The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-17

the uniairness Is all on the side Of the en-
ployer.
10 point out injustices in the industrial
situation is far easier than TO find RENEE
dies. Extended investigation into the
condition Of women workers has made me
keenly alive TO the many wrongs ana
hardshlps they suffer, but without as yet
sucresting any very definite or certain
mode of efiecting remedy. II Is hard
that the seamstresscs Of New Orleans
should have 10 make pair OF trousers Tor
cents. or toll seventy-6ve hours Tor "a;
but rs long as they seek work at even
those beggarly figures, what is to be donel
The survival OF the fttest is harsh, but II
IL inexorable--it IL a law bound TO be
obeyod in spite OF trades unions or other
artificial measures taken 10 defeat II. The
fittest survive; the unskiled, the incom-
pcient, the unfit (ior higher work. sewing
women must perforce content themselves
with barely existing until they acquire
knowledge, skill, fitness, and so Join the
ranks OF the llttest who alone survive.
The reader Of the foregoing remarks, II
at all familiar with the labor question, VIII
doubtless ask why the women OF New Or
leans aud other cities will beg for sewing
nj 81 week, when housewives are ready,
even anxious, 10 give them employment
nj better wages and board. lie will ask
the question, but will hardly receive a
satisfactory answer. IL is simply fact
that tho majority OF workingwomcn prefer
to work their fingers To the bone sewing,
or become pale and sickly IN factories,
than enter domestic service. While in all
other departments OF labor there is an
over supply. in this the demand is larger
than the supply. The reason to be partly
looked for il in the fact that in domestic
service, though better fed and paid, there
IL less freedom and greater sense OF In
| ferority. II has seemed 10 me that there
| Is less OF this in some European States
| than in America. In Germany, Tor IN
stance, the social line IA drawn 10y blood
and nobility. All below that arc consid-
cred ~ on level by those above
il. II makes no difference TO noble
man whether you own a shop or are
merely employed in one. In both cases
YOU work and that IL sufficient. He looks
| down upon you. The elect OF this Is that
the German shopkcepcr and man OF mid
die class does not keep his clerks and
servants ut half the distance that his Amer.
| lean conirore does. An American shop
/ keeper lives IN fine house, and walks
| about his emporium oi fashion as
haughtily rs a car. II his wife or daugh-
ter honor the place at all, II is when they
want a new dress or q chocque nom papa.
In France or Germany the same class OF
shopkccpor lives in the room over his shop,
and In all probability has his vile keep
his books aud his daughter wait at the
counter. AT night, when the house Is put
20 rights the housomaid will come into
the family sitting-room and while knitting
listen 10 her employer read his papers or
chat with the family. She Is not kept
back in room IN the attic, nor thrown
entirely ON her own resources for amuse-
I mcnl. Hence the German and French
do not experience that difficulty
in securing capable domestic help
which most American housewives
too often encounter. TisG bring their Gus
toms. more or less. to this country; and IN
American cities the first 10 set gCodhouse
servants aud the last 10 lose them are not
Americas bnt the German and French
families. Time wns. In New England a
any rate, when house girls werV not called
servants and not treated ~ machines on
OF which was 10 he gotten all the worA
possible. They used to sly "llclp. Ia
New England, and when the "llclp' had
finished her duties sin not seldom rolled
down her sleeves aud took her seat nt the
table along with the family. That custom
| Is no longer in vogue. except perhaps nov
/ and then IN the country OF In Honic small
I town, and NJ result II Is now ~ hard Il
get house help in New England Us in any
other part Of the country.