Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-11
WHO WILLSMAYW0RK
No Lack of Remunerative Employ
ment for Girls in Need of 1t.
DUTIES AND WAGES OF DOMESTICS.
A Hotel Housekeeper Discourses Entertain
ingly on Subject
OF GREAT INTEREST TO ALL WOMEN

In her own handsome apartments at the
Hotel Duquesne yesterday afternoon was
found Mrs. G. Walsh, the housekeeper,
and intelligently upon domestic service and
the salaries paid therefor. The lady herself
is decidedly prepossesslng, and inclined to
take an optimistic view of life-and why
shouldn't she? Beside having lovely suite
of rooms placed at her disposal, which are
taken care of for her, her meals served in
her own little parlor, and her laundry work
done free of charge, she receives $40 month
for her services as housekeeper. Having
been in domestic service for the past 20
years, and occupied positions in private res
licences, as we'll as In hotels, she is authori-
tv on the subject and understands all phases
of it.
''To become professional housekeeper,"
she said, Zone must have liking for the
duties, and must have experience-that is,
if success crowns her efforts. Many, thrown
upon their own resources, without having
any definite knowledge of the work, at
tempt it only to make signal failure.
Eternal vigilance and constant war against
dust and insects are part of the pro-
gramme in housekeeping establishment,
whether large or small, and the system by
which the whole is kept in perfect order
must be as methodical as that in any count
ing house or business Office.
MUST KNOW THEIR DUTIES.
Each girl must undertand her duties, and
perform them without loss of time. For in
stance, the cleaning girls are the earliest
risers. At $3.50 A. M. they are ready, with
plenty of fresh soapsuds and their scrub
brushes, to brighten up all the tiling In the
floors, and remove from the Office and the
dining rooms all traces of soil from the pre-
ceding day. The head cleaner receives S13
a month, and the others S11 month. That
portion of their labor must be completed
before the business of the day commences.
Then they keep in order the windows of
the hotel, and about once month go
through all the sleeping apartments and
the parlors, giving them thorough clean
ing that makes the labor of the chamber
maids much easier. Ny assistant and my
self alternate rising early to superIntend
that branch of the days work.
'After that the chambermaids commence
work with the halls, and from them go to
the rooms vacated by the guests, putting
them in order as rapidly as possible. They
receive $40 month.
'In the laundry, all of which is in my
department, the head ironer gets $15 and
her assistant S14, while the others, not so
expert, receive S13. The starcher receives
S14, and the girl who attends to the washsng
machine the same. The linen room girl
receives SIS month, the kitchen girls are
paid from S15 to $40, and the pantry girls
from SIG to S18, which,s of course, with
them all includes board and lodging.
WAGES IN FAMILIES.
'In a private household a really good
cook has no difficulty whatever in getting
from $40 to $25 a month, with man to do
all the heavy work and a girl to assist. The
chambermaids receive S12 month and the
laundresses S25 as a rule, though some
ladies pay considerably more. Mrs. West
inghouse, for instance, always pays her
laundress $50 month. A housekeeper in
private family usually receives from $50 to
S35, but they are in great demand, and
when one proves herself efficient she can
command more and receive 1t, too.
Nursery girls receive from $12 to SIS,
and a nursery governess more. Some girls
are very ambitious, anxious to improve
themselves and do their work nicely. Others
simply work to draw their salaries. In
this, as in every trade or profession, there
are the busy bees and the drones. But for
good household help there is always great
demand and appreciation. Women will
pay surprisingly large salaries to competent
domestic maids, and consider themselves
lucky in getting them, but they have no pa
tience with incidence and Incompetence.