Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-23
THE OTHER sIDEOF THE QUESTION.

which is seldom discussed in the spirit of
candor. The servant girl Of to-day is prob
ably the most maligned member of society
the modern Ishmaelite, whose handjs by
necessity, against everybody and everybody's
hand against her. There is very large and
growing literature, of which she forms the
central figure. In novels, in current ro-
nance, in reviews, in domestic journals, and
especially 10 the correspondence and occas-
ional editorials Of daily newspapers, may be
found the discussion of what is rightly called
the domestic problem of the day. And yet
this literature can hardly be called a
discussion OF the subject for 1t is
nearly all upon one side. Editors, cor
respondents and romancers unite in pre-
senting the servant girl in the most unfavor-
able light. One is strongly reminded of the
humorous penchant Of modern American
literature and journalism, in reading current
discussions of the servant girl question. The
modern mother-in-law gets the reputation OF
being the most disagroeable creature extant,
whereas she is one of the gentlcst and most
helpful, as all mankind knows the goat is
credited with a strange Partially for old tin
cans, simply because he is starved; and the
average -dog-than whom there ia no
greater coward-gets up far more extend
cd reputation for nipping tramps and inter
viewing young gentlemen callers than he is
in any wise able to sustain. And so the per-
inaci,y with which the journals of the day
harp upon one side of the servant girl ques-
ton is humorous in one light, and Sc
riously unjust in another. 1t is thus
bnc-sided because all the facts with which
the editor has to deal come from the
supporters of one side of the question.
The employing elias, has the advantage, be-
cause il is the intelligent class, and is able to
present the facts 10 Its favor with greater
cearness and responsiveness. Indeed, it is
very seldom that one of the other class, the
employed, is able to state at all, much less
coherently and convincipgly, the grievances
OF the modern servant girl This can be done
effectively only in writing and education is
so rare among domestic servants and they
have so little facility in expressing them
selves with the pen, even when they are able
to Use It that very seldom do we see ANYTHING
in print answering or explaining the charges
brought against them. 1t is, therefore, with
moro than ordinary interest that We have read
n communication on 'the other side of the
ouos,;onr in the columns of the Utica Herald.
A servant GIRL evidently of good education,
and ability. pleads her cause. and the cause
of ber class with an e,oouence and conyic.
tion which deserves general recognition
sneakino If the relations which exis, between
mistress and maid she saws.
Soma peon,o who can now afford to
hire help were not always in a like position,
and the very tact oil having one 10 uncover Is
.nat d w ,si,h;n ,he ca,ecnrv
Of their IDEAS The relationship that should
exist between mistress and maid is simply
the law OF kindness and proper respect Oh
10 feninos and ssnsibiIi,ies which God gives
| to the poorest of His children can not be
changed and harsh treatment and unkind
| WORDS ollen heiP 10 prlhg GU, Every svl
.eosnp would cain lasting resnect and graft
tude.
We think it is unhappily true that the
difference in social station between mis-
,ress and maid is fur too often EN-
nho.i,od hv ,he tormer with an IN.
p."u nv
kihuhess "hich NOT only unpccou'inR
the sweeter and nobler character of gentle
woman. hut also the merely conventional
ohorao,ar ~ ,od,, Tho rrro,v o,,word 20
- '""''
lationship OF servltudc Is suffered 10 over
shadow the deeper and truer relationship of
felow.be,np of helper and friend. We are
~ ,i~ ,,a, 49, W.
all OIL US servants ior lna' matter, we III,
Dor for hire. whether it be that OF love or OF
gold, and the only quality which really en-.
,o,,o, ,o;, :, ,,o to,hf,,nooo ,,;,, ,rh;o,, WA
DoD,e' 'o'i 10 '1o avn ",,A "n'.N ".
perform our appointed TASKS ohe KIND OF
work is no more degrading than another,
If both arc honest Why. then should
the merely conventional and fortuitous fact
that ones fellow.bcinr is serving one for hire
which itself is earned of another lower the
status of the servant girl in the estimation of
the employerY II ia unnatural and unchris.
,isn and we do NOT wonder that ,be c,ass g,
uniusilv treated resent If nc an indicnitv
Tho corrosro,dor, If tho U.,oH COWS fur
,her
Ibavc done bouscwork for somc vears And
have read and heard a great deal OF talk
on this subject 1t has been my
su 'V ,no tn, H. 'ue VIII VIII nploye,s VINO
home In every reasonable sense of the word
for those whom they employ. And | must
say lnat girls appreciate such feelings more
en c For such ladies' The Urls feel no oS spcr
flee too hard to make, and to do The hardest
task is pleasure, IL all who employ help