The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-02
THE SERVANT-GIRL PROBLEM.
1t is one Of the Most Troublesome
Questions Of the Day.
The Woes OF Some Housekeepers
Who are Hoping Against Hope.
Remedies Proposed In the Interest of
Greater Earthly Happiness.

$50 you wish me to tell you something
about this servant girl problem do you.
young man?"
The speaker who thus addressed the PRESS
reporter was model housekeeper of middle
age and mature experience, who lives in
comfortable home in the western part of the
city, and is noted among all her acquain-
tances for her scrupulous devotion to the
household deities and her perpetually vigil
liant solicitude that the domestic machinery
shall move along smoothly.
young man, can tell you of this prob
lem out of the depths of my own grief and
confusion" continued the lady with har.
raised look. up to last Wednesday had
been without girl for three months. had
looked everywhere, and could not find one
who would come and do my work for love or
money. inquired of all my neighbors and
OF all the servants of such CT my neighbors
as were fortunate enough to have them. I
sent my husband on tramping expeditions
around this town until feared that should
ALLEVIATE his affections. Then l went my
self. Finally found girl, rosy-cheeked
and demure. 1 hired her at once. She
came Wednesday, and determined to cele-
brate by having the family washing done.
The girl put the clothes to soak Wednesday
night; and the whole household looked for
ward to prosperous wash day on Thursday,
But if you will believe me. on Thursday
morning that girl came down stairs with hat
on head and shawl on arm and marched out
of the house without word to anyone. l
have not seen or heard Of her since. l am
still without agirl and the clothes are still In
soak"
"You want to know what remedy would
recommend for this state of affairs? On
dear don't know. think the legislature
ought to attend to it. If only could vote it
might be DONE"
Pursuing his inquiry, the reporter called
next upon the family of another of our lead
ing citizens. Adelicate, pleasant-faced little
She, too, had had her troubles. "You see,"
she began. II tried to get a country girl at
first; but found there were none to be had,
as the farmers daughters consider house,
work disgrace. Then tried bureau.
whom they recommended as kind and v i'll
ing My patience! viii you believe that
that girl did not even know enough to come
down flight of stairs They evidently had
no stairs where she was brought up. The
first morning she was with me found her
coming down stairs on her knees backward.
As for general Homework, she did not know
80 much about 1t as she did about coming
down stairs. have not had the courage to
try again."
can be remedied?" asked the reporter.
II think something ought to be done to
change public sentiment, so that girls born
In this country will not think homework
disgrace. suppose 1t would be very diff
cult to do this. But perhaps If homework
should be taught in the schools in such
way that girls would feel that to manage a
house well Is something of fine art, they
might feel differently about homework as
an occupation. This would work benefically
in In two ways; It would encourage thesssrgirfs'
likely to feel the necessity of Ssif1g out as
servants; and would teach tk6se girls lIkely
to become the employerrsr0f servants that the
good servant y SSUfthy Of considerable treat
ment. My<husband laughs at the idea, so l
snn21p0so II must be foolish"
> At the next house the reporter was met by
a tall woman Of imposing figure and forceful
vants?" said she. 81 certainly am. have
had an excellent servant, but this week, just
when my house is full of company, the girls
father took occasion to die. 1t was the most
iuo perfume time possible. But | have had
to bear it as best may, and am doing my
own work. 1 cannot speak on the ques tion
with eguanimity. have no remedy to pro-
pose. 1t is case Of general unreli ability
beyond help"
At the next house it was evident to the re-
porter that the woman got along we'll with
her servant. 81 have no trouble with my
servant" said the meek mistress of the man
sion, although 1 did until found out how
to manage her. When she was recon-
mended to me found out one of her pecu-
liarities. A neighbours servant told me of
q a r rQ a nf DIR frct-
rate of girl, but she won't scrub" was the
recommendation. / remembered this, you
see, and when there has been any scrubbing
to do have done it. also give her three
afternoons of the week, and sne has the par
lor for her callers. The result is everything
moves smoothly and Bridget takes real in
terest in the establishment. You would
almost think she owned 1t. think people
would have less trouble If they would treat
their S. rvants with more consideration.
Ringing the bell of a large and elegant man.
sion on one of the finest streets of the city.
our reporter was met by the man of the
house, a thin. nervous individual with a fur
tive air and voice of despair Servant
girls! he echoed. We have had six in six
days. The experience has made my wife
fairly sick, and guess it will drive me
crazy. Remedy! know of none. l only
wish we could return to the days of the
primitive Christians"
By this time the reporter felt that he was
unearthing large amount of domestic
misery without attaining any satisfactory
solution of the problem Of reform. But he
determined to make one more trial, and en-
tered the nicely kept grounds of the home of
a lady known among her neighbors for her
good sense and practical philanthropy. She
admitted at once the difficulties of the prob
lem, although In her own home. she had SO
managed as to have very little trouble with
her servants. There is unquestionatly
lack OF competent servants" she said.
There are two reasons for this. The girls
who are by home training often best fitted to
the homes of others consider homework be-
meath them, while those who are willing to
do 1t are too often VIGOROUSLY incompetent.
1t seems to me that everything would be
better If many of the country and city girls
who are working hard at scant wages in
stores and shops would bethink themselves
of Homework instead. They would or
ought to find good homes, have work really
easter and get pay that is, all things con-
sidered, more remunerative. l know the
shop girls and those who are working in
stores will take offense at what l say, and
consider it proposition for them to sacrifice
their social position. And am sorry to say
that there Is reason on their side. am
afraid that the girl who does homework In
this city Is not ranked so high socially as the
girl who stands behind a counter. l think
the women who employ servants are some
what If not wholly responsible for this
Many of them treat their servants in way
that make the poor creatures feel that they
have hardly title to their own. souls But
[ think servants would compel more con-
sideration, even from the most supercilious
employer, If their skill and attachments
we're such as to make them more indispen-
sable. If servants could be put more in the
position of skilled Iaborers it would have a
better effect all around. This, it seems to
ne. might be done by means Of the estab-
ishment of training schools for servants.
IN these schools girls could be taught cook
ng, sewing and all the economies, little and
Dig, which are so essential to good house
Keeper. Graduates of such school would
higher pay and more considera-
ion, and in turn would elevate the standard
# their calling. The main thing is to change
public sentiment so that better girls will go
INTO the work. ANY means that will do that
will solve the problem. Unless public senti-
nent changes we must go on in the same
Id hating and imperfect way, unless chance
hall turn loose up0u our shores some strange
lew race, whose young women shall have q
enius for homework and seraphic temper"