The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-13
Servant Girls.

the subject of servant girls has been.
going on in several Of the metropoli-
ton papers during the past few
months, and recently the St. Paul
Press has published two or threeaar-
ticles on the subject. The; writer's
Of some of1thesc articles seem to re-
gard serving girls as occupying in
.. ferior positio il society and being,
therefore; iunentitledsto the degree Of
consideration ordinarily best owed
upon the working classes. Accord
, ing to their reasoning girl is de-
graded by filing the: position Of a
house servant, far more than by fol-
lowing almost any other occupation.
FWes regret to know that this senti-
ment is widely prevalent in Ameri-
can society, although it is mos alb
surd and injurious. ] tehas already
exerted sufficient influence to deter
tile daughters Of American parents
from engaging in. this kind Of en-
ployment, and has consequently led
to such positions being monopolized
almost wholly by girls Of: foreign
birth or extraction. IT,
We very much doubt if the wisest
of those who regard the position Of
a house servant as degrading care
give an intelligent reason for holding
that opinion and, certainly, every
man and woman of sound sense who
will give the subject the attention it
deserves, must conclude that the no.
ton is utterly at variance with the
facts. A girl employed as a domes-
tic in family OF usual morality and
social standing is certainly happily
situated in very many respects.
She is under the control Of a mis-
tress whose interest it is to instruct
her in the performance of those du-
ties which in after life will eminently
fit her for the position of a wife and
mother. That is she learns the
arts of house keeping and cookery.
Again, she has the influence and ex-
ample Of her mistress to lead her
along II the pathway Of honor and
virtue, and is or may be almost as
free from exposureto temptations as
if she were at home with her own
parents. Her surroundings are usu-
ally of a character calculated to de-
velop the better qualities of her ma
ture, and induce her to become a
useful and worthy woman. ( r
In old times it was thought almost
essential for girls to have training
Of this kind, and daughters Of even
we(}-to-do parents did not hesitate to
accept positions as servants in the
families of neighbors and acquaintan.
ces. At that time, it was often Gus
tomarY to treat such hired help as
members Of the family, to extend to
them theysocial privileges enjoyed
blythe children, and to exercise over
them almost parental care and solic-
itude. But the gradual incubation
Of a foolish sentiment that it is dis
graceful to occupy such positions,
has resulted in leading the daughters
Of American parents to look for 9TH
er sorts Of occupation, accordingly
we find them employed in stores as
clerks or saleswomen, in workshops,
printing Offices, book binderies, &c.
! Are they any the less servants in
these positions =? Most assuredly not,
and their avocations are, in almost
every instance, far more irksome, la
borious, and unhealthy than kitchen
dru dgery or housework.
The genteel miss, who is sales
woman in store, is compelled to be
almost constantly on her feet from
twelve to fifteen hours a day, ready
to wait upon and be temporarily the
servant Of every class Of customers :;