The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-26

automatic machinery without human ssslst-
anoe. we question whether the moral loss
would not equal the gain In material comfort.
Il is very doubtful. too. whether the saw
ing under Mr.. LAyARD's plan would be as
great actually as he calculates on paper.
Restaurants OF the best class. providing
the meals for large numbers OF people.
and buying In the mass. do not charge
prices which indicate any such saving;
yet their prices must be as low as
they car make them TO get n hv-
ing profit, for the competition Is strong.
A cooperative kitchen Of equal quality
would have to charge about as much. for the
customary margin OF profit In the others
must be small. Moreover. the manage
ment OF q good kitchen for $500 people
would require a high order OF executive
ability. and such ability commands In these
days a rich reward.
Mr.. LAYARp's demonstration, according
ly. is not SO absolute as he supposes. we
had rather have the opinion and the esti-
mates OF Mr.. DELMoNIco or Mr.. SHERRY as
to the matter. We should also expect bet
ter results In the way Of economy from q
central supply kitchen run as a private en-
tcEDIlso bnuu IN ~ CoOpOia
The problem Of domestic service Is very
serious, of course. and in this country itis
more perplexing than in England. Inc
labor problem generally Is much comph-
Gated Mt this period. and In the house,
hold it is more troublesome than
elsewhere. for there the labor any
the capital live together under the
same roof. 1t Is as II n merchant
had his clerks. men II women. as mem
bers OF his domestic establishment. Inc
chances OF friction are thus Increased
greatly. Considering the difficulty and dell
cacy OF the relations between employer and
employed. domestic service goes on much
better than might be expected.
The supply OF domestic servants Ia much
better In this country than 1t used to De.
though they seem to have II greater dispo-
sition to change for the mere sake or
change, the opportunities for such women
to get new places through the intelligence
offices being many and easy. apparently.
This vagarious disposition appears to
be especially strong among the Scandi-
navians. 80 many OF whom are we'll versed
in their specialties. and more particularly
cooks. who come here already carefully
trained in their delightful art. But first
rate cooks. men or ONE are expensive.
Another feature Of domestic service which
renders It peculiarly liable to disorder Is
that it IL usually performed by women
working under the direction and the
constant supervision OF mistresses. The
feminine character on both sides ia
consequently put to a strain which
it Is not always able TO bear. SO great
and unceasing is the draft made on self
In both men and women the "a
pacity to exercise command under such
circumstances Is not frequent. and
patience under control, even though it be
irritating, as a dictate OF self-interest, Is
a usual merit Of the woman servant. 80
liable Is she to share the feminine ten
dcncy to obey the impulses OF the heart
rather than the Judgment Of the head.
The establishment Of Mr.. LAYARD's CO.
operative Kitchen would do no more at best
than decrease the household service. by
of the necessity OF the kitchen sup
ply. and hence it would not solve the
even II 1t were successful finan- |
,ially. unless. perhaps, the remaining
were hired as day laborers only.
going to their own homes at night. That Is |
The custom followed perforce In parts
Of the South. but it involves dis
and discomforts which most
people would not submit to willingly. An
other remedy might be the employment Of
men servants only. but they cost more and
hey are not adapted to many necessary
household duties. Besides. men are far |
more liable than women to got drunk. q
and terrible household infllction.
The circumstance that it is much easier to
men servants than women servants out
II employment indicates that women fulfil
no average requirements more satisfac-
pr!ly as a matter OF experience. There are
Intelligence Offices which charge nothing
o employers for furnishing men. but al
Ways exact @ considerable fee for women
1t is harder for q man than for O
woman to get work in New York.
That Mr.. LAYARD's pretty plan on paper
would not work so prettily in practice we are
onddent. He has not solved the problem. |