Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-09-27

the dishes properly in less than haT
an hour. II she wants 10 60 sut some
where in the evening. wat is more
natural than for her 10 do the work
in "A hurry? She has been al work all
day since half-pas. six. She works
longer hours and for less pay than
young men in stores get for clerk
service that is not so important by
half as the homework for family.
Now III warrant that Mr.. Ward pays
some of his clerks downtown three
times what he pays the girl at home
for almost twice the hours Of labor.
Wouldn't ii be better and cheaper IN
the long run, Mrs. Ward. 10 hire two
persons TO do your work, at least for a
part of the time? I'm inclined to
think a good many of us expect too
much of one girl. We work them too
many hours. And we ought 10 remem-
Der that for most OF the time the work
really is what must be called drudg-
cry"
"Ore girl in the house almost kills
me. Two would complete the bust
ness, | am sure" said Mrs. Ward smil-
ing at Barbara. "Some of what you
say is very true. But / am sure Mr..
Ward would never think of giving as
much for the work in the home as he
gives for clerk work in the store"
And why not, if the service per-
formed is as severe and, more than
that, as important to your peace and
comfort. and his own as well when he
gets home? | know a good many
farmers who think nothing of paying
out several hundred dollars every year
on improved machinery 10 tighten
their own labor on the farm. But they
think their wives are crazy If they ask
for an improved washing machine that
costs S2j or a few kitchen utensils of
the latest style 10 save labor. That's
one reason SO many farmers wives
are crazy over in Crawford county
asylum. Men expect to pay good
price for competent service in their
business Why should they expect TO
get competent servants I'm the house
for the price generally offered:'
II don't think it's the price that
keeps competent girls away from
homework, Mrs. Vane." remarked
barbara. II have figured il out that
even on four dollars a week al Mr..
Wards | can save more than / could
possibly save if | worked for Bord-
man at five or even six. paying out of
that for board, lodging and washing.
If the price paid for competent sery-
ants was raised in Crawford to ten
4. o.; 81.
now in the stores and factories would
leave their positions 10 enter house
service"
Il believe they would. good many
Of them. anyway" Mrs. Nane re-
piled with vigor. you can get al
most anything if YOU pay for it."
But we must remember, Mrs. Nane,
that the great majority of families
in Crawford cannot afford 10 pay
such prices for househclp. You have
no idea how much trouble am in for
paying my girls four or four and a
half week My neighbors who say
they cannot afford that much tell me
their girls become dissatisfied when
they learn what we pay, and very
often leave because | pay my girls
more than other housckcepers."
THE whole question has as many
sides TO it as a ball" calculated Mrs.
Nane. rubbing her nose vigorously.
4 think | shall finally go back to
he old primitive way Of doing my
own work. living on two meals day
and washing the dishes once. You
needn't stay any longer, iIilda, if
you want 20 GO
Ililda, who had given signs of be-
ing in a hurry. rose and walked to-
yard the door. Barbara also got up,
and, somewhat TO Mrs. Nane's sur
prise said: II think I'll go, too. III
walk along down town with you, Hill
da, if you don't mind"
Hilda nodded and Barbara was not
quite sure that she was pleased TO
have her company; but Barbara had
been thinking of plan. and she need
ell 10 be with Ililda little while in
order TO carry it out. SO the two
went away together.
They had walked down the street
half block, when, in answer TO
question, IIilda said she was plan
ming TO do some shopping.
Let me go, too; are you wiling"
81 don't mind said Hilda, but with
a note of hesitation that Barbara
could not help remarking.
They went into several of the
smaller stores, where both Of them
purchased one or two small articles,
ard finally entered the great store
Of Bondmans.
IIilda knew one of the girls in this
store, and as they stood by the
counter she introduced Barbara. The
girl behind the counter stared hard
at Barbara, but returned her greet
ing civilly enough, and then began
To giggle and whisper with IIilda.
Hilda seemed nervous, and repeated
lv looked at Barbara as if she were
in the way; and Barbara, thinking
the others might have some secrets,
walked over to the opposite counter.
She had been there only minute
when young man sauntered up to
Ililda and the friend behind the coun-
Ter. and all three began TO talk to-