New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE TYRANNY OF SERVANTS.

A LADY WHO EVIDENTLY SPEAKS FROM EXPERT
ENCE SUGGESTS REMEDY.
To the EdItor or me Trtbune.
SIR: If your widely circulated paper would
give readers account OF the highly
favored condition OF domestic service among the fam
iios OF upper-tcndom in NewYork you would be dfus
ing information that would probably be very useful
No long ago an intelligent. good house servant from
Nova Scotia told that the best wages she and other
girls like could get there 50 cents veeki In
NewYork cooks in small families get from $40 to $50
month"; laundresSes from l0 To SIC. childreus nurses
from S12to 49, buffers about $50 cOachmen from $40 TO
So NoOny do they get these wages bat their sbors
light, and their privileges great Hard times do
not TO have invaded their territory. Carpeted
rooms spring beds opportunities go out and
company napkins silver forks and attendance at table,
like heirempOyers are matters which they demand, ana
have granted to them Many educated lady IN New p
England who supports herself by teaching lives less
luxury and obtains less wages than do the house
servants of Ncw-York. While the immediate families
OF business men IN your city often content themselves
with two meals in the day your servants demand three
AMI often take more time to sit at tho table
than their employers. 10 probably no joke, but
simple fact when the told her mistress that the
she did not answer tn, bell shat John
Just coming with the entrees" The despOsm which
the servants exercise the households Of the upper
ten large great mat an invasion OF
be welcome TO a large number OF people. " should
have been driven boarding" says one, "n the ele
waited rairO had not to Rescue, for nv hus
band could not get home regularly TO his dinner and my
would put up with It," There is $40 for
Christmas present for of my servants. Last year
I gave s. and she pinned 10 back my toilet cushion"
IL would take nice SUIT OF clothes, but want no
being overheard, the Christmas present altogether
/ omitted that time.
In the strangely depressed business fortunes Of the
IN hay frtadf IN
dsmising servant, have found the Others combine
70 demand Increase Of wages so that their only re-
source has been 10 break up housekeeping and 40 &c
boarding this state OF things exists IN NewIOrk
and all her provinces, good capable women working
| many more hours than the NcwIOrk servants do for
/ little thau tncII board. The CHIEF reason why
domestic in the inflated tyIlumcal condition
that obtains In New-IOrk is that there are wealthy
/ people who do not now much they pay for good
wants and tns class large that the demands Of
houseservans regulated by IT, Fashion, and rclig
did depend upon his preaching, built his house with
especial reference TO the luxury OF his servants,
| and thought he doing piOus thing. said
one fashionable lady TO another: Do you allow your
visit and he visited much they choose ~
! -" On yes. think cannot do too much 10 make
| them happy" the answer This lady was both
! fashionable ant religious q" am only satisfied when
said another. One large 6Oursung business house in
your city has large dining room for lie hCu5e-erydnts.
ana servants hired especially 10 wait upon them. Why
do people seek these homes OF and luxury
| in tue-e harI times II. c.
| Washington, d. g., March 80. 1870