Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-09
AN UNHINGED CONDITION.

While the responses on the unhinged
condition in housekeeping have not been
many, still there have been enough to
show that women in Fort Worth, as else
where. recognizes this condition. a ply
siciau fret finds out the malady and then
sets about seeking n remedy. Now 1t
has been found that the body domestic
Is sick; that Incompetence aud unrelia-
biiitv in aouse service is a prominent
feature Of the prevailing disorder.
The letter writer's unite on one plan +,
that OF an organization, defensive
ngaiUst unwarrantable encroachments
hut the plan for this organizing is not
defined. Several enjoin that the golden
rule enter into the relation of mistress
and servant, that that clause OF the
teuth commandment relating TO a covet-
ing OF man or maid servant be more
scrupulously observed, while another
suggests that system OF rewards for
fidelity and continued service be insti-
tutsd. All have in them much to recm =
mend, but will the ladies make practical
what at present is only theoretic?
In the waiting, 1t might not be amiss to
rememb Der that eternal vigilance is the
price of the comforts of q home. That
instructions to servants should Enot be
accompanied with an apology, that in
the beginning the servant should be
made TO feel that entire supremacy
is In the hands of the employer,
also that any extending of privileges
showing an eagerness to please the en-
ploye Is harmful. Kindness there should
be, but of the quality q benefaotress be-
stows. There must be at first patience
tempered with firmness, and when faults
that are not radical exist an offer of in
creased pay when better service is given
may stimulate to extra efforts at i'm
provement.
No fixed rules can be given; every
change makes new study, but house
keepers can protect themselves in de-
gree by a fixed rate of pay for work up
10 the grade and a refusal TO receive
servant who cannot present good creden-
tials, while much corrupting of good SER
vice will be obyiated if, US has been
limited, there is no intermeddling and
the golden rule observed between house
keepers as well as between employer and
employed.
Is domestic service III Fort Worth out
of hinge?
Yes, in q way peculiar to its own
locality.
If so, how shall it be placed upon It's
hinges?
To solve the question in one section of
our country would not answer here, for
we have different elements of discord.
1t seems TO me the first step would be to
have housekeepers form an organization
and by patient and united effort en-
deavor to find solution of the trouble.
Servants as we'll as mistresses have their
rights and an open ear TO the cry of the
mass. Servant girl, "What shall we do
with the missises?' might be another
step in the right direction. c.
-.
Having always been accustomed to
white help, of course prefer it, though
the colored may be equally as good.
always consider foreign help supe-
rior, for they have learned before COM
ing to this country that work does not
kill, and industry only is considered re-
spectacle.
We have found more trouble to obtain
good servants than to retain them after
procuring. The sitting out OF the chaff
TO find the one possible lie the eXasperat-
ing part
h:woman' exchange or organ
ization of some kind. believe, would
help us wonderfully in this respect.
"E PlurIbus Unum'' we women are
finding out slowly for ourselves, and are
following in the footsteps Of our stronger
brethren. The truth, if we could learn
TO run our households more as men run
their business, We should find more sue
cess attending our efforts, 1 am sure.
The same watchful oversight that our
husbands give to the details Of their
affairs and TO their employees, believe,
we should try to emulate.
Not only do we ask work of our help,
but do we not slso expect them to assume
responsibilities which are ours and
ought not to be required of them?
Many of our Eastern friends
and English cousins who enjoy the
luxury of paid housekeepers can we'll
afford TO occupy themselves exclusively
with outside matters II they desire,
visiting. calling, shopping, etc. But
we, in most instances, are forced to be |
our own housekeepers; and yet do we
not often absent ourselves most of the |
day rather to avoid than to know what |
our servants are doing?
Ii business men so managed with |
clerks would results prove any more |
satisfactory Would not populations oo-
cur, stock run down and frequent |
changes be In order? 'With nerves |
and temper all jingle2'
I've cannot let house-helppff at regu- |
lar hours daily, can we not give them an |
afternoon out during the week and their |
Sunday evenings. And while we may !
insist upon reserviug the exclusive right |
TO our front door and the front of the /
house for ourselves and our friends can |
we not give a girl her own room-the |
kitchen and the use of the dining-room |
when not otherwise needed.
Lastly, why may we not bestow that |
kindness and human interest in their /
lives which they are expected to have In
ours, and thus. without sacrifice of self
respect, receive that voluntary consldera-
tion aud respect which is most valuable
when freely given. Z.
The many valuable remarks and sus- |
Restions on domestic service in last Sum-
day. GAZETTE wers read with much in
tsrest and appreciation by at least one |
of many in Egyptian bondage" in this
city, who can testify TO the fact that said |
service Is in truly an "unhinged" con-
dition with us. According to my obser-
vations and experience this state Of af-
fairs has been brought about by variety
of causes Cor faults) attributable to both