The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-27
The Servant Problem and
A School of H0usekeepir 9

The servant question, which Is frequently
presented in the comic supplement OF the
newspapers by illustrating the recommend
atoms being requested from the mistress OF
the house, by the girl in ques-
ton, can now be treated more seri-
ously since .-.ere is an increasing belief
nat one way to solve the servant problem
for employers to meet employees hall
ay, and learn in their turn to be trained
ousekeepers
With growing city like Birmingham and
the perplexng servant question less solved
every day, a reform in domestic service is
greatly needed. The establishing in BIT
mingham of a school of Housekeeping would
result in great measure towards SOWING
the servant problem. Such an institution
has been established by the Womens Ed
ucational and Industrial union OF BOSTON,
which put into execution last year its plan
for a school of housekeeping They began
by taking two connecting houses, using one
as boarding house for ladies visiting Bos-
ton alone, or living alone; the other TO be
occupied by a certain number OF girls, VINO
were given board, lodging and instruction
in all kinds of house work free, in return
for which they gave their services and Sc
cured their finishing touches by doing the
work of the boarding house adjoining. A
northern paper, in explaining how the
school is conducted, emphasizes the teach
ings of the school as showing the need OF
a scientific treatment of the domestic prob
lem and that housekeeping is a science and
housework a trade. In the school in Bos-
ton ten employees are received for training.
They carry on the work of the house under
a skilled housekeeper and cooking teacher,
who is a graduate of the Boston Cooking
school. A diploma from the school insureS
to the graduate a position through the
office of the Domestic Reform League.
In addition to a series of lectures for
employees, given by well known experts,
and the opportunity for laboratory Work
which the house affords, special course
of training in housekeeping has been ar
ranged, and limited number of employees
may, during a six weeks residence in the
school, learn to keep house by practice
and observation.
That the graduates of the School of
Housekeeping will be prepared TO make
good servants is attested by the following
list of requirements, in which they must be
perfect before receiving a diploma:
Every graduate must understand the care
of the range or stove, or sinks and drains,
of kitchen, cellar and ice chest must know
how to make bread, biscuit, mullins and
griddle cakes, soup stock; be expert in
roasting, boiling and broiing meats, dress
ing and cooking poultry, eggs fish and
oysters, cooking vegetables, fresh and
canned. and making tea and coffee and
pain uSSSSrtS,
She must also understand washing and
ironing, general care of bed and table linen
and clothes, care of bed, toilet and bath
rooms and hardwood floors, also the care
of dining room, silver glass and china, care
of parlor and halls, answering doorbell and
all such services.
The girls are not received under 16 OF
over 30 years DID, and are required to re-
main as students al the school during
full term of instruction of not less than
four months, and their apprenticeship is
served doing the work of the connecting
boarding house. They thus not only receive
theoretical instruction, but. what is far
more valuable, practical experience in all
classes of homework.
Not the least interesting part of this ex-
pertinent is the boarding house where these
girls receive their finishing touches. AS
they are trained to be domestcs who will
receive the highest wages paid for such
trained service, the house they care for and
the family they serve are perfect in all
their appointments.
Such an institution in Birmingham could
be established under the auspices of the
Womans club, one of Its departments in
Guiding in it's work a school of domestic
science, in which girls and women would
be taught the rudiments of cooking and
housekeeping and the duties and the diff
ference In those duties of mistress and
maid.