Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-21

when the evening work is done, and return
bright and early in the morning. In their
little cabin homes, where there may be only
one room for the whole family, they enjoy
themselves as they did in the old plantation
days. This is their taste of freedom and
only extra pay will induce them to forego it.
But Backward, turn backward, oh Time,
In thy flight is a vain prayer 1t is no use
talking OF the old days, when the home was
the only sphere of women, and when they
were perforce contented to do domestic
work.
The tendency of working women is away
from domestic occupations. They are as
deeply In earnest and as absolutely bent
upon equal rights, independence and get
ting money as men were when they clamored
so vigorously and successfully for the estab-
lishment of Jeffsrsonian democracy But
they may find perhaps, as men have done,
that being free ami equal does not abolish
poverty or make the cares of life less bur-
densome. But nothing is mare evident at
present than that working women propose to
steer clear of the kitchen and homework
generally. In no field of labor to-day is
there more demand and less supply. A
husband with board and clothes tempts
many to engage in it, who would scorn to
work out in domestic service. A capable
woman, however, can make more money at
such work than in almost any other trade.
ONE THAT'S INDEPENDENT.
We have such an one in mind who has
enough money saved from her years in serv-
ice to give her a comfortable living. She
"lives out" now six or eight months in the
year with high wages, and when she gets
tired, or wants holiday, she lives on the
interest Of her money, and, as she says, is
"beholden to nobody"
The problem ia pressing and must be
solved before long. Housekeepers now are
almost at their wits end. Cooperation has
been proposed and is being tried; bringing
over Germans and Swedes is urged, but the
law against alien labor would probably
prove snag; establishing a bureau to Sc
cure colored servants from the South has
been talked of and seems feasible, if they
could be trained. But the housekeeping
trouble IS about as bad in the South as it is
in the North. Skilled service is what is
wanted the world over, and such is as lack
ing among the inhabitants OF the cabins
away down South in Dixie as in the bogs of
Ireland, while the iull wages of competent
hands are demanded by those who cannot
make a decent cup of coffee, set a table,
wash the dishes without chipping them or
perform any other service capably.
THE DIRECTIONS URGED.
Not long ago saw in a paper a report Of
an interview with factory girl on the sub
ject o. domestic service. Her first objection
was that girls did not like to be "bossed''
by a woman. They preferred, it would
seem, to be subjected to the arbitrary rule
and sometimes insolent arrogance of a fore
man or manager, and ''docked" or fined for
the smallest infraetion of rules. The next
objection was they were not allowed to eat
with the family. But why they should
deem this an indiguity or a hardship is not
plain. since they do not expect 10 dine or
tea with the proprietor OF the factory, or
mill, or store in which they may be en-
ployed. Do they not rather in such places
sit down in dirty room and eat their
luncheons out of a bucket, or a dinner bas-
ket, or a brown paper? Another complaint
was they were not allowed to entertain their
company in the sitting room or the dining
room OF the family. Do they exact such
privilege from the bosses of the factories,
the mills, the glass houses, where they
work?
However, there appears at present to be
no way of solving this perplexing problem
Of housekeeping If the working girls
won't they won't, and there's the end ont.
But it's a very long lane that has no turn
ing, and a way out of this slough of despond
will doubtless be found in course of time.
In the meantime it would be we'll for both
mistress and maid TO ponder over the lines
of Pope:
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,
Is PRIDE the never-failing vice of fools.
BESSIE BRAMBLE.