draw most H.
dicrous picture of their relations with their help
"Kins. are in the saddle
And ride mankind"
Here the servant is master; the master is the de-
pendent party. "Our help" said Mrs. Awe
- do not call them servants, unless we desire them
immediately to revot-cOme to us to do us a ia
"yOr. They remain with US as long as they lind
.Jxa,, foo a,rfb dos
"Thcy can do very well without u.s. but we cannot
"do without them-this is the comprehensive prin-
"cipe they appear to act upon Intimate to them
that they have . slight misapprehensiOn of the
% state of the case, and they say promptly, Very
WELL see how you can get along without us! and,
"unless speedy concessions are made, we soon find
ourselves helpless"
trace the chief source of the difficulty to the
scarcity Of help and the great demand for it. If
the Young lady in your kitchen is aware that dozen
families are in pursuit of her, all eager to
her services on her own terms 1t Is natural she
should consider herself important parsonage, and
carry her head at an altitude corresponding with
her elevated ideas. If you commence making con-
cessons there will be no end to them; and you at
length find yourself hlanby asking her permission
70 make visits or receive company.
"Are you going to give he holiday the Fourth "
INQUIRED Mrs b. of her hOuse-glrl.
The broad face of Dutch Mary looked glum;
and to induce compliance, Mrs. Il. presented her
with bonnet. The broad face frightened, and the
REQUIRED promise was cheerfIly given. But, when
The Feurth arrived, and Mrs b. had completed her
preparations for the picnic, Mary made her appear
apce, dressed in her best, and with the new bonnet
on her hiah.bOrne head AS she was about to leave
the house, her amazed mistress called after her:
"Wherc are you going, Mary1"
Seeing home; come back Monday"
"Going home after your promise Leave me
alone with all the work and the children
Indignation and persuasion were alike anavailing
Mary went; she was gone three days; ana when,
by particular request she returned to her duties, Il
was with the air Of deepy-iIjured and not very
iorgiviDg person. Do you suppose Mrs b. up
braided her 2 On the contrary, she sat down pa
tiently to af4case the girls anger by making her
new aproD.
The female help in this region is mostly drawn
from the families of Dutch or German settlers.
"They 90 out to service, says Mrs. A., 'to ac
"auire our language. This elegant object gained
"Ihey are fitted for different sphere. Philip has
Offered to marry them; or their uncle has adopted
"them; or they are wanted ut home. The seXt We
.shear of them is in the harycstfslJ, where they
"rake and bind, and keep up with the mcn."
The search for help, when help is scarce and
must be bad involves many perplexities and md-
crous adventures. The glrl-hunter finds the coun-
try swept cle,D all the covers beaten for miles in
every direction. He meets other Nimrods who
have been riding for periods Of time that seem al
most fabulous, in the same pursuit.; The inquiry Is
everywhere for girls He ssts out, every morning
on some new scent, and returns home every night
greatly discouraged. Meanwhile his wife ana
daughters are wasting away under the exhaustins
household drudgery. At last, just as he is about
giving up the search in after despair the arrival OF
foreign immigrants is reported. They have got
girls! These speak only German: but they are
willing TO 60 ont to service, and learn English HIS
wife has declared hundred times that she will not
have in her house girl who cannot speak English;
but trial has softene.. that excellent womans heart
and she is but too happy to secure the first aya-
able bone snd muscle that can set the table an5 DO
washing. Tie Husband takes an Interpreter, a9f