The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-27


and wherever woman steps into a
place formerly held by a man there
is an instant disposition to put upon
her all manner of additional tasks
which were never required by her male
predecessor. For example, in 1897 a
woman, for the first time, was APP
pointed secretary of one of the great
London hospitals. She was a person
or exceptional ability, holding degree
of M. a. from London University a
clever writer and an extraordinary
nnguist. Nominally secretary, in ad-
dltion to her secretarial duties, she had
entire supervision of all the servants;
Kept an account of out and in patients;
bought all the supplies; solicited con-
tributions-for like all other institu-
tons of the kind in London, the foun-
dation was very inadequately endowed;
she banked all funds paid in, was
present at all meetings of the directors,
beside attending to an enormous cor
respondence, few of these duties hav-
ing been placed on the male secretaries.
She rarely returned to her home before
10 O'Clock at night.
There are thousands OF governesses
in England competent to teach
Latin, mathematics, music. draw
ing and the continental! Ian
guages, whose salaries do not
CACctQ SlOU d year. ~ ldQy tlSCh
in a London newspaper for a governess
possessing these qualifications, offering
a little less than the salary above
named, and she received over one thou
sand replies. An exceptionally well
qualified cook is paid about twelve
shillings $3.50 a week. housemaid half
as much, and there are few conven
fences in any but the most modern
English houses, such as are to be found
almost everywhere in our own country.
Water for the morning bath must be
carried to the rooms, and Goals for
the fires--a furnace or steam heated
house being exceptional--and for this
work a man is never employed. All the
rooms are furnished with bells. which
must be answered, and the maids run
up and down the stairs on errands, or
in answer to summons, all day long.
This has induced a disease, a swelling
of the knee joints. recognized by ply
sicians as "housemaids knee" Eng
lish servants are not expected to share
the delicacies of the family table:
separate table is spread for them be-
low stairs, provided with plain. al
though abundant, food, and any luxu-
ries they desire they must get for
themselves.
Many of the great draper shops
beard and lodge their women clerks in
apartments in the upper floors of their
establishment. They are required to
wear black gowns, made with a demi-
train, white collars and cuffs, the hair
to be deliberately dressed. Their wages
where their board is furnished are
small. and there are many little shops
where the girls employed as clerks
work from Monday until late Saturday
night for no other compensation than
beard and lodging, and must find the
means outside wherewith to clothe
themselves and pay their incidental ex-
penses.
The American is impressed always
with the homely comfort of an English
house, Notwithstanding the bedroom
candles, the primitive bath and the
lack of various conveniences which we
consider essential.
Everything is clearly arranged and
perfectly understood; even the card for
the opening of parliament bears, plain
~ printed in one corner: Morning
Dress" This definiteness saves much
embarrassment, and misunderstanding.
Splendor is reserved for splendid occa
sions. An "at home" even at d grand
house, is a very simple affair; there is
an abundance of tea, cakes and flowers
the latter always, whatever may be
wanting. There may also be some
ROOQ music, OF SOIilG OliAeI tLISIldlH-
ment provided. But in the season, at
least when the days are long, there is
no drawing of curtains, and no fiaring
of artificial lights. The hostess, simply
dressed, not even wearing gloves, is
not assisted" and she comes forward
to greet her guest when she is an
nounced. Where introductions are waiv-
ed, and conversation is general. she
has no fear that her visitor will be
bored or neglected. if she herself is in
the least responsive.
There is one essential in which Eng
fish women far excel those of the Uni
ted States, and that is their intelligent
comprehension of great political ques-
tions. The English woman of position
must know politics, and be able not
only to talk, but to help in the can
vass, if her services are required, as
they usually are. In a parliamentary
canvass the women, on both sides,
work vigorously, making house to
house visits, and speaking from the
hastings, and the result of an election
is to them a matter of vital import
ance The two great political organiza-
lions to which both, men and women
belong have a membership running up
into the hundreds of thousands, and
one or the other includes almost every
woman of rank and distinction in the
United Kingdom.
1t is not generally understood that
all women rate-payers are qualified to
vote in municipal elections through
out England, and that thousands OF
women vote in London for the County
Council, through which almost the en-
tire government is administered. The
elections are held in the town hall OF
each parish, and the voting of the
women attracts no comment or atten-
ton, each elector walking in at the
front door, casting her ballot and walk
ing out at the rear door. With their
increased political privileges, they
have been chosen to important public
offices, upon school boards and boards
of guardians. In 1898 six women served
upon the London school board, being
represented in all the most important
committees.
In these capacities they have proved
themselves so conscientious and eff
Client that there is a marked disposi-
ton not only to increaes their repre-
sentation but to extend their jurisdic
ton in many directions.