Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-25

others. The suggestion was practical
and put in a mildly tentative from buI
/ in the next weeks issue came scorch-
/ ing reply from q housekeeper ana an e1-
/ help.
! 1t is given herewith entire:
II usually enjoy reading the sisters
! letters, but tonight, as ! cad the words
Of 'Housekeeper,' my blood fairly boiled
and decided TO express my MIND on
the hired girl question. For many years
| did housework and enjoyed 1t. i nave
worked in families whore | was as go0d
rs the family were and also where L was
not, and in the latter | was Obliged 10
work all through meal time and then eat
what happened to be left. In such places
| | assure you | stayed but short time.
think many noble women will join with
me in saying there is no false
pride in good, neat girl
thinking she is or ought to be
! thought as good as the members OF the
| family she works for. ] admit there are
times when a girl should devote her time
| to waiting upon the table; for instance,
/ dinner and tea parties. But as a gen.
eral, everyday affair, if the table is prop
erly set, there is no need of girl rising
more than once or twice, and if she has
been hard at work let the mistress herself
bring the needed articles. Neither IS
! there need OF her coming to the table with
! a heated, anxious face Let her put
away all other work and give her plenty
OF time to prepare the meals without be-
ing obliged to hurry or worry, and she
will be able to come 10 your table as
fresh and fair as the lady from your
| parlor.
II wonder as read he- letter il House
! keeper was ever hired girl. II not, let
me tell her that she does not know what
comfort it gives girl, after she has
worked hard all the forenoon, to know
that her presence is wanted as the family
gather around the dinner table; how 1t
reefs her and strengthens her for her after
Moons work, TO sit with them during meal
time and JOIN with them in happy CONVEX
satIon. II there are less families who
hire girls that are ruled over by house
keepers Ike the one who wrote last week,
let me tell her there would be more girls
| OF the higher order and less of the up
starts, as she calls them. | blush for any
OF our American girls who will be made
slaves, but still would say to those who
are obliged to work, do housekeeping by
all means. But work in families where
you will be appreciated, tor from expert
| ence | know there are such. and let those
OF the other class have their patience
taxed and nerves unstrung by girls who
! do not wish to associate with the family,
or care how their work is done, trying TO
do to their employers SIS their employers
| do to them."
| Now, this particular hired girl no doubt
| flattered herself that she was making a
! heroic assertion of her equality, and de-
m0nstrating her fitness for higher associa-
tons. Her letter is gwen in tull as a re-
preventative document from the other
! party, to what she calls the hired girl
| question. 1t may also establish or nulllfy
! her claim TO recognition as a desirable
acquisition to the innermost circle of a
well-bred and well.educated family. A
young native Of her high spirit would not
! be content to receive all the benefits OF
| such social and intimate Intercourse and
give none in return. The side of the
| question" which she does not see is
! whether or not her presence as necessary
accompaniment of daily food would be an
offset to the value of her services in the
| kitchen.
The longing for recognition as her en-
! plOyer's social equal does not arise from
true self-respect, but rather from a lack
OF it. The hired girl fails to grasp the
fact that she is just as admirable and
worthy of all respect in her station as is
her mistress in hers. 1t would be well tc
have engraved and hung up in each kitch
en- presided over by the Yankee help the
old copyboOk couplet:
Honor ana shame from no condition rise;
| Act we'll your part, there all the honor lies"