New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-11
THE SERVANT QUESTION.
MOST INTERESTING INFORMATION ON
THE SUBJECT.
SCss CLEMENTINA BLACK. MRS WALTER v.pr
AND MISS GOBLET GIVE SUGGESTIONS
AND STATISTICS

AND STATISTICS
- believe there is no single subject in which
women are more universally interested" said a
woman yesterday. who had lust run down from,
Saratoga for few days. and who was sitting in
one Of the parlors Of the Waldorf talking with her
friends. than the servant question II Is like
the phenix-everlastingy springng up from the
ashes Of the day before When older women
gather on the hotel piazza mornings with fancy
work or books. no matter what subject we may
start on. We are sure TO drift back to the same
old subject OF domestic service. II IS something
that every one OF us is vitality Interested Uneven
the woman wao boards and might be supposed
90 have no more care than the lilies Of the field
But long eat and drink have
our houses cared for and our various ways made
straight before that question OF how best to
have II accomplished is going 70 confront us. We
have discussed the subject in it's pros and cons
until 1t seems to me the subject hasn't leg left
10 stand on"
Don't speak OF IT," said a companion a prom-
nent club who is specially Interested in
Industrial and domestic problems. 1T is one OF
the questions we are going 10 take UP this winter
IN club. studying II from an economic stand
point. and have been 'cudgelling my dull brains
al summer 10 see what practical suggestions l
could present for the edifcation of our members
i have been looking up data the subject in
every direction"
You not alone in your interest" chimed IN
she third women. Just returned from London FOR
our English sisters much wrought up
the subject as you are Indeed. az the Interna
tiOnal Congress there was no subject taken up
which elected general attention than this
very one on the scientific treatment Of domestic
service. At the meeting which held in the
Great Hall Of 81. Martins Municipal Buildings
every occupied. and numerous women
stood during the whole proceedings in their desire
10 hear whether any solutions of their troubles
were suggested. Mrs. Louisa Martindae. who Is
an enthusiastic worker in the Womens Liberal
~iaI ~hafr fha GrGF nd
dress given by Miss Clementins Black, who
works on the Investigation Committee OF the
Women's Industrial Council
Miss Black said all painfully aware OF
their difficulties in this direction that it was un
necessary TO insist or their existence. There was
neither sufficient supply of servants. nor were
those obtainable good enough. She thought that
service was at a somewhat different stage OF ne
~elopment other trades. inasmuch as II pre-
served sti the feudal relationship and the
only calling in which an employer expected hose
engaged TO sleep on the premises BY compelling
this young woman cut of from si social
intercourse with her own people and lass. Ser
wants were not good because they we're called on
20 do work totally different 10 that which they
knew in their own homes.
There was an idea that every woman knew the
work Of house, but. as matter OF fact. Il came
as great surprise 10 many girls TO find thar sep
arate plates were wanted for separate courses. or
that hot water must be taken up 10 bedrooms
The fact that domestic service highly
specialized trade requiring proper training Not
many years ago the sick nurse ranked no
highly than the charwoman. but thanks 10 train
ing, her work had been elevated al honored and
honorable calling The character question. 100
prevented service from real popularity. and her
suggestion 10 that the esta biishnent OF
& responsible register for professed servants II
vas necessary 70 Try and meet the wishes OF the
class from which servants drawn and she
would say, encourage living out rather tnan in
nd afss he sta CT re nv rt1fri IN
1he same footing other trades.
Mrs W. Steads said that the root OF the evil
was the all the world over, and many mis-
tresses did not recognize that their servant
much themselves. From class
much serv lily demanded. She thought
that labor SAVING apparatus and outside help
would DO more and more 70 lessen domestic labor,
and as had given up making our cakes and
bread at home, doing laundry work
so organization would in time cIean plate
NURSERY NURSES
Apropos Of this il is interesting 70 note that Mrs
Walter Ward who started the Norland Institute
Tor training gentlewomen as childrens nursery
nurses presented remarkable paper al this same
congress in which said she would reserve the
resident posts in every household for women and
others who would give personal sympathy and
render service Of love. The actual labor Of .he
household must be done eventually by day labor
From this point she proceeded 10 discuss her the
openings for women Of the superior classes. Nut
should be treated as a matter altogetHer different.
apparently. from that Of domestic service as usU-
ally understood. She considered that the dizcity
OF labor and the joys Of serving were two distirct
vocatiors each of which would be recognized as
definite but differing careers by future gen--a-
ton Toward the carrying out however. Of that
Soy OF serving. she believed that one Of the most
difhcult tasks which would have TO be accomplished
was that Of the convincing and reconcilng OF the
men. Girls would never enter upon career which
was looked down upon by fathers, brothers and
lovers The vexed problem Of domestic service
would be solved when. and not until women saw
Ct 20 enter upon the calling as upon an honored
trade
This paper was the more remarkable since. while
Il pointed out an opening for women on the one
hand in the direction that loving service" Of
which the description sufficiently vague II
definitely indicated smut door upon the other
Brigham Young, who began her speech with the
remark that within the walls Of the home as well
problems Of hospital and labor the mistress repre-
'eHng ne one and the o ths OF the enigma
which is exercising the minds Of thousands OF
direction thus Indicated or possibly It's elucida,
ton manifest itself In that dd 6 os
idea OF the peoples kitchens esta bshei for many
sss eDe5 IN p, Berlin 5 needs CD o Of mdde e class
a report this same subject was pres ser s pS
Miss Collet 10 the labor department OF the Board d
Of Trade report important enough 70 have called
out exhaustive editorials from all the DIE Lond0n
dailies Some OF them, TO be sure we're d httle
quizzical In tone. but they showed thai there was
ABUNDANT food for reflection in her subject matt
The number OF and girls ernployeo az as, 90.
mestic servants in the United kingdom In Isst -
stated In The census returns l7BS3i. 50 that
domestic service Is not only the argest women
Industry but the largest single industry ioi e''"''
men
IN London. according 70 Miss Collet report ers
average money wages Of the women serVsri.s II a
little under so a year but this calcHIauon IN
rUdes In one class both the little LOOKING ,HiouuIv
"slavey'' OF fifteen and the well paid ana hlgnny
trained cook or housemaid in West Eno , Is.anIaS
was q somewhat barren one. II wac moie ~ ~,
structive according 10 the same paPe1r ~
that by far the greater number OF female serVa 5