The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
A HOUSEkEEPERS' ALLIANCE.
Employers Must Organize Before
Servant Question Is Settled.
PHILADELPHIA Record.

Few problems are more important tc the
well-being of the human family than that
which the Housekeepers' Alliance of this
city has attacked. The servant-girl ques-
ton is always with US, and is held to be
mainly responsible for whatever degree of
nervousness may aiiict women. If men
should be compelled to carry on their bust
ness enterprises under the. conditions
which housekeepers have to face the air
would be filled with clamor, and we should
have new paramount issue" in the po-
litical campaign. 1t would not be long be-
fore the government would be charged
with the duty of enforcing a reform.
The first complaint of the housekeeper
is that there is constancy in the char
acter OF the typical domestic servant. Sc
cure in the knowledge that the demand for
women to do Homework exceeds the sup
ply, the average domestic revolts at the
mildest criticism of her careless dish
breaking or Incidence or sloveniness, and
leaves her place at the hour which is least
convenient for the mistress. Inefficiency
is a common failing of girls who demand
the ruling wages, and hack of this is an
indisposition TO learn anything Besides,
IL is profitless to teach girl who will, per-
haps, pack her trunk and leave. her place
of employment some morning before her
mistress comes downstairs No other en-
ployer suffers so much from frequent
changes as does the housekeeper.
There is a servants side TO the problem
but it's consideration does not help toward
telligent women have put their minds on
the subject and have discovered a remedy,
but the difficulties in the way of it's Rppi-
cation are many, and some are serious.
Probably the chief obstacle in the way of
a reform is the refusal of the great BODY
OF housekeepers to cooperate. 1t is with
the mistresses themselves that the House
keepers Alliance will have to begin its
missionary labors. and If success shall be
achieved along this line the rest will be
comparatively easy. The experience of a
similar association In New York may serve
to show what obstacles are TO be met The
object of the Gotham organization was
to improve the work of the sisterhood of
washerwomen. course of free instruc-
ton was arranged, and to every leund-ess
who should take twelve lessons and prove
her efficiency certificate was to be given.
The women who employ washerwomer
were asked to refuse work to any woman
who should not present certificate. the
object being TO compel the washerwomen
to learn their business. Here is where the
scheme has failed, although the organizers
still hope to enlist enough housekeepers in
the cause to insure ultimate success. So
many women continued to have their wash
ing done by nongraduates that very few
washerwomen felt compelled 10 take the
course of instruction.
The Housekeepers' Alliance has forrnu-
lated excellent rules concerning the treat
nent of domestic servants. but these rules
will not insure efficiency. If enough,
housekeepers in the community shall agree
TO employ only servants approved by the
alliance the latter can afford TO require
girls to attend lectures on housekeeping
etc The establishment of an employment
bureau by the alliance is good beginning,
but until a large number of mistressss
shall have agreed to be bound by the regI-
lations of that body the reform must cen
tinue TO be incomplete. To enlist house
keepers in the cause, therefore. should be
the first effort, and in this the Record will
give 10 the alliance all the aid in its power.
Few questions of government are SO we'll
worth the attention Of all mediums of in
fiuence as is the servant girl question.