The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-09
MN Wild sERKaNr
Hard Times Driving Men TO Seek EmPIoy
aent In Kitchens.

inquiry at several employment offices
discloses TINT frequent applications are re-
coived from mon for places where they can earn
living by doing such work as IL usually done
by female domostcs; that many havo Como out
10 such service, and that they are. ms rule,
giving very good satisfaction. This Is no now
thing on tho Pacific coast. where Cinnamon are
frequently found doing the work Of domeetce.
On this side OF tho continent tho line between
work done by males and females is not very
closely drawn in the subtcrrancan regions OF
hotels. restaurants. and oven OF boarding
houses but tho employment OF men to con-
siderable extent in private houses to do tho
work that has hitherto been done almost en-
tircly by female help" amounts to a sort OF
new departure. 1t Ia not probable that many
OF tho males who are doing tho work
Of Kitchen girls on tn eide would acknowledge
thatthcy are indebted to the Chinese for the idea ;
they would rather ALLOW that they were driven
TO sock such service by the prospect OF etarva.
ton. consequent upon tho extremely hard
ttmcs." In most cascs where they amply for m
opportunity to do such work they are reduced
beyond mn inclination tO bargain IA to the ma
turc OF the duties that Will fall to them and arc
ing to accept ANYTHING that will afford them
living. Going the Kitchen in such frame
OF mind. the men value their opportunity To
earn Living; they arr much less indspendcn M
than the usual run OF female help" AMI are
less audacious ia demanding wha; wore once
regarded rs privileges, but which that clnss OF
help has come to regard rs their rights, There
Ia n eubstrntum OF fact for the ludicrOus eNag-
geration Of satirical wceklips upon the tyranny
OF tho basement and kitchen. The growing
scarcity In the number OF women who are VIII
| ing TO accept service in household where they
will not be treated "a ono OF the family" but "a
| hired help. has made II extremely difficult, even
| for those who are ahundantly able to pay, To- Sc
| cure aud retain satisfactory domestics In their
service: and " the disposition OF men 70 come
| into the work eha have the effect OF weakening
the tyranny OF the kitchen. good work will
| have been done.
| mcstics Of the household. which men arc not
| doing. Able-bodied men are TO be found IN
| many kitchens washing dishes. securing silver
| lifting pots and Kettles, and doing what hk
| hitherto been done In this country almost eN-
clusively by female domestics. Down IN the
wash rooms men are bending over the wash
| board. welding the clothes FOUNDER and labor
| ing Mt the crank ~ the wringer They are even
! learning the difficult art Of putting gloss on .
shirt front or imparting the requisite rigidity e
a shirt collar: but ins'ences OF such ambition
| Tossing knowledge Of cookery. The mos
| ignorant Bridget in the land does not hesitate
| to solemnly affirm that she car preside nj tn,
range with all the ability OF q French master o
| cuisine. though she be unable to distinguish {
| gridiron from side-saddls but II ls seldom
that a male applicant. even In tho most reduced
| circumstances. has the audacity to set IN sucl
| a claim in the face OF inevitable failure ut th'
| first trial. In the matter OF demanding priv
| legcs. Il will take some ne fer the male re
cruits to catch up with the female regulars nc
one Of the former has yet been known 10 s,ipu
| privilege Of entertaining q" young man" in tn,
| kitchen ON the seventh.
| The chief obstacle TO the realizing 81 the goot
| results that might be reached through this nov
| departure is the fact that men generally rcgart
| such service Us unmanly. The crtterion bl
which thlngs unmhnly are dlstlnsuishs sue. iron
1 couprrhended. Thus Tia manly for man 4
| live on the procerds Of his wiie's labor as
| washer woman but II IL unmAhly Tor him 10 max
his own living by bending over a washtub. Thu
| why OF this dcn0s explanation.