The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-07
HIRED GIRLS IN ALL AGES,

HIRED GIRLS IN ALL AGES.
The problem Of the servant girl con-
tinues to agitate domestic circles Of
eastern titles. and. from all accounts.
the question has not been satisfactorily
adjusted in the west. 1t threatens to
break out in a genuine bread and but
ter war with the employer rustlins for
the bread and butter. 1t is conflict
between labor and capital with the con-
ditions somewhat reversed. Starvation
stares the employer rather than the en-
ployee in the face in case Of a strike.
But there is nothing new in the con-
troversy. It is as Old as humanity, and
we have suspected at times that Ewes
banishmena from luxury to labor was
when the hired girl quit Eden and
went to look for another place.
Daniel Defoe described the hired girl
SO accurately two centuries ago that
one is almost forced to believe the same
girl haunts the employment agencies
to this day. However, it wasn't Robin
son Crusoe who was annoyed with her.
It was Defoe in his home at London.
Besides, the fear Of spelling their
clothes makes them afraid of house
work." wrote Daniel in 1880. Let me
give one instance. My family is COM
posed of myself and sister, a man and
maid; and, being without the last, a
young wench came to lire herself. The
man was gone out and my sister was
upstairs so 1 opened the door myself
and this person presented herself to
my view, dressed completely. more
like a visitor than a servant maid; she,
not knowing me, asked for my sister.
Pray madam said I be pleased to
walk into the parlOr; she shall wait
upon you presently Accordingly 1
handed her in, who took it very cor
daily. After some apology left her
alone for a minute or two, while I,
stupid wretch, ran up TO my sister and
told her there was a gentlewoman be-
low come to visit her. Don't leave her
alone she said; go down and enter
tain her while I dress myself Ac-
cOrdingly down I went and talked Of
indifferent affairs; meanwhile my sister
dressed herself all over again, not be-
ing willing to be seen in a common
dress. At last she came down as clean
as her visitor; but how great was my
surprise when found my fine lady a
common servant wench."
They have always tried to keep pace
with dress and customs Of their en-
ployer. it seems. from the days of Ha-
ger. But that is a weakness, not a
fault The worst trouble with girls
hunting work is that they look for
places where they viii be able to stay
dressed up, where there is little to do
and the housewives willing to do that
little. They expect to be taken as
toarders and paid 30 honor the house
with their presence This was the case
with the girl who called upon the De-
fees over two centuries ago, it appears
When the calling and the mission of
the unknown visitor were revealed,
"she mOdestiy asked but eight pounds
a year" Then Daniels sister inquired:
What work she could do to deserve
such wages2' to which she answered
that she could clean a house or dress a
common family dinner. But cannot you
wash or get up linen? inquired my
sister. She answered in the negative
and said she would undertake neither,
nor would she go into family that did
not put out their linen to wash and
! hire a char-wOman to scOur. She de-
sired to see the house and after having
carefully inspected it, said the work
was too hard for her, nor could she IN
! dertake it. This put my sister beyond
all patience. Young woman she said,
/ you have made a mistake; I want a
housemaid, not a boarder; have you a
fortune or an estate that you dress at
! that rate?' No, replied the wench,
but I hope I may wear what I work
4 for without offense.' What! you work.
/ interrupted my sister; why, you do not
! seem willing to undertake any work;
you will not wash nor scour; you can
not dress a dinner for company; you
+ are no needlewoman, you say, and our
/ little house of two rooms on a floor is
/ too much for you. For Gods sake what
/ can you do?' Madam replied she
! pertly. I know my business and do not
/ fear service; if you wash at home you
/ should have a laundry maid; if you
have company you should have a cook
maid; if you have any needlework you
/ should have a chambermaid; and any
4 house of four rooms should have be-
sides, a housemaid.' Get you gone for
a lazy. impudent baggage said I"
! How few housewives Of today would
have the courage to talk up" like
that? Generations Of intimidation have
toned down the lady Of the house un-
/ til her authority is disputed by the
/ queen Of the kitchen whom it were
/ lese majestic to offend.
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