The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-24
The MOVEMENT FAILED:


There Is young matron living In
one Of the small cities In the interior
OF New York State who doubtless. la
her moments OF honest self-communion.
wishes she had let well enough. or III
enough alone. She undertook recent
". single-handed. crusade from
which many an older and boldsr wo-
man might have and has shrunk. Her
sense of propriety and the eternal it-
ness OF things WAS wounded by the at
tire OF her own and her friends women
servants. Gay colors. silk and satin
the fripperi0 which the soul OF Bridget
delights in--she felt were neither suit
able nor becoming. and she determin-
cd 10 bring about change.
To this end she drew up and circu-
lated for signatures among her friends
petition or resolution which should
bind every signer not 10 employ or re-
tain in her service any maid who
would not consent 10 restrict her Mt
tire To certain prescribed limits. which
were. practically. plainly made dark
gowns with cap and apron when. on
duty. and nothing better than wooden
gown of simple design for Sunday and
day of use.
But alas. for the loyalty OF friendsl
Although many. indeed most of the
recipients OF the pledge had Joined
with its author in complaints Of the
evil IL strove 10 mitigate. when IL came
to taking bold stand in the matter
their courage was lacking. The paper
made its round and returned signer-
less. But il was not without result
One of those whom 1t was designed To
educate got knowledge OF its exist
ence and mission. The story spread
from kitchen TO kitchen. gaining force
and length rs it flew. The maids Mt
tempted coalition and succeeded bet
ter than the mistresses. A boycott was
declared against the young matron
who foolishly thought TO make head
way against the independence OF Amer
lean help, and her corps Of servants Is
now secured from outside places.
A complement and moral TO this
. story says a writer In the Sun. Is the
recent experience of Brooklyn lady.
Christmas brought her coveted seal
skin sacque. of which her colored
nurse was. as events proved. most
sincere admirer. The maid was about
To purchase winter cloak. and the
horror of the mistress may be fancied
when she appeared In II. Although OF
coarse brown plush. in color. style aud
general effect IL was the fac-simile Of
OF her own costly fur garment Tho
lengths OF the two cloaks did not vary
half an inch; they were both OF sacqus
shape. aud so identical in appearances
that at glance they appeared TO DO
/ twin garments.
4 To increase the wretchedness OF tho
situation. the mistress was In MOURN
] ing, and the maid had black cloth
/ dress for usual wear. II was the lady's
I habit on every pleasant day TO take
her nurse and baby over TO spend An
hour with her invalid mother. and to
do so she must traverse couple of
blocks of fashionable thoroughfare.
! One ordeal was enough. She tried 70
induce the nurse To exchange her gar
ment for one OF another style. Offering
/ TO pay any loss she might sustain. but
+ Topsy was indignant, and chung 10 her
\ elegance. Then, as the sealskin could
not go, the maid had To. The nurse
I lost good place and the mistress .
faithful servant through incompatibili-
ty--not of temper, but Of clothes-au
of which the young matron may read
with complacency.