Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-29
CC-OPEHATION.
BY CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRICk.
fCopyri0hted. 1861
PART III.

PART II.
An army officer gives a striking Illus
tration OF the infdelity shown by employ
ers to one another. "When / lived IN
Philadelphia" he said, 81 went TO an
intelligence office to hire nurse for my
little girl. The woman whom l selected
had not been a nurse in her last place,
but gave me a reference to family In
which she had lived In that capacity. L
found her ex-emloyer at his place OF
business and was assured by him that
lcould not do better than to engage Annie.
He followed me to the door as L left the
store to say: Depend upon it, you could
not do better than to get that girl. do
not see how she happens to be out of a
place for an hour l lost no time in max
ing sure OF the treasure, and obtained
her promise to be at my house early next
day. She did not appear. and after waiting
vainly for some message of explanation,
learned on the third dav after our inter-
view that the courteous merchant to
whom she had referred me for testimo-
malls of her fitness to supply the vacant
post in my nursery had IN less than an
hour after left him prevailed upon her
to return 10 HIS house."
In the matter OF recommendations of
quondam servants mistresses seldom
treat one another with ordinary fairness.
In the dread of depriving working girls
Of places they conceal or omit the mention
of faults that if known would have seri-
Gus bearing on the decision OF the IT,
quirer. OF this amiable weakness SER
wants are quick and sure to take advan-
tage. Without magnifying peccadilloes
into blemishes that would carry blight
into the home, 1t Is possible to state these
frankly, yet use them as shading to The
lights OF an agreeable picture.
our proposed Housekeepers Union Of
fers a remedy for evils manv and sore.
The practicability ofsuch an organization
may at first be questioned by people
"half sick of shadows" as was the Lady OF
Shalott, and whole sick of shams. We
have wrongs. discomfort, and too often
downright misery to deal with in this
matter. AS the issue is present and
practical, so should be the treatment.
Housewives have tried rOsewater and
CLOSES too long already.
Dread of formality and red tape need
not brighten the timid from consideration
of she scheme. A few general rules faith
fully obeyed will regulate the disordered
machine of our national domestic service
sooner and more etfectually than a GEN.
fury Of Legislation and volumes of prize
essays.
TO sketch them briefly:
First. No housekeeper shall endeavOr
to entice servant from place she has
not previously declared her intention of
leaving.
Second. No housekeeper shall engage
servant without first inqulring into her
character and antecedents from her FORM
Grand when practicable-fromh her last
mistress.
Third. No housekeeper shall engage n
servant who was dismissed from her last
place for dishonesty, insolence, or other
fragrant fault.
Fourth. Every housekeeper shall be can
did and honorable in giving certificates
OF character and capacity to each person
who quits her service.
At the first glance the foregoing con-
ditions would seem to belong to an I'M
written code subscribed to in practice by
majraity OF mistresses. In actual fact
the disregard OF most if not all OF them by
refined and (otherwise) conscientious
women obtains to an extent that makes
the rules of contrary principles almost
universal.
AS long as our servants know that, no
matter under what suspicious circum-
stances, they leave employers, they will
have no difficulty in securing other posi-
tions, there is constant temptation to
disrespect, carelessness and graver faults.
Once let them comprehend that without
satisfactory credentials as to character
and efficiency 1t will be difficult to secure
other homes, reformation of what may be
called the bowling evil OF our day and
land is mere question OF time and that
not long one.
The intrOductions OF an imitation Of
| civil service examination into our domes-
| tic policy would hasten the coming OF the
| glorious change. Now, the Ignorant girl,
untutored and uncouth, demands and get
the wages granted a woman who is prac-
ticed in all the branches of her calling. The
moral effect OF this system is apparent. II
| as good payment can be secured by incom-
! petent hirelings as by skilled the inceD-
tive to Improvement is reduced to mini
mum. Ia almost every other branch of
industry there is an examination to test
the competency of candidates. 1t is not
right that in domestic service alone,
where good work is pre-. emnently essen
| tial to comfort and health, the ignoram-
us should be able to procure employment
upon her unsupported statement OF her
| qualifications.
While this remains the case, and supe-
riors weakly yield instead of making a
united effort to effect a revolution, just
| so long will the maids be the dominant
| class and those who, by courtesy, bear
the title of misIresses continue to live in