The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-06
THE SERVANT GIRL PROBLEM.

vast deal has been said and written on what
Is called "the domestic problem" That problem is
one which according to the prevailing opinion among
those who are able to keep servants is beyond sou-
ton. 1t is constant subject Of discussion among
the heads of families, and grows more difficult to
deal with as the days go by The average house.
wife whose social position demands that she shall
employ one or more servants is at least in her own
estimation very sadly burdened by the fact She is
rarely ever able to the services of competent
and willing servants, and if she succeeds in doing So
they are sure to leave her about the time she is be-
ginning to understand their worth.
There is rarely serious effort made to reach the
fundamental underlying these difficulties
The current discussion in the press rises above
foolish satire at the expense Of the servant or
maudlin sympathy expended on the mistress Like
all other social and economic problems there are GER
tain principles of we'll defined application to it which
are completely ignored in considering it. There are
conditions applying to the problem, too which are
peculiar to it, and Of which little note is taken
by those concerned as if they did not exist
Why for instance, is it true that no really intel
hgent. independent selfrespectng, Industrious girl
will follow the calling Of domestic servant in the
cities of this country hour longer than necessity
compels her to do Notwithstanding that she can get
better pay and usually be better fed and housed
than she at any of the factory or shop employ
kind mentioned do not know what calling is best or
most agreeable most to their tastes or interest
or happiness to pursue Not at ALL If such women
choose other employment it is either because of
some advantage which the other forms of employ
ment possess or that they think they possess or be-
cause the employment of domestic service possesses
OF they think possesses certain disadvantages that
do not attach to the Others. 1t is folly to dismiss
the subject by saying, as most persons saw that
fhp (TiI1 hot Sf1J1T1 dOro
what is best for them Each free adult person even
domestic servant, must be permitted in this coun-
try at least up to the present time to be the abso-
lutte judge to what is most promotive of his or
her own happiness.
Mary Roberts Smith, the associate professor of
sociology in the Leland Stanford university, has
made most interesting and valuable contribution
to the literature Of this subject in the Forum for
August, 1t has the invaluable quality of showing
how little those know about the subject who COM
plain most concerning it. 1t shows how some little
information, at least, be had concerning it, and
1t will satisfy any intelligent woman who hires
servants unless she is altogether overcome by her
sorrows this score that the servant is by no
means the whole problem even the worst part of
It, .-.--.a ..,.
European social conditions may be fast reproduc,
ing themselves in this country and the "arstocratic"
tendencies of certain wealthy Americans may be
recognized as settled social institution Of the re-
principal features Of the servant-gr problem do
not sustain any such view. When even the daugh-
tiers Of European peasants are unwilling to endure
the personal and social conditions too often pre-
serlbed by the American employers Of servants, IL
does not speak well for either the present or the
future aceeptability Of the "aristocratie" fad to
plain everyday Americans.