New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-11-10
DISCUSSIONS BY WOMEN.
WORK AND SOPHISTRY.
70 the Bdttor of Ths Trtbuns.


SIR: That am transplanted Yankee you
VIII soon find out and will tell you, in addition, that
am an old housekecper, with husband and one child
have beautiful home and love It, and do not think IL
any degradation to perform any service which the COM
fort OF my little family requires to be performed
Unfortunately, while do not lack the willingness, DO
lack the health to do real hard work. and for years IL
been my desire to find American woman OF ordinary
intelligence and good character who would accept
home and liberal wages, giving me in return only rea
sOnabe amount OF labor and time have heard the CRY
Of the poor year after year, and God Is my witness
have not shut my ear my hand but. while nave
pitied and aided havo diligently inquired In this anu
other States Is there not IN all this great crowd OF Pc
titioners ono young girl, old maid, or widow VINO
would be glad 70 como and be mistress OF my cheeriu
convenient ktchonp lam still In search OF that per
son, and while wait her coming, am at the mercy
OF a multitude OF thieyng, impudent irish girls
and sloveny and incompetent negroes Nor IS my caSo
singular, even in the pleasant suburban city VIII
Ive Morv deIicote woman Of abundant me- to
perform the daily drudgery Of her household, often -
the serious derment OF her health for wat OF servant
who knows any thing OF the duties of he, station.
Our poor girls rush into the ranks OF mill dress
makers shlrtfnakers &C.. work hard ano .nremntinRy
for small returns and often break down In health ana
fill early graves The Irish ladies who rule over u.s.
sport their silks and vclyes visit and entertain VsiorS
and keep their rosy checks and vigorous health Is
there any help for this state Of thngs1 Can an Amer
can girl woman he persuaded or reasoned Into the
belief that sb6 preserve her sefrespect even while
O humble member OF n respectable familyi-that the
angels may look down with favor OH the girl whose
willing hands DO not hide the stains Of honest labor than
upon her whose jcReed fingers do but advertise her
shamei / support with all my might and main the
sentiment Of C. L. r. in recent TRIBUNE, that IL Is
time TO have done with this nonsense about poverty
driving women to q life or wlckednesS.
love my sex. Iplty from my heart those who have
fallen but sOlemnly wash my hands or any RESPONSE
bity Moreover. declare my firm conviction that the
girl who turns aside from virtue with the excuse on her
lips that she cannot support herself honestly KNOWS u
to be lie am but one quiet little woman, keeper AZ
homo and not believer In wonans right 10 De fTesl
dent, but am brave enough TO pledge mysen 10 mlu
good homes for 60 modest and honest girls or women
who will show themselves willing to be taught and who
will be faithful to their employers interests.
Would it not be VOL for American wives TO set their
wits to work and with the aid OF husbands, sons and
brothers devise some plan to remedy this growing ana
already formidable evil Of servant tyranny American
have been unconscious helpers In the bringing
about of this state Of things let them atone for tner
share In the wrong by dOiug their best endeavors to
inaugurate new system. Let them cease for while
their castigatOn Of the tyran man. and consider the
wrongs which woman suffers at the hands Of woman.
Let them their powers OF pen and voice TO persuade
American girls that labor not crime, that service faith
fully rendered TO another though 1t be humble service
can never degrade virtuous woman; that many
WORKOUT hOuSekreper would learn to love one who
served her not with eye service but who really
desired to contribute to the family comfort and pros
perty; and that to work by daylight IN comfortable
room or rooms eat ut well-fed table and sleep at
night on good bed in wei aired room. Is rather more
conducive TO health and purify, than 10 live on bakers
BREAD and cheap tea, till midnight by poor light
and 20 to IA disturbed sleep in room possibly over
crowded with occupants. .
Now, will not you Of the newspapers lend hand N
ushcring In the golden mot TltOns-Hcaven t0rDld)
when Intelligence and integrity shall not disdan u
make their homo in Kitchens, and when dishonesty
and nsolencc shall find themselves left out In the cold
Why cannot hOusckcepers form associations Tor mutual
action ami protection, establish scale OF wages winch
shall be just but not eXOrbant-pedge themselves not
to give more than the stated, and have ILLS 1act
posted in rcSpec able Intelligence once,
Why not some rich and philanthrOplc friend 10
found training school for servants, as Florence Night
male has done for nursesvsit the school, know the
pupils personally and counsel them and show that their
interests and yours not at war; All this possible
Indeed, what ia impossible to men and women who
accomplished what accomplished during our war; or
and women who, ut few hours notice, can Feed
and cohe the inhabitants Of desOaed cityi We have
be earnest and work together for the blessed
end and instead OF being driven from our own resdes
take refuge u hotels and boarding houses there to
live idle ainess lives, while children exposed to
influences we are pOweress to counterfeit, we shall
gather round evening lamp aud with grateful, CON
tented hearts echo the stain, There's no place Ike
home" ANOTHER
Nep-Jersev, Oct. Is, 1871.