The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-04

Suggestions
For Reform.

majority OF our servants are foreigners OF
the very lowest social stratum. The ques-
ton then comes up. What becomes Of our
American sirls7 I have said that the
American girl seeks to rise into social
rank and place OF power by marrying a
mat of rank and power. II would follow,
then, that we find them in those lines Of
work which give them the greatest chance
Of successful marriage-the greatest free
dom OF social intercourse. and l believe
this can be shown
The chief objection against the work as
servant is loss of freedom. The servant
girls day is never done AS a result.
girls crowd into factories and stores where
the days work, though long. is fixed.
After their work Is done in the store, they
are free. The great nureber Of girls striv-
ing for these places forces the wages
down to the starvation point. The "ignor-
ant foreigner soon learns that the work
OF servant is devoid OF all opportunity
for social intercourse and as soon as she
becomes Americanized enough 10 secure a
place she, too, leaves the ranks Of the
servants.
These things have gone on and on and
| on TIL II has become a matter OF educa-
ton that to be servant is to be simply
nobody. As a consequence, we have
| practically no educated girls doing house.
| work for wages. and the contention OF so
| many women that it is impossible 20
| cure good servants is In large measure
| true under the prevailing conditions.
Most girls expect. no doubt, to be house
| wives In time. and yet through social con-
| ditions and a sham fespectability they are
| driven from the field that might serve a
very valuable training in the building OF
| ideal homes.
| IL s an undeniable fact that the wages
| OF girls in factories and stores In many
\ Of our large cities are 50 low that many
! girls are forced TO lead lives OF shame in
| order to earn enough TO keep body and
| soul together
Miss Annie Marion Mclean. OF the
| University of Chicago. after a comprehen-
| sive study of department stores in that
| city observes that SO week To a girl
| alone in a city means starvation or
| shame"
| A study of the labor bureau reports will
| convince the most skeptical that there
| are thousands OF girls In nearly every
state in the Union who are receiving less
than 81 week. Surprising that we adj
| init that even large minority OF these
| are forced TO shame to prevent starvation,
| IA 1t not a condition that is appalling?
Yet we. through social conditions.
throw the badge OF responsibility around
such terrible risks and brand the servant
girl as one of a lower social caste.
As I stated above, the most serious OBJ
| lection TO being a servant Is the lack OF
| social freedom which attends It. We as
| Americans are pre-em!nently race Of
| freemen and demand the use of our leis-
| IRE az we see At The servant girl is no
| exception. She is not afraid OF work. but
Ia not satisfied to slave from early morn
till late at night.
1t is highly probable, however. that In
many cases the hours OF labor cannot
well be reduced, and in such cases other
| inducements must be offered. II the men
| of the household must have an early
breakfast and return late TO supper. there
/ would seem to be no remedy In such
cases but very many homes could give
| the servant shorter hours of labor II the
| homes were properly organized. No bust
ness man could keep help IL he conducted
his business house as many home Is
! managed. In very many cases the help at
| home could be relieved by a systematic
organization Of the home life.
| The manner Of waiting on table and ~
! speaking to servants could be immensely
/ improved No seif-respecting servant can
/ be expected to take an interest in her
! work " every word spoken to her reminds
her that her mistress regards her az an
\ inferior Another practice which 20 my
| mind Ia wholly ab0minahle Is that or fore
/ ing the servant to eat alone in tho kitchen
! II IL without doubt true that many scrv-
/ ants are not sufficiently enlightened and
! cultured TO make agreeable companions at
! the table but have seen eases whore no
/ servant could be more aisagreeable at
table than the children OF the family.
/ Still I am convinced that with conditions
| slightly changed. servants could he 81
cured who are cultured and capable OF en-
| ughtened conversation
one can hardly realize the feelings % a
servant who lives In a family and vet 10
in no way part Of that family IN inter
/ ests To be alone in the midst OF others
| Is crushing. Such servant must cook
and wait on and minister 10 the wants OF
I every member 81 the family. sna vet IN
I no ysnS~ can she be considered one ~
/ them Their experiences and stories are
[ not hers She is not expected 20 enter
into their conversations II she hears
/ ANYTHING she must close her ears. for u
vas not meant for her. Any suggestion
( or interruption from her VIII not he toll
! Grated no matter how well educated or
! cultivated she may be " she reads any
thing she must keep IL 20 herself She Is
: only a servant girl and must keep her
uiare--annnR the pots and kettles she
> ia A verttabie gf .Soner. around whom go
| ciesy has cast az lmp~netrahle barriers as
| shut IN the states ronyiciS. She cannot
I he the friend or companion ~ the LAZY 70
tho house II there are young folks IN
the house she u not expected sn rartske
| o. their recreation or their company, be-
! eausa--afa solely n~cause-~he Is ssfv-
4 ant The same wiri ms stenoKragher or
! clerk In q stare would - eligible To - an
/ associate u the very ones Who would re-
1 fuse 20 associate with her as a servant
! II can readily te aesn that there IL here
a very important reason Why 80 many
I cultured girls refuse 10 work az servants.
I bot prefer shop or store work AZ lass
/ wages.
! In many cases where servants are alias p
4 ga a coep}e 81 hours Of leisure during iae
I afternoon. they are expected % fsoR after
I the children Mothers fail 20 realize ths Z
/ N "a "a each a relief "a them ;o ~ rtd si
I their own children ter couple ot hours
/ II can ~ no rest 20 fhe servant 20 i0ek
/ After them.
The room Of the servant IN many eiesan,
I toun~s il some Out Of the way hole o. cor
I ser Ia the garnet X "a rartlr tho1sht
! necessary 10 make her soom warm or com
/ Portable. II she hss any friends ar $3.50
I cia,ss there T. 10 suitable place 70 entsr
/ tain them. even the kitchen "a IN many
cases FrudxinEiy EiVen. All there remains
FOR the riri 20 %. II she has any ccns-
I pan.ons. - ;a leave ne house aHa ass3-
I clate with them On ihe stre@g or IN tgrse
! yuhIjc place Ia rans ~ the Western