The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-25

The Demand for female help IN house.
hold work is greater than the supply IN
Seattle, and the same complaint - made
even IN New York There u much COM
plant. too. OF the quality TO be had. and
some housekeepers have been writing TO
the newspapers complaining that the girls
offering themselves are not 20 good as
they were some years ago.
This may not be true: II In the expert
ence OF many housekeepers that there has
always been . great scarcity Of compe-
tent domestic servants, and that the very
high wages they were readily paid caused
a demand for similar wages by the incom-
petent. The trouble has always existed in
some degree; ana the causes are worth
considering as much In the interest Of the
girls themselves as in that OF the en-
pIoyers.
Few girls receive any training for house
hold work, although there Is as fine field
for good management and competency in
that occupation as in any for which girls
are fitted. Some girls who work for others
have a natural adaptation for household
management. as some mistresses have,
but the greater proportion OF both need
training which they never receive. All
that they know is learned by experience,
and that not too inteiligently directed.
happiness OF q home depend upon good
management that there seems to be good
opening for systematic training. Schools
OF cookery have been established. but
they are usually too much of the diet
tants order, devoted to dainty dishes. des-
Matchmaking. What In needed is q train
ing school at which the average kitchen
duties should be taught. OF no less con-
sequence IL q class at which the other
branches Of Homework should be mas
tered. Few men are capable OF undertake
ing the management of 4 business without
training, and the conduct OF a household
is fully as important.
Much discussion Is had ,over the rela-
tons Of servant TO mistress and OF mis-
tress to servant, but it is wasted unless
each understands ner duties and respon-
reasonable IL they had practical knowi-
edge of the time required and the right
way In which the duties should be per-
formed. Girls would be more comfortable
and retain positions longer IL they were
better equipped for their labors. They
move about from place to place discon-
tented and giving no satisfaction: owing
their employment chiefly to the scarcity
of good servants and to the great demand
for them.
Girls thrown upon their own resources.
forced TO claim ability to do all that is
required of them. with no sort OF expert
ence, are not TO be blamed II they some
times fail In q task in which so few
women with far better opportunities suo-
ceed. The number of men who shuttle
through life. having started without train
ing and continuing without ambition, Is
greater than the number OF poor girls who
never acquire . mastery OF their duties.
They. too. move from one employment to
another. perfuncterily going through the
routine of their work. but having chiefly
In view the purpose OF doing as little as
they can for the pay they are to get
When the exacting nature OF q hired
girls work is considered. with their do
nestle education neglected until they as
sumo the function OF management. the
wonder is that so many Of them do SO
we'll Some day q philanthropist will
found q school OF domestic economy. and
then we may hope for method In work. in
tell'gence in COOKING, economy in material
care and cleanliness. but so long as the
present flipshod practice prevails there
viii be incompetent and disseminated help.
aud weary. respondent. worried house,
keepers