The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-08-29
HOUSEKEEPING OF THE
FUTURE.
BY HELEN EKIN STARRETT.

The uncertainty, perpleXity, and
even real distress that surround
the housekeeping and onle-keep.
ing of to-day, are temporary in
their nature, and are due mainly
to The fact that we are III a Iransi
lion period. The economic law OF
organization Of labor is rapidly eX-
tending its workings into every
department of the worlds work e,
and is at present particularly ac-
tive III the direction of what we
have been accustomed TO regard
as he domestic industries. As is
usually The case, lie first effects of
the operation of tins law are con
fusion and destruction, while the
old is being di,inl egrated and
abolished 10 make way for The
new. But 10 those whose expert
e!ce and observation of life are
deep enough aud broad enough 10
enable them 10 perceive that our
present confusion is only a pant of
The evolutionary process every
where at work in society, the lu-
ture Of The domestic arrangements
of the home is full of hope and
promise.
First. as 10 servants. However
numerous The causes assigned for
the difficulties of housekeeping, all
agree thai the principal difficulty
is found IN the incompe tence, in
subordinaliOn, and irresponsibility
Of that class whom we name do
mestics. The very fact that we
denomihate them by The words
''class" and Servants" gives the
key 10 the fundamental difficulty. |
The man or woman who expects |
that in any country where educa-
ton and opportunity are free 10 all,
any intelligent and cOmpeni work
ers will be content 10 remain in a
class, and that class a gtigmatized
one expects in vain. 1t is singu-
lar how widespread, even among /
good and intelligent people, is the
10 grow indignant over
a statement of this kind. With
flushing checks and elevated
voices they will declare such
principle Is wholly wrong; that
domestic work in The household is
just as honorable as any other
kind of work ; and that the young
woman who has her own living TO
earn, and yho is not willing to earn
il by going into a good home and
doing the cooking or laundry
work or second work" for a good,
kind, respectable family, deserves
10 starve. They will adduce The
'act tEat the young man who has
his own living 10 earn does not
hesitate at beginning as Office boy,
sweeping floors, kindling fires, and
performing all The menlal work
JertaIng to such a position. The
lusxer 10 all this is the facts in I
he case. No matter who is TO
blame; no matter how much So
'leiy is denounced for making
uch distinctions We all know
hat TO start rs office boy affixes
10 stigma, nor does it in any way
)ar the upward progress of the
'ouih toward the possible goal Of
partnership in the finn; while The
lille or occupation of servant
cirl" is bar sinister which no in I
diligence or faithful performance
# duty can ever remOve-at least
cannot in the present cOnstilu- (
ion OF society. People who dis
.uss this singular fact will assert
hat it is not IN the nature OF The
work performed that The difference
les, The Office buys being just as
nenIal and disagreeable rs that Of
he kitchen girl. No matter where
he difference lies,-and where aud
Why II lies, The writer hopes to
how in this paper-ihe iacis are
tubbOrn dic;alors 10 parents who
AVE sons and daughters. The pa
enf, however rich, who SAYS, "My
on shall, il necessary, begin on
he lowest round Of The ladder and
earn and work up in a regular
is regarded as sensible
md iudici0us; the parent, how {
.