The sun., 1881-03-13

L
corT SPoFFoRD has written and Messrs
HoUaHToN, MIFLIN Il Co. have published
series of papers which discuss in thought
full and useful way domestic problem OF
considerable Importance Those who know
the authors style will not need to be
told that the literary treatment Of the
theme is graceful and effective; but those
who may not appreciate the charm OF the
writer's diction can hardly fail to profit by
the many useful suggestions offered in this
little book. The author Is keenly alive to
the growing difficulty OF obtaining a good
or even tolerable housemaid, and she can
see no attainable remedy but In looking
for assistance in household work to native
American women, Aware, however, OF the
repugnance felt by American girls to what
is considered menial service, she lays her
finger on q main cause Of the whole diff
Guilty by inquiring whether this aversion Is
not too often justified by the conduct OF the
mistress OF the household. In chapters
bearing such pertinent sub-titles as The
Stranger in the Gates" and "The Pity OF
the Kitchen" Mrs. SPoFFoRD points out the
heartless disregard of a servants feelings
and physical capacities, to say nothing OF
her comforts and reasonable demands. too
frequently exhibited by her employers.
Most candid persons will concur with Mrs
SPoFFoRD in thinking that in those families
where only one servant is employed the
state OF that servant is at least as deplor-
able as the state OF her mistress. She takes
the case OF any young girl but lately off the
sea on the voyage from her native land and
introduced to her lonely and borious lot
L.
outdoor work at home, her harvesting and
cleaning, and milking and marketing, she
suddenly finds herself bent over hot cook
ing stove doing her utmost to understand
the strange rites and mysteries and the
unknown implements connected with it;
| bent over dish pans and wash tubs and dust
| ers and brooms; bent over back-aching
| ironing boards and scrubbing brushes; her
| whole life enlisted for q continual warfare
| with dirt and discomfort glad at night to
| creep away to the dark and dismal little
| room assigned her." We are reminded that
| this young woman is OF an age when friends
| and home are OF the most Importance
| to her, yet she Is almost utterly deprived
OF both. for her employers never dream
OF regarding themselves as her friends. and
| it would be a piece of hardihood to call the
normal kitchen by such a name as home
AS for the servants sleeping room, Mrs.
SPoFFoRD has known 1t TO be placed in a
| little black hole off the area kitchen, but
oftenest it is garret, uncarpeted, half
furnished. with absolutely nothing whole
| some or cheerful In it.. The author tells US
| that, In the course OF her observation, she
has heard relatively little complaint Of
| trouble In the kitchen from those famil les
| who II they do not make their servant
one OF themselves. at least look out care
fully for her comfort; who see to 1t that her
kitchen is pleasant and her bedchamber at
tractive; who provide her with rocking
chair to rest her weary bones. and bed
that does not on its face declare that he
who does the hardest work shall have the
hardest sleep; who do not grudge her occa-
sional recreation; who feel, in short, her well
fare to be thing intrusted to their hands,
and who, while teaching her to do her duty,
do not fail In theirs Mrs. SPoFFoRD thinks
the wonder is, when the antecedents OF an
Irish peasant girl are remembered with all
the brutalizing influences OF bitter poverty,
not that anything should be done badly.
but that so much should be done at all we'll
that any regard whatever should be paid
to minute regulations and directions that
necessary as they may seem In our life,
must appear to her. with her rough rearing
the pettiest sort OF tyranny. Is 1t not she
says, really wonderful that such girls. CON
fined as they are. driven as they are can
work SO hard and bear 80 much. and yet
remain. on the whole. cheerful and well
hammered enough, instead OF sitting down
altogether In despair "God forgive us.
she continues; but the greater wonder ID
that they do not rise In body in the nigh
and possess themselves OF our places" II
is suggested that we ought to thank the
very thing that breeds half the trouble be
tween us and our servants for keeping then
at all submissive and apparently contented
TO wit. that spirit OF equality which is ou
/ country's atmosphere.
: Besides the shortcoming OF the maid
which as q rule no doubt is obviou
enough, and the incompetence OF the mis-
: tross. which Ia too seldom considered, Mrs
8 SPoFPoRD advsrts 60 other causes whic
: are potent In oocasoning the troubles al
J. most universally encountered In housskser