The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-28
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYED.

rious one in this country and although
literary philosophers have written the
subject up and down it continues to pop
its head above water to demand renewed
consideration. 1t seems to us that in the
absence of servile class, which absence
is one of the blessings of this country,
the status of help, servants if you please,
is bound to be yexing one until some
recognition is made mutually by the per-
sons who hire and those whs are hired of
certain principles Of equity that are
very frequently lost sight of in the prac-
tical relations of life. A person who is
possessed of an income that permits
the employment of one or more
others to perform such labors as
he or she desires done, is natur-
ally aptto feel impatient if those so en-
ployed do not execute the tasks imposed
well and diligently, and in strict accord
ance with their orders or known desires
On the other hand the employees Of such
person have a right while performing
said duties to courteous and humane
treatment, reasonable consideration
for tl.eir feelings and health, and
in general such provision for their
we'll being as is consistent with the
proper performance of their duties. One
of the most fruitful sources of bitterness
between employer and help in this coun-
try is the keeping of servants" in their
place. 1t would seem as though this
might be easily arranged, but it can not.
1t never has been and never will be, SO
long as the world stands 1t might if all
persons who are possessed of fortuse were
cultivated, intelligent and worthy, while
all those to whom the world had denied
fortune were stupid, brutal and illiterate;
but it SO happens that the vicis-
situdes of life deprive sometimes
the most intelligent and refined of wealth
and compel their earning the bread of
servitude, while very illiterate aud repul-
sive persons have more IF this worlds
goods than they can intelligently dispose
of. An intelligent, well-bred menial can,
of course, reasonably be expected to
receive more consideration than one who
possesses the reverse of these qualities
and ought to receive it on all proper oc-
casions, but man employing twenty
men hires them to perform certain tasks,
and if their intelligence is sufficient to
perform these, he is content, Or ought to
be, and pays for the work. Their
knowledge of mathematics, or Greek,
or astronomy, does not aid them
in making horseshoes or wagons,
or the keeping Of books, or the selling Of
leather, which is perhaps what they are
employed to do. But in general an in
telligent person who thinks can perform
any other than purely mechanical task
better than a stupid one; hence as rule
employers are better served by thought
full workmen, such as will not tolerate
either abusive talk or brutal treatment
In country places, where hired help il
sensitive on the subject Of being called
Servants" this sensitiyeness is honor
able. Such help is, as a rule, about a
intelligent and re6ned-frequently more
so-than the employer. The result il
that they are about as much part o
the family rs the sons and daughter
Of the house and generally study tn
well-being of the household quite as care
fully. Why can not city families maxi
the duties of housekeeping, for instance
more attractive, and, by recognizing tn
advantages of having well-bred hell
about them, induce class Of persons Il
undertake the performance of house
work, 80 called, by women Of degree o
cultivation who are now kept out of it b.
the fancied lack of social consideration
that attaches to such duties. The wage
are better than sewing, standing in shop
or working in factories, and yet thou
sands flock to those positions who ar
capable of making our homes 70 mucl
more agreeable than most of thehelp tha
we are compelled to employ. Much Of tn
drudgery of housework might be don
by men or stout women specially EN-
ployed for the purpose. Washing ant
baking ought 10 be done away from hom
quite as cheaply as on the premises, ant
the duties of the family housekeepin,
lightened and rendered more agreeable
so that a refined young woman nigh
undertake the care Of city family a
we'll as of a country household withou
loss Of self respect or consideration iron
Others. When this is done generally ou
children will grow up more intelligen
and virtuous, and the cares of house
keeping will be far less dreaded by youn
men and women just setting out in life
and shrinking from the thought of it
responsibilities.
Editorial spinninga