The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-25
TIE SERVANT GIRL PRoBLEE.
It is Long Way from Being Solved
Yet

O.
BROOKLYN. N. Y, Jan. 24-There never
was time in our domestic history when
skilled labor was so much needed in the
kitchen, and never time when it was SO
hard to obtain. There seems no way of
successfully dealing with the problem, for
all the time young girls who might be pros
vided with good homes and good wages in
the best of families continue to drift into
our shops and fac.ories, where their work
is ten times harder than it would be in these
places. But they object to the word SER
want, and their pride rebels at being
obliged to wait upon table and being SUBJ
jected to the dictation of q mistress, and
yet in nine cases out of ten they have no
privileges in the places they choose
to fill, and too often are
shamefully treated and abominably
overworxed. They have their 7enings,
they tell us, and this seems to make up for
many annoyances and much private u.
While it is true that some feminine heads of
families draw the line pretty taut in regard
to going out evenings and forbid all 'fol-
lowers" l do not think that such rules
would be enforced or even exist in the
cases of women skilled in their work and of
dignifed and self-respecting habit. |
should like to see the mistress who would
presume to tell such help that she could not
attend lecture or a concert or go homo
and see her mother, provided the helper was
all that she ought to lie. Ii she wished to
be overhearing in such way, her fear
would restrain her. Capability is very
rare, and American housekeepers realize it.
Ny reason for taking up this subject is
the hope of inducing my readers to add
their mite of influence to persuade the girls
who are domestic in their tastes and who
can cook and who are capable of this much
needed lninistration to overcome their foul
ish pride and use their talents In the proper
way.
81 love to cook and do housework," a girl
who is working herself to death in pati ern
factory told me the other day, land w uid
rather be in nice ciean comfortable kitchen
than anywhere in the world, but never
could abide mistress" aud yet as turned
away to speak to another slave heard the
overseer say, 'fLock here, Maggie. you'll
have 10 cut truer than that or shan't 10 We
you any more, and that means skip, you
know
1.-The BRUTE" she whispered, as 1 passed
her to 60 out, her face scarlet with mortif
cation.
but you like the master, Maggie, and
can't abide the mistress" / replied.
The few girls that / have coaxed into
good homes and have remained in them,
have confessed to me that their prejudices
were entirely without foundation, and that
back to the shop and the solitary hall bed
room. Sometimes it appears as tn ugh the
world was full Of women wanting situa-
tons as housekeepers. ] am sure | have
been applied to hundreds Of times, and
want to say right here that such positions
are exceedingly scarce, and that while
willing to be of any possible service to the
honest workers Of my sex | cannot make
such places for their occupancy, and l wish
thnX WOnl1 ha a fha
futility of their hopes II such direction.
A couple Of weeks ago l was visited by a
person who sent up her card, upon which
was written in good hand, "A lady who
wants work to do"
did not like the ''lady." 1 always pre-
fer woman, and felt pretty sure as / went
to meet her that / had struck snag as
usual. have always found the word lady
in such connection "a bad give away" as
the boys say. However, would not allow
myself to be prejudiced by this little word,
and / must say that / was very much
pleased with my callers appearance She
had the rosy robustness which is so fascinat-
ing and so uncommon. Her teeth we're
splendid, her dress neat and tasteful, her
voice splendid, her speech correct. But
my heart misgave me when /
found that she sought the position of
housekeeper. She knew all about the diff
culties In the way of obtaining such place
she had been looking in vain for two
years-but she was very domestic in her
tastes, was a capital cook, knew all about
preserving and the management of general
and particular household machinery. She
had now reached the end Of her resources
and, in her desperation. had come to me.
told her that could do nothing for her as
housekeeper, but that bad friend who
would be delighted to employ her at first
class wages. Her family consisted OF her
self and husband, and they had delightful
home in one OF the pleasan!est parts Of the
city.