New-York tribune., 1889-12-22
HOUSEHOLD SERVICE REFORM.
A HOUSEKEEPER DOESN'T LIKE THE BEL
LANIY IDEAS.
To ne EdNor Of The Trioune

LAMY IDEAS
To ne EdUor OF The Trioune-
Sir: In recent issue OF "Good Housekeeping" Mr.
Edward Bellamy " the apostle Of social revo
lution,' attempts to solve the vexed question OF
"Household Service Reform" In this article he only
proved again the incapacy of the masculine mind to
grasp the details of wOmans work. The thousand
and one nicetes OF home life entirely elude his
broader but more general, method Of thought
The statements which Mr.. Belamy lays down as
facts not new, aud are clearly not proven" We
are told that domestic service implies sacrifice
Of personal dignity In the relation Of the empoye to
the employer. which, I'm this country is required Of
no other class, and would be endured by none and
further, that "a submissive and even obsequlouS
manner toward the employer is made requisite"
such bold statements these are frequently made
and need TO be refuted Refined housekcepers Of
moderate income who the greatest sufferers from
inefficient help do not demand anything more than
ordinary cvility from their servants they DO not eA
pect the servity which the groom shows his master
which the hotel waiter shows the employer, when
the Office clerks show to the bank president TO the
successful politician the railroad magnate. Ger
tain obsequious manner of the same kind may be
demanded in some houses of wealth. but IN such
houses there is no problem the household service Is
run with military precision and there is no lack OF
workers But for foreign importations,' continues
Mr. Belamy, domestic servitude would nave become
extinct in America long snce' Is not this true also
of all manual work
do not believe " that the oldme prestige OF the
domestic kitchen has departed" that "mothers nave
long since ceased to make pies" The immense III
terest shown in culinary matters in recent years
eyinced by the attendance at cooking schools Dy
the sale of cookery books and the general intelligence
which refined women acquiring In all ma''erS
pertaining to the home.
After stating the condition OF home lie aS ho
cure of the evils. lie can no reason why waShhe
oa,ro, no done I'm hinge cooperative laundries in
Wholesale vay He fails TO recognize the details oi
the laundresss work. Household servants require I'd
he watched 10 that they sort the washing properly
that the bedding and the table linen In washel eacn
by itself that the fine, dainty underwear Is ruoOeu
bv hand. not OH the board; that the hannels are
washed in cold water and the temperature never
cbangcd-there is an endless minuae Of detail TO DC
observed if the work is to be properly DONE DOCS
ANYBODY believe that this could be done Ill W.
operative laundry at costs Would 1t not reqii'e
responsible head number OF responsible oVelseoo
at every laundry, and would not the salaries OIL sucn
uersons make a cooperative laundry an expensive
exneriment? Mr. Bellamy seems to think that the
rv reason every one not patronze launurles Is
,ocause of The cost This is not true; 1t Is because
clothing wears out twice, sometimes three uhes as
fast when washed by laundry methods ana also
hecause Of the objection which all rehhed persons
must feel in having their wearing apparel stred up
- heterogeneous mass with that OF dirty and dis
eased people 49,. po,
The final grand suggestion Of MI. Bel
,ornv that American households he fed at whole
saIe from gigantic kitchens, destroys inc ldsC EesioG
~ the real lie OF the home ana Is cIedIlS " 10 G
W iv m cities Farm houses or country houses III
fSst.G HiS Situations whose inmates sufer grcVoisIy
$50 tho LACK of efficient servants, could not be supple
~ This vay Families depending on hltC.eis ouS to !.
,rboiesale would have TO be content thc l1Hs
vi 10 20 into bankruptcy, with the choice vi Uiio
audi
ii"y'itie There j. nothing novel IN thls HelhOu OI
RgUsnisiinc food The cooperative Kitchen Is simply
! hn-tery where meals are sent out ana eacn ol ING
atcwcrs Is a stOcklolder. Hotel ioOd anu cluO
ttos have never for moment competed WIN the
.aot0 homo table Persons who are compelled 10
ent the hest hotel fare soon weary OF IL because Oh
aC'VPV VPV,notonv and the lack Of delcacy ana dMUty
lts MING which il is impossible TO give 10 dishes
seasOS ~hoesaIe quantities There are, it is true.
cOuhc restaurants where the cooking Is all that
an be desired because very large letnue oi nshIy
callownished can chefs employed TO see tlat every
ar'o"iP senaratc!v and correctly prepared but 10
snch kitchens these would require wealthy
cSoDerators who have no need for tleHi;
~ 5cII,uly's sweeping statement that large pro-
H. "a of the American women derive Their PIN money
poruoaa aarticeS ri furnished to magazines ana Sunday
ron and thus have a strong pecunary interest in
Pappinc1 n an open one" is Simply SHY Ihere are
ot pcriodicals enough In the country 10 furnish pm
,ev not to large proportion OF American women
The majority Of American women nave noines ana 40
,ority Of such articles furnished tS press nave such
tIoritiye "know all" tone that imagine they
o az written by men. Women have long since given
nm the discussion Of a problem ,hat une , olH can
iIshed about the country and above an te sToNi,ig
respect for handicraf are slowly but surely inc
dompestic problem. Respectfully H. h. l..
Dec. u.s. 1889