, 1872-12-01

~AA0 AAASA2AA4144 NE 0VAIo44L GEAf4tE.
! somo days since TIE TRIBUNE contained q
reference to public meeting that had been call
ed in Montreal to consider tho problem Of do
mestlc service. This meeting Was held under
| the auspices Of the Protestant clergyn1on of tho
city, and the large attendance indicatcd that the
question under consideration presented as many
difficulties in Canada ~ ip the various
! cities Of the United States. The speech
I making WAS given over mainly
to the clergymen who we're present,
and it is consequently not surprising to find tho
| newspapers speaking OF the occasion as develop
ing too great tendency to scntirnenta1ism, and
too great an ignorance Of the practical difficulty
If there is any one thing Of which professional
man is likely to DO mora ignorant than of all
else, it ia the question Of domestic service.
However, the practical difficulties arc 60
grest, and the possible remedies 60
nearly impossible of app1icst;on, that
the charge OF theorizing, specializing, and
sentimenta1izing could probably be made against
any assembly OF persons who should undertake
to dispose Of the problem.
The discussion was divided into two paris
the first considering the subject OF family train
ing, with view to meet the ezigencies of the
social horror known as "6eryant- -galsm," and
the second regarding the moral elevation Of
servants. In the first case, Rev. Dr. Gardner,
with delightful and enviab1e Ignorance OF tho
real troubles, suggested that department
should be established in existing schools and
other schools especially founded, for instruction
Is the domestic virtue Of good cooking. We can
imagine the Rev. DR.. Gardner to be jolly old
English gentleman, given to rich and juicy
joints, plum puddings, and trimmings to corro-
spond. It would be very nice to have regularly
educated cooks, though wo imagine that tho ox-
perience of the kitchen would produce them
much sooner than tho theories Of the school
room. But even in such case, others
would be puzzled, as much IS tho
Rev. Doctor, to tell how poor girls,
Who arc obliged to 1earo home and work out On
account Of their poverty, would manage to take
the necessary schooling; nor how the middle
classes, even well-to-do, es the world goes,
could afford to pay tho prices of skilled labor
Then they are already complaining of the de-
nands which the unskilled general work girl |
makes upon them. Fortunately, all the sugges-
tions of relief we're not 60 far out Of the way. |
Ono gentleman very EenEib1y maintained /
that the proper mode of training should |
begin with the family and not the domestics.
Il female servants we're not called upon to do |
more than voman's work if they we're not cz-
9ected to leave their legitimate cooking or IRON
ng to wait upon the young ladies' of tho
house; if they wero net subjected to the moro
igid discipline as to their company nnd hours
han they would endure at school il they wero
lot expected to work night and day, rising early
o carry coal and build fires, and staying
lp Late to finish work that proved
o be too much for one day,-it is
lot probable that there would be tbs
a1ae number OF desertions without warning of
Thich there is such general complaint. The
emedy for all this is not any change among DO
nestle servants, who are no better nor worse
nistresses who expect too much Of them. It is
lot probable that servants would hayo COM
nonced to make q demand for certain nights out
mistresses had not begun to demand that they
hould never go out at all. The misfor-
uno which makes it necessary for one
roman to work in the Litclen instead Of ,
laying IN the parlor should not bo made to
epf1Ee her OF every comfort and enjoyment in
TO. Yet visit to friends or from friends.
citing married, wearing out, becoming rich,
r even dying, is regarded as personal injury ]
; mistressos, when it comes to ecryant-girls.
One lady in the Montreal meeting suggested
1at mistreEses should taEo more pains with c
,cir servants, instructing them in household !
uties Of which they we're ignorant and :
aother Nas Of the opinion that con- g