New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-30
RELATIONS OF MISTRESS AND SERVANT.


sERvAwTs UNWILLING TO LEARN AND MIsrREssEs
UNABLE TO TEACH-AN ATTEMPT AT INSTRUCTION
IN BREAD-MAKING THE HONoRABLENESS OF
DOMESTIC SERVICE
TO the EdttOr Of The Trfbune
SIR: The call for training-schools for SER
wants meets with no response from them. The majority
Of thin do not want instruction; their attempt to learn
would 6e equivalent to confession of ignorance Being
fully aware the value of audaey they profess know
edge and fraud the mistress does not perceive and
In TOO many cases is herself incapable Of discovering
Efforts have not been wanting the part of benevolent,
thoughtful interest In what VIII be
one the lost arts unless married women look wei 10
their waystha OF managing household after the ways
o our grandnOthers An influential charitable associa
lion in this city vigorous efforts. two years ago, to
obtain instruction in making bread and biscuit
,or some of the young girls who visited the&e
rooms for Improvement and amusement The cost OF
earuuc-oniy 81 each-was betrayed by those members
IF the committee who made the matter their special
charge. The first class consisted OF five; they met
evenings as their days occupied in service in fami
les These became ntorested taught successfully
and 10 The satisfaction OF those who sent them Another
class was contemplated but only two could be found de-
,rous of learning The indifference OF the class OF girls
Z, whom such instruction would have been an invalua-
Die gift thoroughly chilled the member OF the committee
vbo had devoted many hours of timesubtracted from
other duesto bring together another class The orgi-
oator of this cooking advertised In sundry pa
Ders received the most encouraging letters from all
Dars OF the country and was commended by the press
for her undertaking. She had demonstrated in 1866 the
oracticaby Of iustructng cooking BY teaching hve
classes of six married and single ladies each; ana al
though this instruction proered to servants at
price within the reach Of ALL Of tho number who called
10 make inquiries but earnest in her wish TO
earn The young misses who would have liked to learn
found various obstacles their way their school lessons
could not be laid aside their parents thought them OF
the most importance. The young girls VINO had left
school had no leisure to spare from their special read
lpgs study Of languages and social duties. All pro
bounced it gooda very good thing; but 1t was one OF
those good things offered to the people which was some
thing like conversion. All the need Of II, but
few care TO make personal appropriation Of IL.
once heard gentleman remark that the money he
paid for his wife instruction cooking he considered
one Of his best investments, for she was really tho
mistress OF her household. When servants ignorance
was undeniable Mrs could teach her, and that was
an Immense advantage In spite o. the carelessness
and Ignorance OF servants, their wastefuness and dis
honesty, they need pity and forbearance; for 1t
must be admitted that the heads Of households to be
blamed for their ignorance and neficency, and
however willing these may be TO amend, they do not
know the best way to set about rghtng themselves
reforming those they employ The servant Of to-day
wants her daily walk tor her health, leisure consult
her dressmaker time 10 attend ~ her society meetings
and her picnic parties she must get up surprise parties
and make presents that are often extravagant. girl
ycftino wages Of S. 50 / have known 10 spend Sl2
for urprse party and $50 dress Her were
,bst sbe must do as much toward the pleasure as any
ono They give themselves up much 20 dissipation
that they are often unfit for work The time Of hired
,ervspt In thcoId times supposed to belong 10 her
enployer; bua days work IL very different from
wat was wbn that idea prevailed, and all Of them
claim the evenings Whose the fault Some one once
demonstrated 18th young girl for leaving domestic
service to lear dressinakng. 81 do like homework
1aaid he a httff IA
family right hd people have tried many but they
keep me the N from early morning until evening,
and nobody has srcy young girl It'll good to cit
down sometimes The maid of all work does1avo hard
tasks she cutie these she makes valuable servant
Contrast the was paid now with the average price
paid % or yearsgo the convenences for wo-k, the
improved cOnditiO OF families who employ help
year ago died woan In this city who had lived In ono
family 81 years took service at 70 cents week.
the average price the time, helped support an aged
mother, and laid uInoney Outsiders often tried 10
tempt Der away wi higher wages but she would not
leave the family was a trusted friend TO all its
nembers In her ailIness she tenderiy cared for
by them. and now ! buried among those she loved to
serve and help. ..t.F ..U-
Why should not Ise service DO as eagerly sought
after and as honore, In the days Of our grand
,ootbers4 These of worked side by side with their
h,red helm and the spect due the mistress was in
NV lesaened by this GA the contrary, her presence
S,as stimulus 10 eAeh0rt. we nave changed All THIS,
80 of for the better the pfOtesis OF mlsTesses and
Sds establish aud tdsooinfOrts OF many poor fel-
Ia aitests whose wisnOWb more about fashions than
s..t.. 'f.-.t