Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-01

away. Two hours each afternoon and
| the entire evening. at least twice
! week. shall be allowed the domestic
as her own
Rule 2. There shall be no opposition
ON the part OF the mistress to club life
on the part of the domestic. Enter
tainment of friends in limited numbers
shall not be prohibited. provided the
domestic furnishes her own refresh
| ments.
Rule 5. Gentleman friends shall not
be barred from the kitchen or back
porch. Members Of the family of the
house shall not interrupt the CONVERSE
ton arising during said visits.
Rule L. DOmestics shall be allowed
: such hours off on Mondays as will per-
nit them to visit the bargain counters
OF the stores and enjoy on that day the
same privileges enjoyed by the mistress
and her daughters"
The settling of the steel strike is
Offset by the report of great labor
uprising in Chicago. The servant
, girls of the western metropolis have
risen at last against the oppression of
capital and have formed a union which
promulgates the above rules. They
| call their organization the working
women of America as though no
women worked except those in kitchen
service. but that is a matter which
need not be discussed here. The name
OF President Mary Murphy will now re-
| no Of
newspapers and the rules issued above
as her utimatum will. at least be dis
cussed with q better understanding by
the public than have been the conten-
tons of the steel strikers.
| 1t is a delicate and difficult task to
comment on these rules for we all love
domestic peace and there promises to
De little of 1t left in the world when
this new labor union gets down to bus
iness and enforces it's rules. Not in the
spirit of opposition or carping, but in
pure friendliness, let us glance at
these rules. Rule /. as to the hours of
work, will not be objected to except by
those housewives who enjoy working
a domestic to death. 1t is hardly fair
| to expect more than IA or Is hours
work from girl when men are strik-
ing for eight or less. But Rule .. is so
vague that it is sure to cause trouble
Club life on the part of the domestic"
may mean many things. Is the cook
to have possession of the library when
she writes an essay for her club on
Emerson and the Transcendental
| Movement" and is the chamber girl
to be allowed to practice without limit
on the piano when she is down on the
program for the overture of Wagner's
"Walkure?" Or shall the cook take to
the kitchen the books she wants, and
the chamber girl be restricted to three
hours of practice daily? And what is
a limited number of friends? And
what if the refreshment" furnished
is of the kind that not only cheers. but
also inebriates?
| But let us hasten to Rule s. Are
| there not hours when these visitors
should be barred? And is there to he
no interruption even when the whole
neighborhood is disturbed by the con
versation?" And in the bargain coun-
| ter clause there are frightful poSnibhi-
ties which we will not hint at. Nf,
possibly President Murphy did not is
sue these rules as an ultimatum, but
in the expectation that they will be
modified by negotiations. There is yet
| hope of peace in Chicago.
The American servant girl has been
on the rampage for a long time. and
the problem has become of national
and international Importance. Parson
ShedOns book made a bad matter
| worse as the irony of fate soon
showed him in his own home. The do
nestle had her rights and also her
wrongs. and if the new union will bet
ter conditions. it is much to be com
mended. The lady of the house also has
her rights and a union of employers
may yet be necessary to defend them.
In the meantime public sympathy is
divided and all pray for peace.