The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-19
A SERVANT GIRLS UNION.

Servant girls are really human, though
a very large part of the women who EN-
ploy them don't seem to think so. The
main trouble is that woman, while in
tensely lovely, kindly, sympathetic, and
all that, is quite narrow in her range.
Her love and sympathy all 90 out to her
family, friends and immediate set. She
has very little for anybody outside that
circle. Furthermore, she does not, like
man, 90 through all the gradations of serv-
ice, from an errand-boy upwards, to being
an employer himself. The man gets his
first lesson in consideration for the feel
ings Of others when he is mere boy, en-
ployed on the farm, in the shop, Office or
store, and is the victim OF the harshness,
unreasonableness, ill-temper, etc, of those
who are temporarily above him. The re-
suit is that wherever men are employed
there is a pretty fair system in vogue,
which aims 10 get the most service out OF
everybody with the least possible friction
Men of all grades-emplOyers superin-
tendents, foremen, etc.-are generally,
while strict and insistent, polite and con-
siderate to those below them. I'm
fortunately, women have little or none of
this schooling. They have little prepara-
ton for the duty of working their en-
ployes hard, getting the most out Of them,
and yet being kindly, just and reasonable
with them, and retaining their services. 1t
ID doubtful whether they will ever acquire
Sais talent.
Yet they must learn more than they
II
dispensabIe factor in our lives. She has
come to stay. We must have her, unless
we all 90 to boarding in flats and hotels,
and family life become a thing of the past.
There must be honorable, pleasant, we'll
paid employment found for millions of
girls, who have just as much right to all
these things as their brothers.
1t looks as If some amelioration Of the
conditions may be brought about, as it has
been in other lines Of labor, by the forma-
ton Of labor-unions. The Chicago servant
girls have formed a union, and their first
demand viii strike everybody as quite rea-
sonabIe.
They ask first for a sliding scale of
wages, based on ability and experience,
th:ch is something that their brethren
lave not done. Young and iuexperien,
girls are to receive from So to 81 a week;
and housekeepcrs from s. TO 81.
Under no circumstances shall work be-
gin before $50 n. m, nor continue after
the evening dishes are washed. This
seems particularly reasonable. 1t makes
a tremendously long day, us it is, and more
than should be required Of anybody. Two
hours each afternoon, and the entire even
ing, at least, twice week, belong to the
girl in her own right. This is d division
Of time that may be discussed, but Ger
tainly the girl should have some time every
day that she can call her very own. She
wants that gentlemen shall not be barred
from the kitchen and back porch, and tina
conversation shall not be interrupted by
members Of the family during such visits.
Some arrangement like this seems V
desirable. If the girl is expected to MAKE
her home with the family, it should be
home indeed, and have all that goes t,
make a home attractive. This implies tht
presence of Company of all kinds, anC
a certain freedom frcm espionage.
Finally, the girls ask such hours off OF
Mondays as will give them the same bar
gain-countcr privileges enjoyed by tn,
mistress and her daughters" Why not