The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-06-11
DOMESTIC HELP.

| We read much of the wrongs of sew
ing women in the large cities, particu
larry in Chicago. who engaged in
strike few weeks since. Large mum
bers of them were unable to realiz,
more than So per week-often less
working Il to IA hours daily, anG
boarding themselves. 1t was hard
struggle for bread, and it is not strange
that so many we're driven to the stree,
TO exc out precariouS living.
AT the same time we read of great
demand of efficient domestic help, and
hundreds of girls were fiocking to the
city from the country towns, leaving
good situations in order to realize high
er wages. 1t is not unusual for an
efficient cook or chamber-maid to real
lze 81 to So per week with board, and
far more leisure and independence than
che sewing girl. Under such circum-
stances we can conceive no valid rea.
son why sewing women. or large num-
bers of them, should not turn their at
tentlon to homework. 1t is a popular
but vulgar notion that it is not oerdsel
employment; that it is degrading, Sc.
1t appears to be genteel for the mis-
tress OF a family, even in high life, to
superintend her household affairs, and
even engage in the work with her own
hands, and why is it less genteel for
the servant to engage in the same?
The renowned P. I. Barnum required
bis daughters to serve regular ap-
premiership in the kitchen with the
servants before he would permit them
to marry, and his case was by no
means unusual. We fail to perceive
why it is less genteel than to solicit
work at the slop shops, to lug their
bundles through the streets. and stitch
away their lives at starvation prices.
Domestic situations are almost
wholly monopolized by girls of foreign
birth or foreign parentage, from kitch-
en-mald to chamber.maid, and inter-
mediate grades, and their earnings en-
able them to dress in a style scarcely
distinguishable from the mistress or
her daughters, and usually to lay some
thing by in addition.
Another reason given is, that they
are not treated as one of the famSlg.
Admit that they do not receive all the
indulgence which is granted to the
daughters-they are engaged to per-
form the domestic work and are paid
for it-but are usually treated with
greater consideration than the sewing
woman is able to treat herself. A
faithful servant is always favorite
in the family, and considerate treat
ment from the mistress is more to be
relied upon than boss contractors, and
it is certainly more humiliating to SUBJ
NIT to fault-finding with their work,
and perhaps insults, than to listen to
mild reprimand from kind-hearted
mistress of the house, if occasion re-
CURED it.
In years past it was customary for
the daughters of well-to-do farmers and
to engage in Homework, and
thought it no disgrace. The result was,
well trained girls in household duties,
and they married well-to-do young
men. Every girl who expects ever to
preside over home of her own should
become familiar with every branch of
housekeeping before becoming mis-
tress; otherwise she must submit
either to be taught by her servants, or
to their impositions.
1t is by no means necessary for all
to enter service, but for those whose
render it necessary to
rely upon their own exertions, their
services would gladly be accepted by
house-keepers, for whom a liberal
compensation would be but second
airy object The important considera-
ton would be to secure intelligent and
reliable help. D.