The Morning herald., 1877-10-26
WILMINGTON. Del. Oct. re, 1877.
SERVANTS WAGES.

''" SERVANTS WAGES.
That servants wages must come dow
is an axiom to which all housekeepers ar
ready to subscribe. But how many ladie
have the moral courage to commence it
practical enforcement Many mistresse
of households there are who to-day ar
pinching themselves in the matter of "piu-
money" and keeping all their expenses a
the very lowest ebb, that they may be abl'
at the end of each week to hand theil
girl" or "girls," as the case may be, abou
twice the sum that these have really
earned! Aud these very ladies talk vaguely
Of cooperation, housekeepers meeting,
where the wrongs they suffer at the hands
of servants may be redressed, and the
rights of mistress a. we'll as maid be at
last definitely settled. Yet they are too
timid to call such meeting on their own
responsibility, or even to do far moe
simple and practical thing-go into their
kitchens and tell Abigail plainly what
they consider her services are worth, leav-
ing it to her option to accept or reject q
reduction in her wages, to retain or to
leave her comfortable home. Men have
not hesitated to cut down the salaries of
their employees, from office and cash boys
up TO head book-keepers and statesmen
the "crnel war" that inflated prices, and
caused eyerybody's pocket.book to assume
plelheric proportions is over, leaving our
whiiom prosperity in sad state ofcollapse.
Every one but servant girls and provi-
sion-dealers seem to realize the position
Is ID not the bouden duty of matrons and
honsekeepers in general to impress upon
the former recognition Of this to them
unwelcome fact-to assure them amildly
but not the less forcibly, that these are
times of peace and that beneath the sway
of the olive branch none of US expect 10
find as much filthy lucre as the reign OF
sword' Why do We neglect this duty :?
We will show that we are not defcien, in
moral courage, but are willing to face the
storm Of growl that our "help," both white
and colored, will be sure to raise; are we
willing to submit to an absolute interre-
gnum of servant gal-ism" and trough it"
in the kitchen ourselves for time, until
the storm blows over, for the sake of gain
ing one point. namely: to pay fair weeks
wages, and no more, for a fair weeks
work.
In snswer to an advertisement some
weeks ago lin which girl for general
housework was wanted, "wages. two dol
larry, no Jess than thirty applicants pre-
sented themselves, thus proving that the
demand for servants no longer exceeds the
supply, a. was the case not many year.
ago, and also proving that three and four
dollars per week are not the Indispensable
inducements which they were. But even
two dollars before the war was considered
8 high rate of wages, which mono but verv
aficient and faithful housemaids could
command. A girl who received one dollar
and seventy. five cents was lucky, while F..
dollar ond half and dollar and quar-.
ter were ordinary compensations. There.
is no good reason why the low Gums men.
TONED should not be the rates at present
We must remember that if such wages
seem.a mere pittsuoe they are not all by
any means that girl" receives for her
hard work; in addition she is found in
comfortable lodgings, good board; days and
evenings "out," and many other privileges
whenever she shows even an inclination to
serve her mistress we'll. She has no re
sponsibilitv, no anxiety beyond looking af,
ter the safety Of her savings fund book and
deciding the momentous question Of "what
to wear" as the changing seasons demand
a change in the fashion and texture of her
garments. She often has ber spring ben.
net bosght and half worn out ere her mis-
tress, with many demands on her pocket,
has dared to think whether she can afford
enc. Bridget, as cold weather advances,
appears 10 radiant dress Of green poplin,
with set Of imitation cables 10 enhance
its charms while Dinah bursts upon the
admiving eyes Of her sambo in merino Of
the purplest purple she can find in the
shops, both costumes being ss bran new as
they are ugly, and both fresh from the