The daily critic., 1890-12-12
TRg DOnFSTIC SgRYIcR pRnRlrn
Deductions Made IN its STUDY from, "a
lenrllah stnnhrnirt

Deductions Made IN its study from "a
English Standpoint
The domestic service problem has OF
late been widely discussed and plan.
have been suggested, the adoption of
which, It is claimed, would improve
existing conditions In many households.
says the Philadelphia Record. II has
I undoubtedly been too much the fashion
/ to- look upon domestic service as some.
| thing which condemns those ENGAGED
/ IN ii TO an isolated life, while also le.
| priving them Of Independence. viror
| and the opportunities OF observing biob
| standards Of action.
The domestic servant. we are told ts
tyranuiztd over by the bnd mistress
I ard regarded with apprehension IN not
with suspicion, by the ordinarily welI.
meaning mistress. Sometimes how
ever she may find patron, but rarely
friend. such are the disadvantages
OF This peculiar station in life; its ad-
Vanlages are only superficial, for
servant merely learns TO be clean, Do
ilie aud ouiwardly refined, and is with.
out lne none OF bettering her condition
except by marriage.
IN recent magazine article Miss NJ.
T.. Benson takes different view Of this
question, and, although she treats 10 from
AZ English standpoint, her deductions
have a wide and general applicability.
After putting in a word in favor of the
mistress who tries 20 do her duty bv her
servants, she combats the statementt that
the calling is matter of necessity. ami
not'of ChoiCe-the last resort Of those
WHO have hunted vainly in an over.
crowded labor market for some other
opening, and have been forced to earn
livelihood IN whatever way they NAV.
Nor does It follow that In taking sery
ice girl becomes an exile from her
family resiGning the natural life Of close
and Intimate relations with them.
Country girls must leave home for
want OF accommodation; and when
they 60 to o city it makes little differ. |
ence to them whether they are In bust. |
ness or in service so far as intercourse !
with their families Is concerned. ToCn 4
girls almost invariably refuse to 20 TO 4
places which are not within easv dis 4
taRce of their homes; and thus thew
TO see their families frequently.
When the argument in regard 10 the
tendency TO deterioration Of character
produced by domestic service is con
sidcred, IL must be remembered thai
zach sort Of life has its special tempta.
lion, and that domestic service is not ex.
7mpt from this law. 1t may be true
hat cleanliness, politeness and refine.
ncnt are only surface virtues, but they
IRE the symbols Of much more-of a
discipline Of life which Is one Of the
most necessary aids TO the building up
u worthy character. If a woman
las learned TO employ selfcontrol 10
hings Indifferent, she Is far on the
vay TO employ Il IN matters which she
,uows to bo Of vital importance.
Looking at the whole question. no
ue viii deny that domestic servants.
Ike every other class Of human beings
ave a harder ilme Of IL than thew
ught TO have. BAD mlslrossUs havei.
: their power 90 iuillot much suffering.
aroless mistrtsses do worse sim: ani
ven the best iutcutioncd are often ]
aniing In consideration for the indl
dual, when dealing with their
rvants
Yet as Miss Benson says. Il l. no
nall opportunity 20 have the lives of
many OF the country's future wives
ld mothers bound up so closely with
her lives that II becomes right aud a
ny 10 see that all the conditions shall n
favorable 10 their development ami
ppiness, while at the same time they Il
tain their independence.