Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-02-27
Repiy to 1iJan of ST. 1LJdns. "

NHIltS IJuuc us appearance III WIZ
Messenger, have carefully scanned the
pages of each succeeding issue of that
paper, with the expectation of seeing
the contents of said article properly crit
icised by some more capable pen than
that of servant girl. But thus far,
with the exception of a few modest re-
marks in the editorial columns, it has
gone unmolested. Therefore, "a rep
resentative of that class, which is made
the subject of such slanderous article,
ask a short spac, in your columns,
that the public may know servant
girls opinion of the article aud its au-
thor.
l say as representative of that class,
which is made the subject of the article,
for while it purports to have been writ
ten for the purpose of awakening house
keepers to the exercise of more personal
control over their household affairs
than is generally assumed by them its
real design is to prejudice housekeepers
and others, against that class of servant
girls, who, above all others, are noted
for their disposition to UOrk for a living /;
and are ever ready and willing to serve
faithfully and honestly those who en-
ploy them and pay them wages. After
abiding to them as Irish help he
saws: at is well-known fact that
not one servant in thousand possesses
the qualifications essential to do general
homework in aproper manner. If peo-
pie would be more observing, they would
discover that not one in ten wash them
selves in the morning, and then it is as
likely to be done in the water dipper as
in the basin. The writer has repeat
edly seen servant girls, of much expert
ence, and of good reputation, wash
themselves in the well-water dipper,
and wipe themselves with the dish
wiper instead of the towel. Some, even
carry knife in their pockets which
they wet in their mouths to smooth
butter, mashed potatoes, ETC., ETC." lie
also informs housekcepers that most
servant girls are in the habit of drink
ing, receiving late company, stealing
from the pantry to support their fami-
lies, &C., &c.
Now, no doubt, there are isolated ca
ses, where such charges, at least some
of them, will lie but they are almost
invariably to be found in the employ of
families who make it point to hire
none but the chea, est help; never pay
ing girl more than half enough to
clothe herself decently; consequently
they get none but the poorest servants,
who, in order to live, as others do, and
perhaps help to support an aged parent,
procure by theft what tho y cannot OBJ
tain n wages. Undoubtedly, in some
instances, a sense of their lowly condi-
ton, and inability to betterit, overcomes
their pride of character, and they give
way to habits of intemperance.
Although such cases are indeed very
rare, it is quite probable that Allan !"
observations have been confined to just
such unfortunate specimens. But to
accuse the majority of servant girls OF
such practices, l consider the basest
SANDER upon honest girls an imposition
upon housekeepers generally, and the
article containing such unfounded and
abusive charges, altogether undeserving
of publication in local newspaper.
Again he says, if they are discharged
for incompetence or insOlence, they will
go about siandering their employers"
You can always tell" he says,
"when they have been discharged by
their slar derirg their former employ
ers." But he thinks experience has
taught most housekeepers to place no
confidence in their word" Now is that
not personal motive, apparent on the
face of those words? The author is evil
IDENTIFY one Of those pedantic individu-
ais, figuring among that class OF vain
humanity, generally denominated
Goldfish Aristocracy," who, in order to
keep up an outward show of opulence,
is obliged to practice the stIictest econo-
my at hand, employing the cheapest
servants, with whom, no doubt, his
hussyish nature involves him in nu-
merous quarrels, the result of which is a
frequent change of servants. The de-
parting servant, of course, knows much
more about his family affairs than he
wishes his neighbors to know, and UNI
der the circumstances, he naturally ex-
poets she will be free to communicate
such knowledge. Hence, his motive
for charging servant girls with want
of veracity, and his admonition to
housekeepers to discredit their stories
about former employers. Under pre-
tence of purposing to instigate revolu.
ton in housekeeping, he seeks to graft
fya miserable prejudice by thus assail-
ing the character of Irish servant girls.