The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-08-29

But what are the difficulties with
those already engaged IN domestic
service-the great class of foreign
ers who haunt our kitchens? ? Prin-
clpally two. First, they do not
know how TO perform properly the
work now required IN our homes !;
and, secondly, they, as class, can
not or will not be taught. Their
utter irresponslbility, their utter
Indifference about retaining their
places, the impossibilitv of hold
ing them by any contract and con
sequently Of enforcing any rules
or discipline, the usual entire sep
aratIon of their interests from
those of their employers, all com
bine to make them a foreign and
llsintegrating element in family
life. 1t is mere waste Of words to
say that il the mlstresses only
knew how to instruct and direct
household servants the difficulty
would be overcome. Those among
rnislresSeS who have The most diff
fculty and whose experience is the
most discouraglng, are those who
know exactly how to perform all
the operations of household work
thems Ives, and who are willing 10
spend time and strength in teach.
ing their servants how to do these
things, if teaching once or twice or
Il dozen times were the end of it.
But il has passed into proverb
among clever mistresses, that just
as they have succeeded in training
a servant to perform her work III
a satisfactory manner, she either
marries or goes off for higher
wages and easier or perhaps for
more svsiematized and specialized
work. Her favorite time for leav-
ing without notice is just after she
has been paid in full till date;
and the mistress who has III a gen
erous moment thus settled the
wages account, leaving the ques-
lion of broken china and bric.a-
brac for future consideration. most
frequently finds herself, without
redress, left to take in new re-
cruit and reconcile herself 10 the
loss of china as best she may.
II may throw light even upon
This diseOuraging aspect o observe
that there are conditions under
which these difficulties are met
and overcome even in domestic
service. These conditions are
found wherever domestic labor is
employed on large scale, organ
lied and syStematized ; and, para
doXical as ii may appear, nearly !
all domestic servants prefer to |
work in an organization. 1t is a
well known fact that hotels and |
of all kinds where the
work is specialized and systema-
tized, can obtain donesticS with
far less iliiculty and for less wages
and can control them with far
more success than The private fam
lily. This is only an illustration of
The fact that domestic servants are
and Influenced by The
spirit of the age, which rebels
against submission TO the dictates
Of the individual will, but submits
Freely to The despotism of an organ
zation. In large part the insub-
ordination of domestic servants
arises from a growing feeling of un-
TO be directed and gov
.rned by The individual.
And, lastly, in so far as The diff
,ulties lie on the side of domestic ,
eTYants, the conditions Of work ,
ire mol in accordance with devel- ,
,plng human nature. Human ma :
ure loves TO work in company, in :
companlonship. The :
servant is a solitary
worker without such companion !
hip during her hours of toll. !
Whatever interests she has, lie !;
wholly in a different direction !
rom those of her employer. To =
Iurrv through her work, so as TO !,
.et off and join companions of her =
wn class, seems to be increasingly !,
he motive OF the modern domes- !;
ic servant and hence arise all the :
ifficuIlies about "days out" and :
spent the mistress knows d"
Iot where. All attempts to en- !,
nrce rules about hours and times !,
nd seasons, usually end in an in !,
nrmal parting between mistress !,
nd maid, aud The mistress almost r
lways in such an issue coming !;
ut second best. /
And on the part of the mistress
S of the homes of to-day, where
10 he chief difficulties heg First, l
n The fact that modern social life c
makes so many demands upon ed y
cated wOmen-mOst of them in .
he direction of refined social !
Ileasures or of associations for in D.
ellectual improvement or for ben
ficenl and philahthrOpic work I
hat the time necessary 10 super J.
Use the kitchen and The servants
i to-day cannot be gwen Without ]
N almost entire REIMBURSEMENT of ]
he pleasure and benefits Of refined
nd educated social life. If the ?
Iousekeeper Of to-day has little I
hildren, her task is already more {
han any but those Of the strong I
81 physique can endure. fhe e
are aud nurture and training Of {
title children Is an occupation q
hat should be vaned only by rec '
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