Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-20

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are comparatively few avenues omen 10
women for employment, aud all but ono
OF these Is over.orowded There is an
unlimited field for them In domestic Ser
Vice. To my mind there is nothing I'M.
millaiirg in that mode of earning a living.
On the contrary, there is nothing so well
adopted TO the functions and characters.
tics OF women as occupations associated
With the household and the family. | do
think, however, that society Is somewhat
to blame because Of the barriers IL has
erected in the home against dome site ser
wants IL would, Ia nv opinion, be A
very fortunate thing indeed II the old
fashioned relationship between employer
aud employed In the family circle could
be restored refer TO the lines when
the servants of the household really form.
ed part Of the family, often. times sitting 81
the table. Whyat my mothers table, when
was q boy, the servant girl always sat
ut the same table with the family. We
never felt or tried 10 make her feel that
we were any better than she was, and she
never set herself mp in he belief that she
was any better than we were We paid
her the wages she earned and she gave us
In return her work.
"What Is wanted Is an appeal 20 the
employers In the household to make the
condition OF the domestic servant moro
tole able aud more attractive to respecta-
bic girls 10 this way both will be benefit.
ed. A bett rclass ofgirls would be attract
cd TO this home service, and the employers
would be sure 10 gain an advantage
through the inevitable Improvement in
the grade Of servants seeking employ
ment. OF course, what Is known as fash
ionable society could nor undertake TO
establish a basis OF equality between mas
ter and servant, or employer and en-
ployed, within the social circle. That is
not TO be expected where ordinary com.
mon sense prevails. In this country,
where individual merit may win the
highest distinction and honors, it is un-
necessary t. argue that point. But
what hsve said applies TO the great mass
OF society the country over To express
my meaning more broadly, viii say hat
believe it possible for housekeepers,
wherever they occupy the position OF EN-
ployers, TO render taelr homes agreeable
instead Of disagreeable to the girls and
women IN their service. OF course, the
flual aim, and may say the natural aim,
of woman is marrlage-to become 3 wife
and mother, and as such the center Of In.
terest in her own family. But all women
cannot, or at any rate do not, get married
yet even falling to do so, the true mission
Of woman is still within the family, ad.
Hinistering duties pertaining to the house
hold
"But,n continued Mr.. Hewitt, $50 long
as there is such a large body Of women
seeking occupation in other directions, II
is the duty Of every intelligent citiz N and
every benevolent institution to do all they
can to afford facilities for their employ.
ment. The Cooper Institute YVES founded
for that purpose, among other things.
We began with the Art school, which is
an immense success, and it has led TO the
establishment of similar Institutions all
over the United States. Hundreds OF
women are educated there every year who
get remuneratye and congenial employ
ment. We have added telegraphy and
slenography and typewriting, and with
admirable results. But II is Simply i'm
possible for society TO absorb in this d.
rection the great surplus of women who
must earn their own livelihood. Fol
these there remains the unlimited re.
source OF domestic employment for all
who will seek it,"
"But they will not seek it," was sug
gested, "and il seems to be after all q
ruatter OF individual choice with them
This being the case, is IL not true that
owing to the great supply, they are
ground down 10 low wages by the stress
of competition, and that in their neceosi-
ties, being dependent upon what they can
earn, and having others dependent upon
them for support, they are often-times
led tn ruin?"
"Well," replied Mr.. Hewitt, ono law
can put conscience into employers or into
BUYERS. That must be the result of edu-
cation, OF framing, and above all, OF con-
stAnt admonition from the church. The
class OF work | have referred to
is open TO them nevertheless, To be sure,
| have the greatest possible sympathy
with the poor girls and women who be-
came exposed TO temptation as result OF
ovrrstocking Of the female labor market
but, on the other hand, ] have neither
sympathy nor patience with those who
enter upon life Of shame when the way
is constantly open TO them TO pursue an
honest livelihood in manner That seems
far preferable TO that which many OF them
choose OF their own accord.
at Is melancholy sight to behold the
greet number Of young girls-l mean
girls from twelve TO fifteen years OF age
going around our streets at night. sec
them often, sometimes two or three to-
gether, but very frequently strclliag
along alone. In my judgmentit indicates
tina there Is something radically wrong
at the bottom of society IN this city.
Hence anyth ne that can be done to i'm
prove the tenement-houses and TO make
the homes of people who have TO earn
their da ly bread more attractive Is most
deslfable. II is for the purpose OF dealing
with iusb such questions as this that l
understand churches exist. If they will
only con ent to deal with these practical
questions ins,ead Of abstract theological
dogmas they will command much more
interest on the part Of their hearers and
better results would be achieved.
IL have not been silent on this subject
10 the past. In paper read at the church
conaress in Cincinnati, in October, 1878,
| said;
"'The church and its ministers, and
above all, its intelligent l0ymen, engaged
10 affairs, can hasten the good time COM
Inn nv q ffnrte IN puliohtan both those who