Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-03
THE DOMESTIC AS MISS"
MARY r. Smith In August Forsim.l


It ID one Of the extraordinary incon-s
siBtencies OF democratic society that
the dressmaker, the milliner, the shop
woman may demand certain respect
full treatment, while the waitress and
the cook must accept the treatment
accorded only to menials. Much OF this
is explained by the traditions OF feudal
servility, from which nearly all classes
of labor except household service have
been emancipated. "A deeper cause.
however, Is the liking of human nature
to command its interiors. Women, es-
pecially, do not want intelligent equals
to serve them; they want an inferior. q
servant, not an employe.
Compare the attitude OF the business
man toward an employee and the atti-
tude OF the mistress toward the serv-
ant. Because there is this indef1nable
social stigma attaching to service, In
telligent, self-respecting women shun
it-because self-respecting women shun
1t, the social stigma increases. Cause
and effect are reciprocal. The fact Of
social inferiority Is expressed In many
petty ways-by the use Of the Christian
name, by the requirement Of livery
when not on duty, by servile manner,
and, more than all, by the social isola-
ton. Every other class has Its amuse-
ments, every other girl her opportunity
for suitable marriage; but the maid
servant must go out of doors to be en-
tertained or to be courted. Some of this
Is due to the low social standard of do
mestics as a class: but much more OF 1t
is to be attributed to the notions of the
mistress. The social ban extends to ev-
cry stratum Of society; the petty
tradesman Will marry sewing-girl,
shopgirl, tailoress. but not q "hired"
girl: the working-girls' clubs admit
all kinds Of respectable women to their
membership except the domestic. So
cially the domestic is tabooed, ignored,
slighted by every class except the day
llaborer.
We are accustomed in the United
States TO think that social distinctions
are OF consequence only among the
classes where wealth. breeding, and
education set the lines Of demarcation.
The fact Is. however. that the lower in
the scale of intelligence the more sharp
lly marked are the lines and the more
conventionaLthe Judgment. Who is to
change all this? Doubtless the maid
herself, by efficiency, dignity. and good
sense can climb to the upper grade OF
| her own class and may attain to the
society of sewing-girls and working
families Of established position and rep
utation. More could be done by the In
telligent mistress toward elevating the
| equality and character Of domestic
service by respectful recognition OF the
maids individuality and inspirations.
| 1t can cost the mistress whose social
position is a known quantity, nothing
| but sympathetic appreciation. nothing
hut the effort of putting herself In the
other woman's place, to help the maid
to a place somewhat above the lowest
! In the social scale. Would 1t In any
1 wise lower the dignity of the mistress
/ to call the maid Mrs" or Miss? Is
there any logical reason why the cap
and the apron should not be removed
as soon as the work is done? The po-
Iliceman, the conductor, the porter. and
the waiter doff their unifcrms so soon
as work Is done; yet some mistresses
Z require the maid to wear her livery or
4 the street as sort OF badge of servi-
tude. But more CALLING than all is thai
attitude which is commonly called
keeping her in her place." by which II
lis meant to say: Let no one suppose
that this person has anything in com
mon with mel The atmosphere of con
descension is more intolerable than an,
livery or any cognomen. This atmos
iphere is created by the employer ant
can only be dispelled by her. II the
employer treats the domestic respect
fully, other people shortly will do like
l wise One maid objected seriously t.
being called by her first name by every
butchers and grocer's boy; her mistress
Iappreciating this sense Of self-respect
referred to her in the presence o.
. tradesmen as Miss ." Within
three months the maid was Miss" II
J all the people with whom she dealt.