The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-10-18
For the Jeffersonian Democrat.
Hired GIRLS Rights. 81.

| ~SN SAAAo AAi6
Mr.. EDITOR In your paper some
months since, and in an article respecting
the examination Of "school ma'ams,"
noticed a remark TO the effect that |,
might be as we'll for portion OF those
who aspire TO be teachers, to engage in
some other branch Of labor. | believe
the duties Of the kitchen were incidentally
mentioned. Now, have no particular
objection TO girls taking a stroll into the
kitchen occasionally, TO see their mothers
make pies and puddings, or to their going
into the dairy -house to learn wha: green
cheese is made Of but | cannot bu, think
those who would advise young ladies %
"go out TO work." doing house. work for
livelihood, in preference to teaching
must be both ignorant Of and indifferen,
to the relative advantages Of each branch
of labor Therefore, I propose, with
your permission, through your excellen,
journal, to enlighten all such in the
matter. ...' .......-
1t has come TO be law that school
teachers shall devote six hours n day, and
elk only. TO the duties OF the school. room.
and i've and a half days. OF six hours each,
or tbirty-lhree hours constitute a full
week, for which they receive from twelve
shillings 70 two and three dollars and
the remaining six or eight hours Of the
day they are at liberty to occupy as they
choose, either In walking, visiting, or
working for themselves.
l, cannot require a great amount O!
learning TO quality a"school ma am" to
hear such scholars as usually attend
school in the summer season, "say" their
lessons. or TO keep ,olerable good order in
school.
Hired girls. or girls hired TO do house.
work, are expected 10 toll from fourteen to
sixteen and seventeen hours in a day ::
and, should there be sick person in the
family. i, is not uncommon for the hired
girl to he up half the night, 10 watch and
minister 10 their wants and comfort. 1t
is conceded that the hired girls time is
all due to her employer, from the time she
leaves her pillow ill she retires for the
night. Any noon-iime or recess for her ?
Not at all; but, il she wishes to be thought
smart, she must hurry up in the morning,
hurry and get breakfast, hurry and "do"
the dishes, hurry and mike beds and
sweep. and get to washing just as early as
she can. SO rs TO get done in slime 10 get
dinner, II possible then, after she has
made a few pies, she can, if there is
nothing mole TO be done about the house,
take her sewing ,ill it is time TO get sup.
per; then. after putting things TO rights,
she may sew or knit ill bedtime. And
what wages does she receive 4: Why, IL
she asks ten shillings week, she is told
that that is great wages, and she must ex.
pect 10 work hard 10 earn it, Who are
the hired girls ? They are. most gener.
ally. girls from fourteen TO eighteen years
of age. who have had the misfortune TO
lose one or both Of their parents. and who
are ambitious 10 earn their own living as
far as they are able; it may be from
necessity; persons of that tender age are
not calculated TO be able 10 stand up for
their rights. Ii we hire mature woman 10
do a washing and nothing else. we have to
pay her from four to six shillings. while,
II our hired girl did the same washing
and half days work besides, we think
twenty cents is enough for her. "Con.
sistency, thou art jewell" #s.
My controversy is not with individuals,
but customs. am aware that lheae are
ladies who treat their servant girls with
kindness and consideration, and who win
their esteem and affection; but such are
the exception, not the rule. They should
not be led to esteem as favor what they
ought to demand as right.
g MIsNoMER.
Geauga Co., Ohio, Sept, 1861. 10
REMARKS. sa ...-
Thore is much truth in tho above com.
muuication, aud We publish it with pleasure.
We think, however, that tho writer has mis-.
taken the meaning of the remark which she
so objectionable. 1t occurred 10
a notice by Mrs, +. d. Gage, of Teachers
Examination in thid village, from which we
quote: ,r..r ..t-r.
Tho amount Of young girls that come
tnronging in, anxious 20 got certificates
from the Board, Of their competency Cor
this important work, is astonishing. and tells
its own talo OF tho need for woman to have
a more enlarged sphere of industrial em
ployment. II dear old Mrs. Grundy would
only allow II to be respectable, l think many |
Of them would be much better off in some |
good farm house kitchen, learning tho art. |
Trade and mystery of house keeping, which
# rightly understood will bring into requisi.
lion all their chemistry, botany and pbysi-
'logy.