Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-08
a Subject Of Great Interest to Every
House Keeper.
A PLEA FOR EMPLOYEES
A False Opinion About Domestic Ser.
viee-rhe Treatment Of Hired Grill
Wbat Humanity suggests-whas A
Expected Of Employer.

these duties, where hired help Il depended
upon, there are two classes Of vomen-com-
mo My called girls-white and colored. Ordi-
narily there IL no difference between the work
expected Of the two, but there il no denying
snas distinctions are 10 be drawn under
certain conditions These conditions
arise from the birthright, early associs-
tons and family standing Of the white girl who
goes out TO service. The colored woman, as q
rule, u born OF parents performing mental
duties and u indoc trinated with the idea Of
doing certain class Of work and rarely aspirss
10 any higher motive, though she may have
good schooling advantagea When . colored
girl raised under more favorable auspices than
her sister Of the masses completes whatever
educational training she desires or il to re-
ceive she Is Q rara avis IL she il willing to go
out to work other than e. . teacher, sewing
or some such kindred light and easy "occups-
ton" The ordinarily educated or highly re-
spectacle white girl who huds 1t necessary to
do portion or all Of what is to be done to-
ward her own support finds herself confronted
with choice of two openings-that il, those not
qualified to fill positions demanding profess
sional training-one 10 to enter the crowded
arena filled by the store, or shop" girl, - she
= called, or to take service - Q domestic.
FALSE OPINION PREVALENT.
Just here is where . large number Of girls
make . great mistake by entertaining . false
opinion with regard to domestic services
feeling that it is essentially degrading. II is
not . whit more so than employment in fac
tory, q store or an office, unless the subject
chooses to male 1t 50. Serving . customer be-
hind q counter. or running q sewing machine
In factory, are not a particle more honorable
or ennobling than cooking a meal or sweeping
. room Needlevomen as they sit day by day
nav Int ,fahh fAax,-
selves to death with their own needles, and
shop girls are worked thin and pale and get
almost nothing tor their tread-mill services.
And when they are without the homes of
kindly parents to shelter them to what kind of
homes do they go when their hard day OF labor
Is over7 To what sort Of meals do they sit
down? What has either left to dress upon
after her rent, board and doctors bills are paid
from her slim weekly wages? Too often the
ninghng with better dressed associates. OF the
coming in constant contact with gaily and
fsshionably alfred shoppers, or the handling
OF fne and beautiful fabrics generates fancies
for dress and show with the shop girl far be-
yond what the wages earned viii admit and
serious consequences follow. The girl Who
PRErERs DOMESTIC SERVICE
and viii go At her work cheerfully and stick to
1t patiently displays far more wisdom, earns
more money on less pay, lives happier, has
better health, sacrifices none Of her self-re-
spect and stands every grain a. well in the
estimation OF her employer and public opinion
as girls who adopt what they mistake for higher
and more dignifed cslings. The household
domestic, II she is with people who have the
self interest and good judgment to treat her
humanity, will enjoy q comfortable room
wherein to rest when weary, fare NO worse in
what she eats than her employer and will have
her entire wages to dress on or to contribute
when necessary to the support Of an aged or
invalid parent or relative.
TREATMENT OF DoMKsr1o.
"f she is with people who have the self inter
est and good judgment to treat her humanely"
What . sermon in that little "ifl" great deal
of gossip il INDUCED in by housekeepers about
bad servants and all that, and not without
cause, but there is not the least doubt in the
world that that cause lies largely in the bad
management Of housekeepers themselves.
Most Of girls, white or colored, 90 out to serv-
Ice when young and inexperienced and il il
then they get their first Impressions and the
faults or good traits Of the employer are the
mold BY which they are governed for all time
20 come.
Do not too many housekeepers engage help
with the idea that they are employing o
machine and that it is q boundsn duty to get
their moneys worth of labor every hour in
the day7 When the girl finds that out she
resolves, very naturally, TO give little a. she
can for what she is to get How many are pa
tient with their help? As stated in the proceed
ing article on this subject, thorough exercise
OF patience Is needed-unlimited patience. II
the demanding housekeeper could for a mo-
mens fancy herself in her servants place every
tune she gives an order or finds fault some of
the discomforting results might be avoided.
IL II not necessary to send them neatly printed
requests tied with blue ribbon, understand, or
beg them With fearful eyes not to do wrong
thing q second time any more than il is neces-
sary TO speak to them when giving orders in q
brutal manner or fly of in a passion at . mis-
hap and abuse them. Firmness and directness
are absolutely essential-so are kindness
and consideration for their feelings and
their comfort. Without these adjuncts
hrmness may as well be thrown TO the winds
Every housekeepsr has an individual idea or
system OF her own and it Is not always the fault
OF the glrl-a new one especially-if she fails
to readily adapt herself to strange ways at once
and that inharmonlous conditions arise. II 10
reaching for the impossible to expect servants
70 absorb new methods without time to grow
gradually into them, and the woman who ex-
poets 1t and is ever striving to attain it is con-
ssantiy changing servants, is half the time
without any at all and never supplied with an
efdcient one. This lack Of . sympathetic sd-
tustment in the
EVERYDAY DEALINGS wrTH SERVANT
h doubtless the fundamental cause Of the
greater portion Of inharmonious relations be-
tween mistress and maid, especially during the
Arst month or two Of service, when the foun-
dation for the success or failure of the engage
ment Ii practically contracted for. II must be
remembered-and how few do-.that Q servant
who has been trained under ono routine and
In time finds employment under another and q
very different one requires time and con-
eessons upon the part Of the employer to work
herself ont Of the old and into the new order of
things, and many . good and promising girl
mas been Inundated and then driven to indif-
Terence and finally to defiant rebellion by the
ineIcussbie impotence and bad management,
though we'll meaning, Of her employer ct the
peginnlng OF her engagement.
WHAT HUMANITY sUaaEsra
young girl Just starting out into domestic
enthusiastically one suddenly thrown upon
her own rssources-is at time Of life when
friends and home are Of the utmost import
ance TO her. That 10 one view; another is. can
. maron expect efficient service from her help
IL she manifests no interest in their mental or
physical comfort? Say that the girl is to stav
nighss-in other words live there. How MANY
housskeepers set apart . cold, cherries scautiiy
furnished hole In the cellar or dreary corner in
the attic without an inviting feature about il
for them to sleep in. Neither parlor nor a
dovny couch u expected, but humanity suggests
. comfortable, decent place for rest after their
days labor. and those Who do not afford il will
b disappointed II they expect efficient and
faithful service.
And how many scantily fed servants are there
In Warrington today? servants Who rise early
and work hard and late and are fed on scraps
and remnants are rightfully dissatisfied and
soon seek another place. They do not demand
TO be banuueted- but thay naad Oood whoI.