Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-17
TIE SERVANT GIRL PROBLEM.
MARY Van Yell. New York Domestic
Takes Exceptions to Rev. cha5. Shell
Gcn'B Ideas.

Mary Van ZciI. f. the model servant
the family of Banker Jacob ". Rosen
baum, OF No. i6s East 9th street. New
York. was recently given an 'apprecia
ton party ana dinner by her emp oyer
Three genera ions OF the family uni cd /.
honorino the aithful servant.
Mary van Zen attended The reading. a
the Lafayette avenue Prcsby cri d
church. by the Rev. Char.cs NJ. Sheldon
OF his book -,orn To Serve, in which h.
tolls the story Of Barbara Clark, cui
tured girl. who takes n position as a ser
want fnc object OF mo book is to show
the wrongI ulnc5s OF the present metno,
OF treating servants. This Is what Mars
Van Zcil thinks Of II:
Dr. Sneldon's book Is "A nice story, bui
IL is plain to see he never worked In 4
kitchen. His plan Is that Of good mar
who natura cannot know how the ser
want feels or The Mistress either. Bar
bara Clark is the incest kind Of a girl
refined and highly educated. she coulC
never succeed as a servant girl In rea
lie, however well she docs IN a book.
would think she would be likely to break
many dishes II she went on theorizina
while she washed them. | toll you a girl
has no time to study out problems while
she has roast In the oven, three kinds
Of vegetables boiling on the stove and a
ba tch Of bread rising, with some cham
bcrwork 10 look after between times.
!" real servant could hardly follow
IN the steps OF Barbara Clark. Barbara :
her to the minister and to many of the
congregation. and she suffered some from
the social prejudice when she went 10
pink teas. ] wonder who made up the
beds and swept while she was being aiken
INTO society. nv notion OF things is that
the servants place is In the kitchen.
There il no degradation about II. she IL
employed to do certain things. and If she
has any time she would probably prefer
10 spend II in her own way
II think IL IL the experience of most
girls that this being made one OF the fam
ily that We hear go much about, is not
always pleasant. AS for taking a servant
to church. introducing her 10 the friends
of the family. and encouraging her to
call upon--that ~ all absurd. DR.. Sheldon
entertained ms audience. but an audience
OF real servant girls could not have
helped laughing ut has weIl-mc aiming mis-
takes. II would be real pleasant for "A girl
to have two rooms and the social posi-
tlon and other things DR.. Sheldon pre-
wurkmsu In a factory had automobiles
To go 20 work in. but II is not practical
II the cirl has one room and a good
home. fair wages. ana fair treatment, she
ought To bc satisiied- do not know a
girl who would not prefer considera-
ZION in the kitchen % the privileges Of
salt is Interested In nor work and expects
proper appreciation for her efforts but
she neither expects nor desires to snare
the social enga gcmcnts Of the home. Sne
j. there to work. not 10 play at being a
LADY Of leisure.
Even though she should he educated J.,
the servant should under no circum-
stances figure in society. She should pay
srr1ct attention to her work and make
things easier for herself and her employ
cr ana be content with the privileges of
her situation. which under good ms
trcSs arc not lew.
.'Dr Sheldon should try again, only
this time he should get some real and
capahl" servant 10 pose for his chiei