, 1873-10-05
Shall Sewing and Shop Girls 90 into
Housework2
a Discussion Of the Dom est1o-
Labor Question.
lmpracticabiiity Of the Social~Equa!'
ity Theory.
Lettors from yVorl1fng-Glr1s, and
from m Employer of
Such Girls.

difYoront mo1nborg Of society was that Of Homo
for Worltipg-W Women. 1t drew forth varying
opipiope from tho clasB particularly Interested,
AZ wall as from othcra who fo1t like speaking |
their minds upon tho subject. Some, arguing
TINT many OF tho avenues open for theao girls |
were oyorcrowled, suggested that they should |
relieve tho surplus numbers who woro appealing |
for work iu these quarters by taking places aa
HOUSEHOLD -Ase1aTANTs,--
thus smoothing over tho unplcasant appe'lation OF
servant. This drew forth, for tho most unQual
ifiod protest from tho poreonB addressed. TAoso
who suggested this course to thom ns providing |
o good homo and falr wagoa, from which thoy
could save something, arc suffering from tile
oaroloss, slovenly, wasteful serYant, WHO eooma
to DO IN outgrowih Of the timos, tho rocklcss
extrayagance Of which has apparently. passed
from tho mistress to tho maid. No doubt thero
are many of tho applicants for moro gcnteol
work, as tnoy would call It, who, in every why, !
would be better suited for tho rough work OF tho
household tlan for that Of clork; but those
are, most Of them, of foreign birth, and accept
positions which mono would care to SEQ held by
Any young person In whom they woro particular
" Interested. Not that nc would wish to caat
IN instant'B reproaeh upon tho accident OF
their birth, for it is only Of the roughor,
unetlucatod elomont OF whom. wo speak,
and Of whom we have fower among US. Yet!
these arc the eamo cluss, or portion OF them,
who are already in our kitchens, and, from thor
Ignorance and carolossness, aro making house,
koeping almost an impoBsibiltty to tho present:
generation. They would but add another brigade
to tho present army Of incompotenta. and tho
sole use Of 1hom in that line would bottle chance
OF lowering tho price OF thoir very crude, ul-
skilled labor. As for tho
AnatY OF BEwING-oInLs,
even granting that they were willing to accept
situations as domestic help Of what use would
they BOP Az olasa, they know nothing Of
household labor; and, eycn If they did, they
would scarcely lure tho strength to por'
form it. Most people who would employ
auch girl, md accept her ns an
equal, would be Of that class Of Bo-
cloty who would require ono servant Tor gem
ernl housework. Now, If persons employ help
for general houaowork, it generally means that
they do not intend to do the heavy portion Of tho
work themselves. How many girls who arc
earning perhaps even nero livelihood BY tlo
needle would have tho strength to Undertake
heavy washingB, ironinge, or Bcr,lbbings. to soy
nothing Of cooking, dish-washing, and sweeps
ing? There is certain portion Of housowor]s
that in not objectionable. which may be called
the esthetc part,-holding tho sauo relation
Slip to the coarRer duties that whip.syllabnb
does to Corned-beef aud cabbage Mucl OF IT,
however, il ......
p1soug1NoLY VILE;
and no poetical whitewashing can mako 1t any
thing else. Yet some potsons pretend to open
their eyes in wonder that any human being should
prefer scant living, but possible oleanliucss, to
fuii stomach and undoubted dirt. " But there is
nothing dirty in homework, and it III woman'a
sphero,h says tho grand autocrnt OF sMal1
n1onage and limited means, who prefers pretty,
refined face to n coarse one; or tue Bsgnor o. q
larger income, who iancios that ethereal cook
and sprituelle waitrosB would ndd Zeat to tic
food they prepare aud acryo. worry fa.r.sourd.
ing assertion, and, like many another OF its kind,
without surplus Of truth. washing greasy
pots and pans. ecruhbing floors, aud backine
Stoves is certainly very dirty, dsagreeablo work,
md, II h,s lorlahlp could only. try it occaslon-
ally, he might alter bis oplnion IN tho matter j..
Neodlowork, on the contrary is clean. It il
fatigltiug, and, if pursued incessantly for q
longth IF timo il, close, ill-yontilatou room,
is undoubtedly projudlcia! to health but the
person to whom neat1leas ia a requisite may be
daintily Glenn while so engaged. This It nhe
tool, houaoworl1 upon herself. would be simply
an impossbity. 'Tharo would 10 tin1ea when
Tie demoralization of dirt would bo dreadful
It docs not seo1u altogether strange to us, then
TINT, even in the faco Of all competition such
girls have to encounter, tho hard work and pool
pay thoy should still prefor tidy, cloanly work
to untidness and dirt j. for, III order to keep {
house cloan,, ono must frequently bo victim t
Az regards taking those girls into ones fani
ty. oven II they woro willing to como, 1t woult
doubtless prove very fair theory and
VERY 1MpRAoT1cADLE PRACTICE.
In q thoroughly refiued and cultured homo
who're they would DO treated we'll, most Of then
would be quito out Of place ns mombora Of th
fa,nily. Setting aside al tho little spcolaties
social etiquette which any ono with brains Wou
spect to mental oulture7 What IS tho class Q
xending mostly patronzed by these girls? Is
aot tic Bickly, sentimental abnormal trash Q
the majority Of tue weekly nowepapera, iron
sooial gtadoe, and which would utterly uut
them for my position not strictly defined in
householdP ? Then how would it work With tn
family themssves5 Sa1e Wo,la 1t not even L IL,
nuisance, having stranger within one's gates
All tho privacy Of ono's home-!ifo would
gone were IL possible to admit such an eemer
Into it, inner circle Ton'd be nts1ua,t eonetst
which is only possible among those whose into
ostg arc identical, and who are closely related
the nearest tics. Wo do not suppose there
any one living who would DO particularly apxio, is
this friend and assistant pro tenn. might am,it
herself BY gazing through. Yet, III famili'
who haye grown up together, each is more
less oairyoyant regarding tho ether ana tlt tat
othor, or discuss poasibilities mud probabilitio
syhol It would be out OF tho question to do II +
alien oloment ia to be introduced.
"Dut tho element should not DO aiion, 81
theao progressive people. This waif, who
s'c ! Coulter, I ia to bo made one Of yoaraolye
Now, Is It not quite possible that It might bo
continual making Of tllcso ,waifs one Of ou
selves? Individuality is very strong, and huml
the aiion do not amalgamnto, what is to DO do
thon7 Is ono to 20 On trying until tue prop
ingredient that would bo soluble in ones apecl
friendly spirit Is found9 Aud how wol y
o,e G,,I ont Wo,11I IL ho DrOD1F to trot O
tue Ya1nily-Hke1oton and put 1t IN viow till t
right damsel should arTiyo, who would Wow
with appreciatlyo oyea and sympathetic Aoar
OF course this thing would he
QUITE OUT OF THE QuEsr10N.
We do not nuke such displays to those who
wo meet on torms OF social aud intellect!
equality. They are company, and tbat Is WI
our help would be nndor such circumstances,
m91 mako It pSX awkwapd o2i.aip for al psstes. e
Whiln Tho Wnrla axiatH tlara must be tho