The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-03-04
in WOMAN'S BEHALF.
ABOUT DOMESTIC SERVICE.
The Responsibility of Mistress and the
Duties of Servants. f9

Will say III Tue OuISet tiidb uHti, ou
the whole, little to complain of in rel
calling my experience regarding honse-
hold service. began my married life,
as 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 endeavor
was allowed full scope by those intrust-
ed with my bringing up. AT my start
in practical life l did not know enough
of its rules to be aware of my own de-
fcieneies and soon found myself a 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 a well-to-do family, often re-
lieves 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 atiluence to
which they have become accustomed,
they sustain positive loss in not know
ing how household should be mounted
and governed. In many cases the occa-
sion for this knowledge begins with the
very beginning of married life. 1t 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 it's 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 a loved and hon
ored guardian of household happier
and higher one than that of 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-
bellish 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
until she has learned to respect the
work of others, and not to speak with
ungentle 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 a
degree conferred upon it's successful
graduates? can suggest two of these.
Those of the first year might be termed
Hopeful Neophytes-H. N; those of the
later, H. E.-Household Experts.
Some thorough instruction in house
keeping might do much to mitigate the
fierce dislike of service which keeps
American girls out of our kitchens and
nurseries, and gives them over to the
care OF, 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 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 deteriorating in
J health, and not unseldom in character,
through the experience of the shop and
the factory, feel deep regret at the
thought of the refined and well-ordered
homes in whose comforts and good in
tiuences they might SO easily be sharers,
their service being to the right-minded
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 il
regard to foreigners or natives, better
mistresses will make better servants
and a generous and just disposition or
the one side will do much to insure 9
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
want of consideration Tor those who are
to do it, growing out of ignorance con
corning the extent and value of theil
labors. On the other hand, it must be
confessed that the faults of domestic:
are often very trying. From my owr
experience l should say that grave of
lenses among them are much less com
mon in these days than they were
twenty years ago. mean by these, in
temperance, dishonesty, and disreputa
BILE connections. | remember in my
own early housekeeping, to have beer
much disturbed more than once at find
ing my cook drunk and disorderly
This trouble, l think, is rarely expert
enced to-day. The temperance reform
has made progress among Catholics az
well as among Protestants, and its ben
efits have become appreciable in the
ranks of household help. Instances O
glaring dishonesty are. think, rar'
among Irish servants, and equally 81
among Germans of respectable belong
, ings. A want Of concern for the inter
ests of their employers and want O
reasonable care of their property viii