The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1890-12-05
A DIFFICULT PLACE TO FILL,

fet Good Homo Is Open to a Refined
Woman Who Cnn Swallow Her PRIDE
1 have recently been visiting in a family
OF means, whose household machinery
grinds noiselessly under the operations Of
well trained corps Of servants, yet there
is niche in that household waiting to be
filled by tho right person, who never pre-
sents herself. The dear old grandmother
is feeble and deaf and sees but dimIy, yet
quite able to minister to herself except in
case of sickness.
As companion for her, confined as she
is much OF the time to her own room, is the
place that some homeless one could fill 1t
does not seem hard to adjust this matter
easily, nor would it be if the English sys-
tenn OF upper servants prevailed in this
country. But it is a serious thing to take
into an American family n person of this
sort, for servant docs not exactly fill the
desired place, though she may DO an cx-
cellent waiting woman.
Some one only of gentle manners and OF
thoughtful ways, with good Judgment and
understanding, and with a sweet, clear
voice in reading as we'll as speaking, would
I'LL the need required. And such some
one who does not expect to take her meals
with the family is hard to find. Confessed
that she may be in all respects quite rs agree
able n table companion as the ordinary WIS.,
ltor, still it does not argue that it is u feel.
ing of pride which wishes to exclude her
from these daily gatherings together of the
family circle.
1t is no little matter to think of, day in
and day out, year in and year out, for who
shall say how long, to bring an outsider
to form one of the family party. In
many a family, as in this one, this
thing alone prevents home accom-.
panied by very light duties being offer
ed TO the needy. We are glad to have a
visitor with us for Il month, it may be;
that outside presence only brightens the
festivities at table We submit for the
semi-annual two weeks to the presence of
the family seamstress, but it is a very ur-
gent case when we are willing to take
stranger into our very midst for time indef-
mite.
More than this, persons who would ad-
mirably meet these qualifications are
usually found among nurses, and for the
lew attentions and gentle ministrations
that in less busy day and generation
daughters and grauddaughters found time
to attend to themselves the wages of
nurses arc much IN ore than even rich fam
lies would wish to pay. Fifteen dollars 4
week is a sum most people are unwilling
to eNpend, except for absolute value re-
ceivcd; moreover, the dictatorial position
undesred in such Il posi- tion as am speak
ing of. #@a#
Look at it from another point 1t is
useless to deny that the problem Of domcs.
tic service in America has not been demon
strated to any ones satisfaction. If the
right person were found for such posi-
ton, who, calmly and considerably judg-
ing of the difficulties that lie in the path of
all who must earn their own living, pro-
posed to take her meals apart from tho
family, what Il revolution there would be
in the kitchen. The cook would leave, the
laundress would decline to do servants
washing, and the waitress would very sulk-
lily carry meals to the poor nondescript
up sttlirs.
What feasible plan is left? 10 fill such
positions (Which ought to be the refuge Of
the poor and homeless "who have seen bet
ter days') with the best servant care can
find, or for that poor and homeless one to
make it understood that she expects to take
her meals with the other domcstics There
is no other solution to this matter, und
there are hundreds of good and lovely
homes awaiting those whose good sense
:an bring them to this view of the CASE
Thcresn Dean in Chir3rn Herald