, 1877-03-17

more of gentleman than George Eliot lie, or
She, wrli deserves tie thanks Of the ladies' for
dcavorins to teach them all how to be beautiful.
which is - o consummntlon dcvoutly 10 DC wished.
LAURA EAnLE-
sERvANT-GIRI-1sM.
To the Editor u The Tribune
othes bacE broken A1 BY sra would ike to
say 10 Ems Amt that, from close observation,
have found that the most exactins and lnto!erant
mistrcsscs are those who in their earlier years were
servants themselves, although to the public they
proclaim themselves the champions Of hired girls.
In your issue Of tho 10th, In The lfome, she
fba I've We t' reeaps The onr who
loots the bills win not corroboratc her statement.
or, it may be, she IL not frugal and heE hired gir
into The slop.pai}.. Whatever may be the case.
having been for long time one Of a ''committee
on Household Expenditures,,' I know a her a@ser-
pendagcs They cannot be kept for less than
st per week. md as much more should be add
ed for their cxtrnvagance and useless waste: such
minor matters 1nnsl be enumerated in estimating
the actual cost Of keeping help. She maY say that
there il no necessity for waste ii woman properly
manages her household. But; II she has has Z @ larEs
family and IN extensive acquaintance, her Eociai
obligations and other duties preclude her from ex-
crcisng other than general supervision Of her
domestic afairs. When IN order, trivial or other
wise, is given, she cannot follow up servant to
see it Ii faithfully executed, rs snch surveillance
would nccessitate nearly as much labor as to do
the wGr m the :t Rnss servant, like human be-
inys.'' Kindly consideration for their welfare
should be shown, comfortable quarters provided.
and good food and an abundance thereof But
does Em'e Aunt think such treatment consists in
giving them the wide latitude they generally de-
Inanl. such as enjoying equal privileges VITA the
h o. !es to the sna war s toilet
believe ''ea.ing At the table with au;a;, the
fa' astt shall Sc pafansa II
is com,nodious, mud you live in princeiy
style, they are not SO exacting put II you live IN
unless this end can he attained they cooi1y assure
you lii they are not gool enough 70 cat with yon.
they not good enough to work for yon." This
ts the exact formula used by all OF the1n.) Their
goodness IL not the point involved. They entirely
ignore the fact that their social status IS not tnc
same as yours, and that they are employed for
their services and not for their co,npanionship.
While not guests, neither can they be like one Of
the family, Us your interests are not identical.
They viii sit ut your table and listen to the scnti-
often INDUCED in, and no seal Of honor clpscs
their lips, often before nishtfall they hare re-
capitnlated all that was said to others occupying
Hirlilar station in life. tLet me here, dcprccatc
the il,bit many matrOns have also formed Of making
their hired girls the lcadng topic OF their convessa
tion at informal gatherings and small social enter
taiuments Very questionable taste is certainly
Servants are household necessity, and the az
crngc Of then, also household PEST, only
careless and inefficient bat utterly devoid OF
moral principle, often manifesting the basest i'll
gratitude. Most of them will desert the kindest
OF employers, even in sickness, II they arc offered
slightly Increased and without giving timely
notice. Jealous friends cspousng their cause
have attributed the existence OF such category OF
cc1vcd and to ane1iorate and elevate their condi-
ton, advocate the aame treatment for them to
which daughter or loved member OF family Is
l. take isene with them upon this point. 1gno-
rance and want Of moral trimming are the causes
Of these laHentable defects in servants Mcnial
fsfaTn In f3iQ
un establishment. yet every intelligent refined
girl shrinks from filing the position Of hired
girl Any other work is preferable. nl:housh l3
Why is this? Because the minority Of
our servants for previous years have come from
the Of society," ofn 1um tue
inpccunions circumstances, who, not approaching
the advantages that accrue to the educated, only
who when old cnoush are sent forth to earn their
own subsistence. totally untitled for any avocatnn.
IIonsewoTk is all they can even attempt. They
nrc well posted in nothing bnt their ''rights. and
their mistress duties to them. The prompt pay
,nent Of their wages is their only concern, not
their lack of ability TO discharge their duties. In
this respect their cOnscicnces are dormant.
Iou are asked to treat them as daughters fou
wish to try the experiment. as yon feel kindly dis
to them You t5e an5d s fesns on a
make them feel at home. Instead IT feelin: gr:atc-
full they nl;sconstrne your kindly motives into an
services, and in the proportion as their sclf-m- |
..ortnnce and nrro.anee increase on this account.
their respect for you decreases. fou certainly J
can beon., to the equality = and are not At all |
- stuck mp, " in their estimation and you find it |
difficult TO tell. n incredibly shor: time, who
is mistress of the situation or Of the h"use either
American Ssrls, i,,ahued with the true republican
spirit are the greatest stcklers for their rights,
anu are fully US i,nnudent as the Irish, vino are
not as well educated as other foreigners.
Shall women Of culture alone suffer for the i;no-
rance Of servants! Or should they not be made to
feel it is not 'shlsss'' in their case. till they will
be willing to educate themselves up to a proper |
standard. and remove the stigma that rests upon |
thc name Of hired girls''!, Those who hive
Summed the kitchen will then do so no longer, as
social ostracis.n will not be the Inevitable consc-
lucnce. fear these results cannot be attaincd |
Until compulsory education is universal Then |
he lower classes can he reached, 3nd when girls
ire required there will be fewer advertisements |
.eatliny thus: NO American or Irish need ap-
n.y." They viii learn that the best way to secure
heir rights is to respect those Of Others and they
nay also discover that barefaccd mpudcnce is not
GEss1E.
OLLA-PoDRrDA.
tn yhe Edffar af The Tribune.
OTTAWA, ILL.,, March 14.-Eryan, 1 would like
-onr pattern OF the lambreqnin you SO Kindly Of
cred. Send it to z. q. Box 1852, Ottawa ILL., T