Telegram-herald., 1891-05-17
GAIlIY ON HIRED GIRLS
Why shops aud Onices are PILED
With the Gsntier SEX.
DglRIH OF DESIRABLE pONESTlCs
Aad Hoo it h Csass.s--Girts Was Rus
tns eAstis-OsAnssad> aud sssiss
sn - . " ssk--Are ths Chiasss
To solve the Faxzis-

.
calling as one OF menl4l seryllity rather
than as an avenue Ia which to earn an
honorable livelihood. Tins idea, whetn-
er true or false, has led - the condi-
tons nov existing. Ii IS Al lncontFo-
vertlbie fact that the glrls OF the period
do not direct their energies toward &C
curing skill IN cookery The kitchen
and pantry, the broom and washtup,
bring 20 them spasms OF uneaslnesa, II
not OF horror. Regardless OF environ
ment and circumstance, the modern
girl, as soon ~ she has acquired a
smattering OF English, either aspifes
10 the dry goods counter, the once. the
factory, or the stage As natural Sc
quence, every merchant mas roster or
female applicants for positions, every
lawyer and other persons requiring
light assistance are overwhelmed with
pleas for preferment by female stenog-
raphers. typewriters and copy .sts. every
factory employing women and girls has
a pile of importunate applicants, While
the offerings for the stage are innnmer-
able. The only demand for female help
that remains unsupplied is the demand
for domestlcs. All other channels are
DOT Only ktuttctt ots viz
risen To = Hood and from that hood the
the wreckage of fair names, the ruin OF
bright girlhood is appalling.
False and Mischisvous.
The girl who has acquired the nim-
bleness of finger 10 operate the type
writer, the skill 10 transcrlbe words AT
almost lightning speed, looks upon
housework as debasing and humilist-
ing. The girl who has measured sateens
and fitted cloaks regards scrubb.ng and
securing as beneath her stately import
ance as queen of the yard-stick and
tape measure. The girl who stands At
the bench or machine and piles up be-
fore her prettlly trimmed boxes tpef-
baps hats or garments Of clothlng), en-
terlAins feelings of utter disdaIn for
the wash-board and scrub brush. The
girl VINO has fitted on and Oft the stage
before fiickering fcotiights but orce has
closed TO herself forever the entrance
TO the kitchen and dining room. What
wonder 10 II, then, when out OF employ
ment, that such IS these should drift
into . channel the end Of which is dis
honor, To the girls who thus abhor
the work that IL was ordained they
should 10, il were far easier to enter
into life of sloth, around which is
thrown the assurance OF secrecy, than
to earn their livelihood honestly, albeit
modestly. IL was not. is not, the pur-
poss of this article To show how the
cradle of vice is recruited from the
ranks OF the proud-spirted girls who
aspire TO genteei work, although they
invariably tall victims To the wiles OF
crafty employers of female labor. Yet
IL Is q Iamentable fact that the aban-
doued women o. today come most
largely from the ranks OF the genteel
and semi-retined, who. out of employ.
meut. submit to disgrace rather than
bake bread and wash dishes. IL was
rather the intention to cali attention 10
some of the existing conditions and the
annoysnces experienced by those who
are compelled To hire domestic assist
ance.
Ia~xp~rieuee aud Ignorance.
As before minated the glrl with
Moderate intelligence looks beyond the
kitchen and laundry for employment.
This leaves the field of domestic en-
plOyment open TO selection, on the
part of Housewives, either from foreign
born girls or from girls whose know
ledge of household work is confined 10
the scauty surroundings of their own
homes-many times hovels-always
haunted by the spectre of comparative
want. Their training, therefore. has
been OF q character not at all calculated
To inspire the housewife with cent?
dence, nor sharpen the appetite OF the
master. However, from these recruits
the kitchens are supplied Much pam
stalking and care are expended to in
stfuet the new conner. she is taught
the intricate art OF transforming sodden
dough INTO fluffy biscuits; of con-
strueting toothsome sweetmests from
from conglomerste masses of sugar eggs.
lard and milk: of turning ~ an appetx-
ing brown the meats and food. she is
also invested with the mysteries OF
baking powder and compressed yeast
From cellar TO attic she 10 introduced
to every nook and corner of the house
and at the end OF several months
acquires the skill and sdaptstility
which constitute her valued servant.
Having become of practical value sine
asserts her Independence of master and
mistress IN ways calculated 10 impress
them with the ides that she IS the chief
factotum of the household.
she Rams the Ranch.
Fcrgetful of her obligation for in
struetion, she first demands an increase
of wages: then she insists upon stated
leaves Of absence, the right 10 enter
tam her GAMERS in the front parior, or
on the lawn IN the hammock; she must
he excused from work on holidays, cir
Gus days. Sundays and for each stated
ball or party IN her own peculiar set.
She adds 60 her arrogance indifference;
~ indifference. impertineBce, and 70
in,psrtneuee sssertlveness. until finally
the master aud mistress must ABIDE her
own sweet will. She leeds her relatives
in the kiehen and with her best fellow
usurps the most desirable place on the
porch or else sweils the ts1tal OF the gas
h,i 10 alarming proportions IL 10 not
t,pe before an advertisement appears
from that family "Nanted--A compe-
tent Girl for general homework snd
the apprentice passes % another place,
generally a hotel or boarding house.
There can Ne bus one solution % this
uu<x,e Either intelligent girls must
shautss,r stpre. office aud factory -
rarruft the kitchen or sooner or later
toe cclony plan viii be adopted BY
families requiring domestic servants
The colony plan = SIMPLE sns effective.
IL concentrates the consolidation OF
toe werx Of several families INTO one,
where reiisbls male help employees.
Several families unite info enc circle
whose lauEsfrY. eooking and etssef
housenogf werk are eoalm sted ~ the
management OF one SET Of dofnsstlss.
The wosk = 80 adjusted that greet %