The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-27
DOMESTIC VS.. POLITICAL ECONOMY.

DOMESTIC VS.. POLITICAL ECONOMY.
Mrs. Twitcher Supplies the Senate Sub
Committee with Valuable Information.
New York Herald
An elderly lady of portly form and be-
nignant expression was the first TO take the
stand. This was Mrs. L. Twitchell, now
resident of Brooklyn, but formerly of the
Pacific slope, where she was interested i'll
working women's associations, of several of
which she had been president She had many
panaceas for the evils environing labor, some
OF which seemed to startle the committee
She announced herself in response to the
chairman's interrogatories, as a representa-
tive OF that class of working people which did
not belong to nor favor trades unions She re-
garded such unions as inimical to the inter
ests OF unskilled laborers, who had as much
right to earn livelihood as their skilled
brethren. There were Thousands of people
in New York city who would be glad to work
for their board and clothing, but the trades
unions stood in the way. THE effect upon
the part OF great many people" she said, lis
to work as few hours as they possibly can"
Il might say" remarked Senator Blair
smiling, that that popularity is shared by
the members of the United States Senate
This instructive laziness is very wide
spread"
II would suggest" the witness serenely
continued, that people live more carefully
dollar to those who need it. would suggest
to those who have employment not to de-
nland $50 month when less will do them.
can live in Brooklyn just as well as l want
to live on $24 a month"
New Workers would do well, then, to
move to Brooklyn, would they not?" asked
the chairman.
Most OF them have gone over there al
ready" replied the witness, at which there
was much laughter
'If women are willing to work." she re-
sumed, "let the Senate give them a few dol
lars instead of voting so much for jails and
churches. A man with wife and child can
live very comfortably on $50 month. They
can dress very nicely for $50 a year with
cheap clothing to be got in New York. Then
would suggest as well that they might be
aided to secure ten or twenty acres of land,
and they need not go beyond the Rocky
mountains to settle"
What else would you suggest?' the chair
man said
There is another industry that / would
like to speak Of" said the witness, speaking
with emphasis, ''and that is the house SER
wants. 1t is almost impossible to get good
house servants and l would almost beg and
pray the United States Senate to appoint
women in every city of the United States to
60 from house to house instructng the cooks
and other servants in their duties let the
United States pay for this for it is a thing
they can well afford 1 think we would
have healthier senators if this were done"
laughter
Il think So too" said Senator Blair; good
bread would solve most of the difficulties we
have"
What is the reason that people in this
country do not know how to cook better?'
was asked.
~ think one reason is that women want to
| have fine and delicate hands. would rather
know how to work than to know how to read,
| for have to read great many unpleasant
things"
HAS there been change for the worse in
this lost art of cooking in the last twenty
years."
Very much for the worse. In Cayuga
county, for instance, twenty years ago
women were taught to cook, to wash, to make
butter, to do all sorts of homework, and at
| the same time they were taught music, draw
ing and other accom- plishments 1 find the
terrible cry in New York is for good and etli-
cient servants"
| 'IfAtrs. Vanderbilt, now, could do her own
cooking"
II guess she can, broke in the witness.
"'She would be more independent of her
| servants, would she not?'
Certainly. The great trouble nowadays
is that all our boys and girls tend toward
| professionalism. This is now beginning to
| characterize our amusements. Even croquet
is professional game nowadays"
The witness believed more in domestic
economy than in political. A man earning
So week should say to his wife, "Now,
here is IS, with which you must get through
the week" The 81 could be put away and
would in time amount TO something.
'On the Chinese question l will make
suggestion" continued the witness. THE
catchpenny way in which a Chinaman learns
every branch of industry throws in the shade
our American boys, or the Germans, or any
| other nationality. A Chinaman will 90 into
your house and at once know the place of
every knife, fork and spoon, but'-with an
expression of utter disgust-"they are dirty,
| filthy"
But can't they learn to be clean?"
'They are so dishonest they won't learn to
be clean"
Recovering somewhat from her indigna-
| ton, the witness leaned her arms upon the
table in front of her, and beaming in
motherly way from over her spectacles upon
Senator Blair, assumed the role of ques-
| toner.
You live in New Hampshire, don't your"
she asked.
81 do responded the chairman, crossing
his arms before him, and also leaning for
| ward toward the witness.
And they live very nicely there, don't
they?"
Indeed they do"
and they get up very nice meal and
serve it well?'
Just as well as they do at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel"
''There it is" exclaimed the witness, tri-
umphantly leaning back in her chair; land
that's the way they ought to be taught to do
all over the country"