The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04

According 10 our nEthO:, tho trst result Of
this tentative Investigation Is tie conv!rtiuu hat
an cisor; must bo mado ~ remove tl"m domestic
service tho social stigma a;tarhcd lc l.. Ills
well known that, during tho fcu'al period. every
occupation was considcrrl inferior so,ia1lv'o
that OF warfare. Physicinns were lrcrhcs. r,cr.
syjncn were held in disrcpite, blukoI- we're
Insurers, Hna merchants and traders were iOl.
Grated only hcca,sc they could furnish tho
ready money necessary for military campaigns.
Social position belonged only t. the pro.
fcssion Of er'ns. The substitution Of higher
ideals :or those Of frrdRlism and the spread "
Democratic ideas have removed the social Ian
from every occupation except domestic service.
Industrial and social evolution ,oint TO It's ulti.
mate renewal from this employment also. A
second outcome Of the inquiry is The conclusion
that ways aud means must be found of tAkin.
both work ond worker out OF the house OF he
employer. The effect of this change would
manifcstly he IL simpliication Of household
inanaH cmcnt and n greater .lcXibility OF
household employment. Ii would take out of
the household n cumbersome. unNriClGy machine,
long since become antiquatcd. To cxcmIliiy
what is meant, we are reminded that il is Hossi-
bio to arrange II series of mechanical routri-
vances operated by electricity that will enable a
person to open any window OF door in his house
without rising from his chair: nj the saline time
~ ls tp u AiNs 'tpa' " oI'h - iih' wv
such IA system than it is to keep the b%atteg.,- IN
running order. A rctinuc of employee il a
household may he compared to a complicated
mechanism used 20 attain simple cnGs.
For every employee taken out of an en-.
~!loycr's house. fcxibility is impaired 10
household employment, since the rcsul, 10
greater personal independence and a larGcrtc.d
:or specialized work. As things are, an amli-
tious and energetic office boy is pushed Oh Ay
his employer into more responsible positions.
but the domestic employee is held back by im-
possible barriers. As domestic service is 40
present managed. industrial promotion is in
possible. 81 suppose there must be a screw
loose somewhere or a man OF his age would not
be my coachman.' said a lawyer recently in re-
ply to a question concerning a new en-
pioyee. Thu industrial barriers within
the occupation now under review must
be removed before domestic service will attract
large numbers OF capable. Trustworthy persons;
this can hc at least partially accomplished Nv
taking The employee out OF the house and allow
ing him or hcrtn bccomca self-rclian,, indcpcnd-
cnt business person; 1t. is also suggested HAT
effort an the part Of employers themselves torut
domestic service on a business hasi-. We arc
black smith 10 lie repairc1. or hires = mason as
bookkcCpcr. or a lOngshorclnan as surcr!n'ent.
ent OF II mill. or a hod carrier as floor walker.
yet. practically, a Thing no less unreasonable
is done when "A housSkecncr employs an mex
pcricncct young woman as Sc imSIrcsS. installs
a girl fresh from Germany or Scandinavia as
cook. takes a tenement house woman into her
home to care for her table linen and bric-A-brac,
and then adds to the incongruity of the situa-
ton by payinc high wages for such unskilled
labor. Thc author Of this book thinks that
some agreement must he reached on the part
of employers in regard 10 standards of work and
wages before domestic service can be classcd az
skilled labor.
In line with the proposed effort to put domcs-
tic service on Il business basis is the suggestion
that some arrangement should be made Tor
Notwithstanding. The author points out that only
where there is absolute equality. when employer
and employee stand on the same business level,
can anna bility OF manner and n spirit of helpful,
ness on the part Of the employee be prevented
from being interpreted as springing from a
desire TO curry favor with the employer. Not
until the domestic employee feels he has no
reason TO court tho favor of his employer for the
sake of uossible pcrquisitcs will he be sclf-rcspeCt-
Ing. and therefore entitled TO respect from 9th.
Crs. The practice in many private houses OF
Substituting employees BY numerous and va'Ua-
bic gifts is as snbycrsivc OF the best Interests Ot
I'll concerned as Is the giving OF fees in hotels.
II fosters subservicncy rather than response
hility. and creates dissatisfaction among Tho
employees in families whore the custom does not,
and. perhaps. cannot prevail. Proft-sharinS.
on the other hand, appeals not 10 selishncss. but
20 Intelligence. and has IN II elements that tend
10 make the employee a sclf-respectins man.