New-York tribune., 1900-03-19
EIGHT HOUR SERVANTS.
MRS. KNOWLES ASKS WHAT PEoPL e
WITH ONE GIRL ARE GOING TO DO.
SHE DECLARES MIsTREssEs EXPECT EVERY
THING FROM THEIR DoMEsTICs AND
GIVE ALMOST NOTHING

In speaking of the eight hour schedule that Mrs.
Emmons Blaine has adopted for her servants. Mrs.
Christian Hegeman. recording secretary of the
New-York State Household Economic Association,
said
From what have been able to learn of the plan
followed by Mrs Blaine it would not be possible
AS a matter of fact the duties of a household
where one or two servants ara ennIovad are MOI
arduous girls hours judged from the time her
duties begin in the morning until after the work
borne mind that the is not continuous. If
a girl works without system or intelligence she
manage fill in all the day performing duties
that girl with average skill could arrange
day
American are well paid live well. have
Of independence far beyond that of domestics in
lay aside money from the generous wages paid
by American women. Compared with the hours
better, gives girl home comforts which she IS
otherwise deprived, and is steady as well profit
able.
"It is all right. II can afford two or three
relays Of servants 10 employ them on the eight
hour system. said Mrs. Edwin Knowles of Brook
lyn, president OF Chiropean. But II that condi-
ton prevails. what are people who can afford only
one servant TO do and where Will they find that
one when girls get that kind of employment?
1t Is my opinion that mistresses are responsible
for three-quarters Of all the present trouble with
domestic help. Women are apt to think if there
is a girl in the house to wait them. that there
is limit her time patience or labor. The
greater part or nouSekeeperS make no allowance
whatever for days when servant is feeling badly,
or is perhaps out Of temper. They expect every
thing in fact and give nothing
The apng Of so-called European aristocracy is
the bottom of the social ostracism which every
suffers who enters the field Of domestic
labor. The eight hour system. IN my opinion.
would have influence TO break 1t down. The
side with the most brains must settle the vexed
question Help must always come from the
As to training schools for domestic servants,
there will still remain the fact. in spite of them,
may be of IN another The capacity for
suitng herself her environment makes a work
ing girl valuable TO her employers.
Mrs. Henry Clark Coe, president Of the National
Society of New England Women has this TO say:
For the average family I do not think the plan
followed by Mrs. Blaine would be possible 1t
would require the services of several domestics in
RELAYS. and for those keeping two servants
such arrangement would not be practicable.
Mrs. George P Lawton, president of the Bemis
Heights Chapter of the Children of the American
Revolution. of Saratoga, who is spending some
months in New-York, expressed herself follows:
While feel assured that the eight hour system
would not work in a satisfactory manner, think
the average servant has a most comfortable time.
Each of my four servants has plenty of leisure.
The amount of work performed by servant ap-
plies 10 all, ana they receive SlS month each.
The upstairs girl for instance, helps the waitress
at table. makes the beds in the morning,
does the sweeping and helps the table for
herself visit friends dispose Of in any way
she sees fit, until the dinner hour when she helps
The other have several afternoons their
disposal during each week, and they are treated
think of attempting 70 establish an eight hour
schedule, and do not believe IL would be a success