New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-27
DOMESTIC SERVANTS NEEDED.
HousEKEEPERs ADVISED TO ENCOURAGE
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION.


FOREIGN IMMIGRATION
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: II Is a standing complaint OF every amer
can house wife that she finds 1t Impossible 10 Cd
tain good domestic servants. The question Oh VI"
tanning good and efficient help Is thorn IN 'he
flesh Of every housekeeper who Is dependent OF 'n'
help Of others. The servant girl evil aHr''s n"'
only those who are In moderate circumstances pu'
equally as well the rich and afiuent VINO can al
ford 70 nav liberal wages The average servant IN
this country Is extremely independent lie or Sne
demands good wages but at the same time Is ohIS
willing to perform the very minimum OF worK thh'
is required. There Is civil service In our "ho'e
domestic system II IL rare. indeed that a COOK OF
maid Will remain in domestic service for any length
Of time STE desires change and new SURROUND
ings stated periods. whether or not she Is sa,'s
red with her place The result OF such condition
OF affairs is that the American household rn"s'
suffer in consequence. Every housekeeper II ~
the mercy OF her cook maid. and trembIes Al inc
thought that the tyrant Of the household VIII leave
her employ on short notice. 1t Is An undeniaDi'
fact that much ~ the domestic unhappiness when
prevails many Of our homes Is due IN larse
measure. to the incompetency and unrehADAH'y VI
the hired help II Is generally acknowledges "a'
the best servants to be found in our homes come
from Europe or are OF foreign extraction Espe-
cially is this true OF domestic servants VINO Ior
eome time have served in foreign households Inc
European servant girls. especially those VINO come
from Germany and other northern countries. are
thoroughly trained by their employers TO 90 any
work required OF them. Furthermore. domeeuc
abroad is under municipal control FOR she must ~
a regular time In the wear obtain registry pooH
IN which the employer notes the name ana time Oh
service rendered by her servant No servant can
obtain a place unless she shows this book 10 mel
employer The result Of such Aystem ~ that
avery servant passes through a regular training
school and Is filled with feeling OF responsibility
from which che cannot escape. ,on -, Co,
II - probable that at the present session OF ton
prrss a bin will be laid before that BODY 70 Iut
nor restrict immigration one OF the main ied,uie
Of me proposed measure Will re an educalohhl 'est
which every Immigrant Will b. required 10 pass De
tore he or she will De allowed 10 enter ms couiy
To cia as which comes will b" more affected ny
COW, a large part Of the immigration coming -"
our shores According TO the last report or ne
Commissioner Of immigration. sel COOKS ana -,,of'
servants arrived at the ports OF the United states
IN the last wear Many OF those could not Icad OF
w-ite and under educational test wouId nave
heen debarred. Certainly. the ability 70 fead or
write ,s no guarantee that "A person VIII make II
GOOD domestic servant but. on the contrary ~ has
,irdonbiedlv been the experience of fhousahns on
that the best servants IN their employ
were unable 10 read write. Therefore. II shouIu
he inc duty OF the women OF this country 70 'ssu"
an earnest and emphatic protest against, me Iui
Their restriction Of immigration. as ~ VIII .depilve
them Of the valuable help Of thousands OF %nose
work they are much In need hrHbr'N'
CITY