New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-26
THE srpvANT-GIRL QUESTION.

Does 1t pay fo- person Of moderate income 10
keep a servant. or. In other words. AZ what saia'y
&c Il right and Just for domestic help 10 DE EN-
ployod are que .tons that pr sent themselves !"
various forms 20 thousands Of young housekeepers
this season.
,boueaud elusive arguments Will present them
solves TO the socially ambitious young woman of
email means which Will seem To prove that shc
must employ servant. The only question: no" =
ever 10 be considered IS whether the inc"in" OF
the house is large enough after inc family mas
boen furnished with house rent. food and other
necessities 10 allow for maid OF all work The
ex,rereIv limited income on which some young
wives decide II Is proper for them TO delegate their
household duties to n servant rs frequent cause
for sorrow among Older and wiser people who are
their friends and see nothing In such eHUaNa-
gahce but household shipwreck.
Ono OF the most deceptive arguments that tempt
the young housekeepcr TO employ servant Is the
fact that n servant for a week can be employed al
wages almost as low washerwoman Is PAID Tor
a couple Of days TO do the washing ana ironing
This is not correct. though II seems 10 ne go -
IL true that the wages OF " StiNa''' ~ ,b a,,os
os low as 50 n week or 81 month ana the wages
OF "A washerwoman for Two days weekly Is 81 or -
a month. almost as much; "a" COST -, !, NM, 'gos
all work s not represented. however by her wages.
hut also by her weekly board and the waste or her
management. An efficient elderly w"nnh VINO h
washes irons and sweeps for two Gays can oe 90
e eaimTS f be found r. nd at IS s2 az month
At the lowest calculation IT costs 81 weekly TO
There are a great many refined families IN New-
York City who are compelled to I've on an income ,o
OF 81 2.0 or less No family can aIoru 10
suend over one-ffth Of It's income TOT thr SChnt
convenience and inferior help OF the mhn VIM
commands sl2 or 81 month. Such servants are
not skilled and cv"n n they were the PERCENTAGE
~ tho income which their services call Tor Is 100
large I'm many cases these servants refuse 10 90
the washing and ironing because they can easily
lind paces where they can obtain Ignter WORK.
The work OF a small fiat may be made hsht hlter
n competent washcrwOman has been employer
,uo dnvs With the help OF this worker half n day
for "A day FOR ironing. ana nan u ddS
fCr washing windows and sweeping all the house,
no work OF any fiat Of moderate size can be done
correctly and without any more work than a
healthy able bodied young woman should DO.
II is as much the duty Of young inirreh
woman who has no income Of her own ana maiflcs
a man Of limited income to DO her work as IL ~
for her husband work for tho support OF the
family Household wreck comes when the duties Oh
either wife or husband are neglected. our young
ncople are far too reflccnt before marriage about
The yays and means Of life. II IS not an uncommon
thing for young people In this country 10 marry
with an indefinite understanding or the financial
affairs OF each other. There should De clear UNI
derstandlng OF everything. II the young woman
rescnts the necessity OF work and expects to be
maintained M an ornamental and not as pract.
cai worker In the partnership OF love and life. II
should be clearly Understood before. and elderly
friends should their influence to prevent the
misery and ruin that likely TO follow. IL Is
right and lust that should be delicate IN inter
ferng IN such matters but II Is equally FOOLISH 10
settle 50 important matter az marriage purely
IN sentimental grounds and ignore the practical
ways and means as so many do.