New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-17
THE, SERVANT-GIRL QUESTION
WHY NOT SUBSTITUTE MEN FOR INCOMPETENT
CHAMBERMAIDs AND cooKsl''

WHY NOT SUBSTITUTE MEN FOR INCOMPETENT
CHAMBERNAIDs AND cooKsl
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Cir. In these days of ambitious effort in the
trades and professions. when women are asserting
their Intellectual and technical skill and success
fully rivalling the men In their pursuits, ,here "
one field that lies fertile to the advenurer OF the
latter sex and promises abundant reward II faph.
fully titled I allude to cooking and general house,
work II "spry" and able young men VIII turn
their attention here, they need never rear nara
times and can laugh in the face OF panics Ihey
can be assured of grateful employers, unfaiilns
work excellent wages and homes during life or
good behavior II they marry they can still retain
their positons while their wives do type-wrting.
or condescend 10 wther patrons from behind
Slxth-ave. counters.
An unthinkng person might smile in dorison AZ
the suggestion but to the thoughtful there are
many obvious reasons why skilful laborng men
should tit themselves for housework Men, as
rule are patient. methodical. prompt and docile.
Your hired girl is not. She is impatient. scorntul
OF details procrastnatng and impudent Men are
keenly distressed II for any they are obliged
to change situations frequently. The hired gfi -
uneasy il she has not smashed crockery III SIX %
eight different kitchens In year. The laoorng
man Is an early riser. The hired girl Is amuses
at the alarm-cock, and only winds 1t that II may
give zest to her morning nap. The laboring man
takes pride in his utensils. oiling polishing ana
protecting them; he skilfuly tends his fires ana
cleanses his floors, whether they be those OF
a stable or a palace-car. The female domestic
smuggles her pots and pans all rancid with GREASE
into closets grimy with old dust. She smothers the
fires with Goals. and serves up dinner MAJ,
raw. while she mathematics the range ara
blames the butcher. She is not on good terms WIN
the broom and by a process of evolution her
drabble and smutch become croton bugs ana COCK
reaches Many rich houses employ men cooks: al
the hotels there few others besides. The men
found 10 be better cooks, more attentive 70
details. Like Hamerton's French cook, they find
the perfection of the art TO lie in the mutual in'
nuences of ingredients and the judicous manage.
ment OF heat"
There Is only one step from these great Kitchens
10 those n, smaller houses. and only another step
TO other household work besides cooking. To TINS
COMPLEXION must we come at last, for the inen-
cheney OF the female servant Is really disruptine
American home life. To live in ones house. ,ous
to so out of 1t for meals. Is becoming the en'o's~
fashion OF thousands.
Except to skilled workmen the average wages OF
laboring men Is small indeed Hundreds IN etvssly
large town do not get over 81 "A week out Oh " me-.
they must pav house rent in salualld apar,Nen'SS
and keep o family. Should they learn 10 coon anu
sweep. and do laundry work, they wonla nd. m,,n
plenty TO eat. and better average wages and ~
unfaillnS succession OF days, and months, ans s
years In which to labor regardless OF tarin re''''
Doubtless this suggestion may have its droiI
side some. but ii Is offered In good ialth az 80
one promising solution Of the servant-sr, lussSx
ton Hundreds of thousands OF def. neat-nanus1S
young men OUT OF employment at present, an'
Just as many homes are harrassed with incohTw.
inmates are taking their meals abroad. IN -
mend the householder and the artisan 10 ioos
IL viii ansur success. GEORGE T. WEIGH.
Passaic n. j.. Oct l.. 1898.