New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-15
THE SERVANT PROBLEM.
AN ENGLISH WRITER PRoNoUNcEs 1T
"PREPOsTEROUs"
m coUNeELs THE HOUSEWIFE TO MOVE
AMIcABLY ALONG WITH THE REST OF
MANKIND AND TO SHOW
MORE CHARITY


1T seems preposterous." says Allan ogvie in
late number OF The Westminster Review" that
In this age OF supernuous women the servant
oimculty should exist at oil. That II does exist.
and to an extent imperilling the welfare OF our
household gods. nay. the maintenance o. home
life. IL. fear. painfully sels-evident
'fany amongus have hitherto been exempt from
the cold contact OF this experience. a chat with
ones acquaintance or the perusal o. the adver-
tisement column Of any newspaper Will put the
matter beyond doubt. and prove II TO lie beyond
any powers may possess OF exaggeration.
thousands OF women crying In vain FOR en-
ployment! Thousands Of housewives pleading IN
vain for assistants TO tighten the tasks that
burden their shoulders heavily, On the one
side supply and no demand: on the other hand de-
mand and no supply There is discrepancy
somewhere; II IS the work OF the reformers 10
discover and remedy such discrepancies
IT those excellent persons would put the same
amount OF energy into their own business that they
waste in undons the attempts .. other people in
the same direction what progress the world might
make In less than half time, But the retormer
OF to-day Is apt TO confuse his mission with that
OF the busybody ne prefers picking holes to patch
ing them. OF the work IL easier and
pleasanter. as II involves sort o., responsibility
So the most crying needs 60 crying on. ard are
likely to continue doing So until Since Provi-
dence helps those who help themselves II is the
sufferers who will have find their own remedy
I'VE have given up asking for servants who
efficient in their duties We are satisfied. nay
grateful. for the cooperation OF any respectable
person who offers 10 90 mental work at all It
requires no master OF logic 20 draw the Inference
that some discrepancy must exist between what is
required and what IL offered that is not at first
sight visible TO the naked eye"
In considering this discrepancy Mr.. Ogilvie de-
clares that the secret OF the whole question les
IN the fact that IN England young woman be-
t. "a p1a~t ot,n
must be certified beyond doubt respectable
This depends upon the bare assertion Of her last
employer. who may be actuated by malice, blinded
by rage that magnfes a molehill OF indiscretlon
into mountain OF transgresson. moved by passing
annoyances a sense OF injury or Induced by the
best motives perhaps. 10 form wrong judgment
hasty word. spoken in a moments Irritation.
may rankle IN a bitter mind until fair estimate
Of the unlucky one who gave Il utterance becomes
impossible: O harmless act OF folly. 10 which young
and old alike sometimes prone. is conjured by
a suspicious and imaginative brain into the guilt
that danns
Small wonder then" he says. that many re-
spectacle girls shrink from having their repua-
tons so carelessly banded when they see their
friends, as innocent maybe as themselves. dis
missed characterless and compelled 10 seek en-
poyment best they can; 10 ne driven. perhaps.
astray by the unaccustomed contact with evil or
by the lowered estimate o. those around them.
II might be well to proceed a little further and
inquire whether since the frailties Of our nature
are well known-we being OF course. aware that
some o. our maids are giddy and others addicted
to petty larceny-!t would be quite outside the
limits o. possibility for the FIRE o, our moral In
dignation burn Itself out before II has altogether
consumed pity FOR those untortunates whose
sin. to use familiar phraseology. has found them
out.
Dive deep into the recesses OF your mind house
wife" cries Mr.. Oglvie and recall Mary. now
wandering homeless In the streets for want OF a
character: think OF The years OF peace AMI plenty
you enjoyed while she was In your service why
housekeeping pleasure then. and whai q con-
scientious and reliable cook she made Think now
long II t. since you have eaten meal that was even
palatabe, :,
DO you never in your wicked moments feel dis
posed 10 do violence 10 your sense or duty. ana
answer her last frenzied appeal 10 give her one
more chance Do you ever ponder carefully over
the words Forgive US our rretpasses as we forgive
them that trespass against US
And Jane, who the means OF bringing the
children safely through those bad attacks o. scarlet
fever sitting UP with them night after night. soOth-
ing them with unwearying patience and solcitude.
DO YOU really believe that false step OF hers has
had the effect OF changing her entire nature her