The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-08
EMPLOYEES on Farms.

Inc persons employed by farmers II
this country to do field-work or house
work have in many respects beer
favored above those engaged In similar
labors in other countries. They have
not been called servants or laborers, bu
''helpers." They have dined at the
same table and sat in the same room:
with their employers. In many Other
respects they have been treated with
terms of equality. The field-hand ha:
worked beside his master, and the fe'
male employed in the house has had the
companionship of her mistress. Til
very lately the custom in all parts
of the country has been for farm
laborers' to board in the families
of their employers, and to make their
homes with them. 1t became general
at time when nearly all the inhabitants
were native born, and young men and
women were accustomed to work for
neighboring farmers till such time as
they could command homes of their
own. At one time it was the custom OF
farmers to board the mechanics who
were in their employ, but it is so no
longer. Wages paid to the mechanics
do not now include board. If they take
their meals and have their lodging at
the places where they are employed a
charge is made for them. In Great
Britain and most of the countries on the
European continent no employees OF
farmers, except household servants in
the strict sense of the term, are boarded
and lodged in their houses. Social dis
tinctions are more closely observed,
although the farmers are tenants and
not landowners, asnost farmers are
here. The field hands ordinarily keep
house and live either in villages or in
cottages on or near the estates where
they work. Many of the women who
are engaged in the care of milk or in
ordinary household duties also live in
cottages, and are often the wives and
daughters of the field laborers.
The method of employing, boarding
and lodging persons employed on farms,
as generally practiced in this country,
is not as popular nor as satisfactory as
one would suppose it would be. As a
rule, girls prefer to do homework in
cities and large towns where they do
not sit at the same table with their en-
ployers, are not allowed to sit in the
parlor, and are in no respect regarded
as members of the family. Young men
also prefer to work in town for the same
wages they receive from farmers. Ono
reason why persons prefer to work in
large towns is that they receive their
wages at certain specified times, gener-
ally once a week, Many employees do
not consider it a privilege to be consid-
cred members of the families who hire
their services. They much prefer to live
by themselves and to associate with per-
sons engaged in the same or in a similar
employment. Many farmers think there
is economy in boarding the persons they
employ in field work. They produce
most of the provisions required and
think the addition of two or three to
the family does not greatly increase the
labor of cooking. They also think ''they
can get more work out of men" by
having them constantly within call.
Obviously they do not consult their
wives in making their decision respect
ing boarding field hands. If they did
they would find that each addition to
the family increased the.labor to be per-
formed in the house. They would also
learn that the comfort and quiet of
home life were disturbed by having 9TH
ers than members of the family con-
stantly present. They would be in
formed, in addition, that it is much
more difficult toproperly bring up chill
dren and render them refined in house
where there are farm laborers than in
one where there are none. Especially is
this the case now that nearly all the
men employed on farms are foreigners
lately landed.
In some of the Eastern States the En-
glish custom of having farm hands
board themselves is being introduced
and gives very excellent satisfaction to
all concerned. Sometimes the men OBJ
tain board and lodging at the houses Of
mechanics or at boarding houses, and
at other times they keep house. The
custom calls for the payment of wages
at stated times, which is desirable ar
rangement for both parties. 1t is likely
that in near future this custom will
be introduced into the more western
States. As farmers become more
wealthy and refined they will desire
better homes and will try and make
more out of them. They will furnish
their houses better and become more re-
fined in their manners. The wives Of
farmers will no longer be simply kitchen
drudges, but will have considerable
leisure in which to read, practice music
and enjoy life. The houses of farmers
will be more like those of men of equal
wealth who live in large towns and
cities. When this is the case the board
furnished will be better than can be af.
forded for farm laborers. On small
farms located near villages the men can
readily obtain board of a character and
at prices adapted to their wants and
means. On large farms where employ.
ment is given to a large number of men
cottages can be erected for their &C
commodation and provision made foI
in each of them-or one
large boarding house can be erected and
put in charge of competent person.
In many cases at least one of the men
on the farm will have wife
who can superintend the boarding.
house and derive some profit from it.
The hours at which field labOrers want
their meals are often quite different
from those desired by those who are
engaged in lighter work or who do not
work at all on account of age. This
matter often produces trouble when
farm laborers board in the houses of
heir employers Chicago Times.