Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-13
FOR rHE LADIES
A dissertation ON Servants wages That VIII
be Head WIN Interest

be Head WIN Interest.
Prom tho Atlantic Monthly,
1t must be admitted that alt dealings with
female house servants are iutrusted to
women. They, then, are responsible for the
prices paid for the work they have TO offer,
and 1t is equally clear tina, they are paying
for IL At u ratio In with which nothing else In
the labor market is comparable. Are female
servants scarce Certainly not Look at the
crowded benches in the so-called "intell.
gence (hesveu save the mark y Cthces'
glance at the long line of sterrage passengers
rs they detile into Castle Garden from the
crowded decks OF our omigraut ships Hun.
dreds of women and Kris are fastening to
our shores from every part ui Europe, sskln
Tor places in our kitchens. II 10 that most Oi
these are Ignorant and Va.ueIrSS to the house
Keeper, who must have skilled LABOR NO
Ignorant most of them certainly are, and
many seem incapable OF learning; yet the
Irish girl who, IL employed in Dublin, would
consider herself well paid for her labor Ivy $40
or At most El2, per suuum, no sooner presses
her loot upon American soil than she de-
mands 5000
More than any class of women i'll the
world, If we except the iudoleut AststiC do
American women need servants. We have
not the robust frame nor the sturdy strength
ot the British matrCu or the German haas
1ruH. Our climate IL eNhausting, our lives
aud our nerves weAS. We can do much
with our heads-muCh planning and think
ing, much arranging uUd directing. To sup
pIenent this We need strong arms, the tire
less backs OF the peasant women OF the Old
World. Ifwewere wise and sensible enough
to pay them moderately but fairly, TO make
them dress suitably and live plainly, in
every case where We can now have but one
pair OF hands to assist in the household work,
whlle We make shift 10 do the rest, we
might have two. Yes, there is no question
that II the maid OF all work, who now re-
celNes $40 per month and Is fed like one OF
the family" were to receive the same wages
that an English housekee pOr would paw, to
eat what English servants are given to eat
instead OF our brOils and ruAS.s and dainty
luNuries In the way OF desserts, the faded
female head OF our smaller American house
holds would md that she could keep two
girls without adding dollar 70 her yearly
expenses
And why cannot this be done lsitn not a
positive wrong that it should uNt be done
The poor of Europe are CrOVding to our
shores demanding work, and there Is none
Tor them begging for food and shelter, aud
suffering misery and laSping into sin for
want OF decent homes and honest labor. Are
not our women blind 10 their duty in giving
one what is abundant for two, in keeping IN
an unnatural and unreasOuabls scale OF
prices Tor the benefit OF = few We have not
waited for our employees 10 impress the boy.
Cott upon us; We have bOyC0lted ourselves.
Without reason, without outside pressure, in
defiance of common sense, and 20 their detri.
ment and ours, we insist upon a state ot
affairs that Is sarcasm upon our Judgment
and convincing proof that, whatever we
may attain to in the future, men are very
right yet in saying that We lack business
hnowiedge and capacity and show ourselves
slngularly unintelligeut In regard to the con.
duct of affairs,