Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15
OUR SERVANT GIRLS.
Pittsburg Seems Favorable to the
Training School Idea.
PROGRESS IN THE QUAKER CITY.
A Talk With the Lady Who is at the Head
of the New Movement.
TIE METHODS ADOPTED IN EUROPE

considerable trouble in securing good girl
for household work, one who would meet
every requirement and who was not uprea.
sonable about the compensation she was n
receive. A good servant is blessing, but
from the many complaints now
adays about the Indifferent work OF the
housemaid. it seems that this bless
ing is conferred on very few,
To get girl who does not want night Of
seven nights in the week, and who is con-
tent without entertaining her beau in the
best room the mansion affords, while the
daughter of her mistress has to do the
honors in less pretentious apartment and
to explain to her caller that the painter and
carpet men are engaged in renoVating the
parlor, is not the easiest thing imaginable.
This state of affairs exists in a great
many households and the mistress of the
house is afraid to say anything to her
servant, for, outside of the presumptive
liberties she takes, she is an ideal hose
girl and an excellent worker. In this way
matters continue without any reform. If
the lady of the house lays down rigid rules
and entorces them, the servant in many
cases gives up her position, disgusted with
the life of a servant and enters the factory
or workshop.
THE SOLUTION IN PHILADE LPHIA.
Philadelphia is the first place in America
to attempt a reform OF the system of employ
ing housemaids on this SIDE of the Atlantic.
A number OF prominent ladies of this city
have formed themselves into a society TO
establish training school, where all girls
who are unable to make a living in any
other calling will be received and instructed
in the duties that would devolVe upon them
in the management of home. Mrs. NJ. A.
Roberts, who was commissioner for Penn
sylvania to the Paris Exposition, has ac-
cepted the Chairmsnship Of the Executive
Committee of this society, which is called
the Fidelity Servant Girl Reform Associa-
ton. In a recent interview she tells of her
investigations in London and Paris
"London has taken the initial step toward
bringing about this much needed reform"
said Mrs. Roberts. '"There are in that city
four large training schools for servants,
which are controlled by Lady Kinnaird
and Mrs. Meredith. These two ladies
supervise the schools, but other
public-spirited philanthropists advocate the
reform movement. Among the noted pub
lie people interested Lord and Lady Aber-
deem, Mrs. Sheldon Amos, Mrs. Ormiston
Chant and Lord and Lady Radstock, who
all devote considerable time to the schools.
These institutions have been in operation for
q long time in London, and have been in
strumental in saving hundreds of young
girls from ruination.
"At Paris they have three large schools.
The Countess de Manin and Miss de Broen
are at the head of these schools, and they re-
ceive the hearty support of the community
in the task they have undertrken.
SHORT SUPPLY IN AMERICA.
This cannot be done in America, how
ever" the lady said, ''as the supply of good
servants does not equal the demand, and on
this account the necessity of having schools
in America is apparent. In London and
Paris two servants are engaged while one
would be considered sufficient in this coun-
try. We make our greatest mistake in not
employing enough to do the work and pay
ing too high wages. We are in earnest
about the training school to be erected in
Philadelphia. The gentlemen Of the Fidel-
ity Association are doing their utmost to
make the enterprise a grand success, and
we are counting upon the cooperation OF
the housewives for their hearty support IN
the movement. 1 have now about 50 corre-
spondents in all parts OF the world engaged
in this reform movement, and Intend 70
adopt the most efficient methods IN the run
ming of our school. We confidently expect
to have our institute open by the LIST of Oc-
tober at the latest"
In order to ascertain how the movement
was regarded in this city reporter visited
the Women's Exchange on Penn avenue.
The lady conducting the exchange said:
IAN enterprise of this kind should unques-
tionablv be productive of good results.
Every day we hear our customers complain
ing about their housemaids. If we had
like institution in this city it would over
come all this dissatisfaction. The plan il
certainly good one and would be boon to
the ladies of Pittsburg."
A call was made at the different employ
ment Offices to get the views of these agents.
They all admitted the plan was a.good one;
several OF them admitted if such an idea
was carried into execution it would practic-
alIy annihilate the employment agency
business, while others thought that there
was not enough backing in this city to insure
the success of the project.
A gentleman living at Shadyside was en-
countered at one of the offices. He had just
left some money for girl that he hired
few days ago, and who left his house be-
cause she was not allowed to run things to
suit herself. The gentleman said:
ONE MANS EXPERIENCE.
srWhy, will duplicate the largest sub
seription made for anything of this kind. I
am weary running around after servant
girls. 1 employ four at my house and I
think they have good positions. NV wife is
an invalid and leaves me to manage the
house. get so completely disguised with
the servants that discharge them all some
times and here am in quest of others 10 fill
their places. The wrongs they perpetrats
are innumerable, and the Training School
cannot get started too coon for me. Now
they recommended girl to me here few
days ago and said she would do everything
that 1 wanted her for. took
her home and to my disgust she would not
do anything. Consequently mad
to resort again to the employment ONCE tor
another servant, and they cannot furnish
me with ANYTHING but an inexperienced per-
son, have had so many green hands that
I have learned it is a dead loss to take any
person but one who has had experience.
These girls invariably want to run your
house. I tell YOU it is a shame" said the
Gentlemen az he walked off swearing like Q
trooper at his misfortune.
TT sneokinp OF Pittsburg having train
inc school like Philadelphia, the wife OF
nrominent broker, living in the East End,
sa;d. SIT will be great benefit to the ladies
Of Pittsburg, and myself will do all that
/. rossibIe for the movement. The object in
visw is a good one, and think such an in
stitntiou would certainly influence the
morals Of young girls and adapt them to q
nosition, which, in my opinion, consider .
more honorable one than they could get in
the factories or workshops. 1 have expert
enced great trouble in securing good girl.
hair A9