The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-05

RSDAY. MARCH D, 1891.
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
ABOUT DOMESTIC SERVICE.
Tho Responsibility or Mistress and the
Duties Of Servants.
will say at the outset that l find. on
the whole. little to complain of in re-
calling my experience regarding house
hold service. began my married life,
rs many young women do, in an unfor-
tunate ignorance Of the details OF house
keeping and Of the spirit which should
guide it. This was not because / had
not had ample opportunities OF learn
ing, but because my mind was strongly
attracted in other directions, and its
leading bent toward literary cndeavor
was allowed full scope by those intrust-
ed with my bringing up. At my start
in practical life / did not know enough
Of its rules to be aware Of my own de-
fciencies, and soon found myself slow
and awkward learner where ! ought to
have been proficient. So much of per-
sonality appears to me essential to the
showing OF what have learned regard
ing household work and those who per-
form it.
Perhaps / can not better commend
my lesson, such as it is, than by re-
marking upon the mistaken kindness
which, in . well-to-do family. often re-
ieves the young girls from all partici-
patton in domestic cares. Even if they
do not, at later day, pass out of the
atmosphere Of ease and affiuence to
which they have become accustomed,
they sustain positive loss in not know
ing how q household should be mounted
and governed. In many cases the occa-
sion for this knowledge begins with the
very beginning Of married life. It often
comes also through the vicissitudes Of
fortune which are common in most COM
!, munities. At any rate whether In
easy or in narrow circumstances, no
family can have its due share of COM
fort and enjoyment without the care
and attention of some woman Of heart
and intelligence. l have learned to
consider the position of q loved and hon
ored guardian of household q happier
and higher one than that Of q leader Of
fashion, or a phenomenon of talent and
accomplishment. 1t is indeed true that
the domestic virtues may be combined
with charms and graces which most en-
bcllish life, but where the latter are ex-
clusively sought, and the former neg
lected, the result will be In no sense
admirable.
would have every young girl per
form as much of household labor as is
necessary for the right understanding
of its various tasks. How can she or
der any thing rightly done If she has
never done it? would have her work
unit. she has learned to respect the
work of others, and not to speak with
ungentlc contempt of any department
of domestic service. Would it not be
well if to this end semi or post collegi-
ate course should be instituted as an
adjunct to the higher education, and
degree conferred upon its successful
! graduates? / can suggest two Of these.
Those Of the first year might be termed
! Hopeful Neophytes-H. n; those of the
later. II. E.-Household Experts.
| Keeping might do mneh tn mitigate the
fierce dislike Of service which keeps
| American girls out of our kitchens and
nurseries, and gives them over to the
care CT aliens. To be blindly ordered
| by an ignorant mistress who does not
know enough Of what you have to do to
explain what she commands, in case
you should not understand it-this
would certainly be q relation of discom-
fort to both parties. To be trained to
skilled labor, on the other hand, by one
who herself understands and appreci-
ates it, would involve no lowering Of
self-respect, no superfuous discomfort
and fatigue. When see, as often do,
our American girls dcteriorating in
health. and not unseldom in character,
through the experience of the shop and
the factory, l feel deep regret at the
/ thought of the refined and well-ordefed
1 homes in whose comforts and good in
fiuences they might SO easily be sharers,
their service being to the right-mindcd
an occasion of respect and gratitude,
not Of supercilious patronage or fault
\. finding. do not know whether we
can hope that this order of things may
change. but am sure that, whether in
regard to foreigners or natives, better
Ristresses will make better servants,
and generous and just disposition on
the one side will do much to insure a
willing and able response on the other.
think, then, that the defective train
ing received in the first place by the
housewife is the originating cause Of
much that is complained of in the con-
duct of domestics. The results of this
imperfect education are two-fold, viz,
the want of adequate understanding OF
what is to be done and ordered, and the
to do it, growing out of ignorance con-
cerning the extent and value of their
labors. On the other hand, it must be
confessed that the faults of domestics
are often very trying. From my own
experience should say that grave Of
fenses among them are much less COM
mon in these days than they were
twenty years ago. mean by these, in
temperance, dishonesty, and disreputar
| BILE connections. ! remember, in my
own early housekeeping, to have been
4 AAAASs
ing my cook drunk and disorderly.
This trouble, think, is rarely expert.
enced to-day. The temperance reform
has made progress among Catholics as
well as among Protestants, and its ben.
Gifts have become appreciable in the
ranks of household help. Instances OF
glaring dishonesty are. ! think. rare
among Irish servants, and equally SC
among Germans Of respectable belong
ings. A want of concern for the inter
ests of their employers and want OF
reasonable care of their property will
still be found to be common traits
among those who serve in families
And this leads me to say that the price
of peace and good order in the home AZ
well as in the State is eternal vigi
lance"
The constant need Of oversight &C
much complained of in domcstics is less
the result of any evil intention on theil
part than of q want Of mora
energy and resolution. The spirit o.