Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-12-10
MisteIIanp,
The Ethics Of HoxsetCoFk.
BY GAIL HAMILTON.

But even were able 10 hire the
housewors done. would no, hire women
to do it ~ asks the humble inquirer after
truth.
As Rome WAS not built in day, per-
hap. you would. hope 10 live 10 see
The time when Homework will be done
wholly by men and machinery. but be-
cause the millennium has not come we
need not refuse 10 be saints. And |
know no surer, or even Swilter way TO
bring about the millennium than to hire
housework.
For il must be remembered, that with
many individual exceptions, still, as
class, the women who arc occupied IN
our Kitchens a. servants are vastly III
ferior TO their mis,resses ia the parlor.
The crowds that throng cur intelligence
Offices are illi,eate, uniutcllisenl, I'M
thrifty. They have little notion of truth
fitness, nsatness, system. Their cbarac-
Ieristic quality Is strength. They come
from homes Of rude and squ,iid poverty.
They not only canno, furnish skilled Ia
Dor. but they have no sense o! there be-
INC any need that labor should be skilled
They not only DO not know hoN TO 10
work properly, but lhe1 see uu over
l,,r,-f,. a., ,,,,.,r f,N.,f. f,,tr,rpf,,x WORK
They have TO DC taught the names and
uses OF tools. They are 10 be iuoculated
with love OF order aud iidiHoSS. They
are 10 he drilled into selicacy. They arc
10 be purged from the effects oI genera
lions OF bad training, and to be inspired
with new ambitiOn-to be-h is hardly
too much 10 Say-iegenerated.
Here. then. is fair field tor q Homo
Missionary Socisty in cvery family. y
man may not be able 10 occupy it. lie
may with difficulty earn enough to sup
port his family, while his wife does all
the domestic drudgerY, or the woman
may feel herself also unequal To the task.
That is no affair OF mine, but man who
honestly believes that women ought not
10 10 menial work. need not be deferred
by any apparent inconsistency nom hlr-
ing servants because they syc Women
Judging OF the homes OF our servants by
the character OF the servants, The trans
portation from IN Irish col 10 an Ameri-
can house must te very Ike Al exchange
OF worlds. /. is - grea! transition to
Bridget as it would he 10 Bridgets mis-
tress 10 DO transported 10 Paradise. So
that though you are hiring 4 woman TO
to 10 your drudgery. you are really ele-
vaLing her. You are working in the
direct line Of progress. BY no other
means probably could she command q
situation so far in advance Of her former
low estate. And as all advance is rela-
tive, you are by 50 much beneGling all
women.
The mistress has the hardest time OF it.
Bridget has only TO foIs get little brutality
and learn little completely, elegance,
humanity. The mistress must stoop very
low to conquer, aud her descent into Az
ernus is not easy. Many aud many q
woman who il fond OF books. music, So
ciety, who knows how 10 bring up her
children, and TO improve leisure, would
so much rather relinquish il ali and sweep
her own carpets. wash her own dishes,
make her own bread, rather than 10 see
Bridget DO it in her clumsy, imperfect
way But Madam's strength is limited
and no emergency will put more than
twenty-four hours into The day. or seven
days into the week-so Madam goes on
with what patience she car commando
entreating Bridget To mind The corners,
to dust the table-legs, TO keep ivory knife
handles out OF the dish-water. to have
the pots and kettles dry before they are
put away, to let the dinner. baked meats,
daintily, rs well as eoldy.. furnish forth
the breakfast-table; and Bridget toe
goes on, and the china is nicked, and the
glass is shiyered and the vases are crack
Ell, and the furniture scratched. and the
collars mildewed, and the house mothers
def and dextrous soul is vexed within
her. Courage, o long suffering house
mother! Ii you were missionary TO
Greenland's icy mountains. OF Afric's
sunny fountains, you world think yourself
to be doing Divine work, and prayers