The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-10-03
SCHOOL 70 TRAIN SERVANTS.
One Writer Thinks This the OnIy Rem.
edy for the Present Situation.


Such a school should he well organ,
lied and equipped for the thorough
training of servants in all branches OF
household work. In the first place I.
houId have facilities for teaching Du.
pills how to battle properly, to care for
their OWE bodies and their own clothes.
1t should have different departments OF
training, one for laundresses, another
for chambermaids, another for wait
resscs, another for cooks and another
for general houscwork servants, the last,
OF course, requiring a special condensed
course. On entrance young wOmen or
girls should be classified as far as DOS.
slble, according to their general in.
telligence and ability as well as the EN-.
ployment for which they wish to be
fitted. The first work given should be
the washing of the kitchen-ware, the
sweeping of the kitchen. and the scrub
bling of the floor and tables-in short.
every pupil should be taught the work
of a kitchen maid. After that, even
though she intends to fit herself for q
special department, she should DC
taught to sweep and dust carpeted
rooms, and next to do plain washingan
ironing, these being among the things
which every domestic should know how
TO do well.
An ordinary dwelIing-house might be
utilized for the school. The basement,
which should be well lighted. could be
fitted up as a laundry, capable of &C.
c~Ommodating a large numl er of WON.
I, to be classified as they advance Ii
skill in the department. There must be
a head laUndress to look after thosc
under her, and inspectors to decide
when a roma is capable of promotion
In 4 city of 5000 inhabitants such I
laundry might easily be made self-sup.
porting.
The first floor of the training schoo
should be devoted to the cooking de.
paItment. 1t should have several kitch.
ems where women in different stages o.
advancement could work. under an cN-
pert leader. The different departments
IN cookery could be made s~clf-support
ing by having lunch counters where
men could 90 in with their Ginner-pails
and nave served to them from tn,
kitchens of the less skilled pupils hot
soup. tea, coffee and other plain food
while a restaurant of a better class
might he sustained from the work OF
those who were more thoroughly
trained. Another source of income
might be secured by filling orders for
special dishes, or for whole meals. Set.
ting Il table, washing fine china. and
glass, and polishing silver could be
taught in connection with the restau.
rant.
The upper floors should consist of {
parlor and various apartments. where
servants could be trained in cleaning
busting, Misunderstanding. care oi
lamps and all kinds of second work.
From this department servants couiG
be sent out by the hour or day to sweep
dust or act as housemaids.
With the training given in this way
a thoroughly competent laundress. i.
she were Il fairly industrious and intel
ligrnt worker, should be graduated il
perhaps six months. After the frs
month she might be paid a small sun
for her services. The cooks might also
begin to have small wages after the
first month. AZ least two years would
probably be required for a cook TO be
thoroughly trained in every branch OF
her work, from caring for her range
to doing fine cookery. Those who show
special capacity should he trained L
take the whole responsibility of plan,
ming and cooking elaborate %luncheons
and dinners. as well as in the mastery OF
economical and healthful cookery for
everyday life. Wages should increase
with gain in skill. The cook would find
compensation for the longer course in
the high wages which her certifcata
would enable her to demand. The time
required for training in any department
would depend upon intelligence and
ndaptability.
The certificates given by the training
school should be proof of skill, com.
petence and integrity; they should stats
exactly what the servant is fitted to do
and they should be SO conscientiously
given that a housekeeper might rest az
sured that she knew exactly the capa-
bilitics of the servant. Throughout the
course earnest effort should be made tc
impress upon the pupils the idea OF
moral obligation. Servants should be
made to realize the dignity of their
work. and the important part its faith
full performance plays in the happiness
and health of the home, and so of the
nation. They should be taught that
their work is as essential to the moral
and physical well-being of humanity rs
that of the teacher, the doctoror the min
lister. and that it demands just as much
unselfishness and conscientiousness.
In this connection it might be well to e3-
tablish a training school for mistresses
and other members of the family, that
the idea of moral obligation might not
be all on one side.-Carrie Niles Whit.
comb, in Century.
Her Dog as Baggage.
\ young lady with a pig dog tied up