New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-30
BLAME AMERICAN WOMEN.
FRENCH HOUSEWIVES STRUGGLE WITH
THE SERVANT PROBLEM-CON-
DITIONs NOT IMPROVING
Paris, September IS.

Paris, September 49,
The servant problem seems have struck
France; at least French servants talking of
organization and housewives are complaining that
good service is becoming not only expensive but
difficult to obtain In fact, France is struggling
with the same question that has agitated the
households OF England and America-servants pro-
testing against their old position part of the
domestic machinery and demanding that they be
considered employees with defined duties and
privileges.
II is a common complaint Of French housekeepers
that America is responsible for much of this
Generalization in the kitchen. a good many
French girls have been to America and brought
back tales of the high wages and of privileges,
such free Sundays and afternoons "out." There
IS large colony Of Americans in Paris. and this.
from the French point OF view is responsible for
spelling" not only the servants 1t personally
ploys but ali with whom these may in
tact The American mistress regarded
less about money. good natured. easily managed
and lavish with holidays. French housewives say
that they hesitate TO take a servant that has
been in American household for the chances
that she will be prone be completely spoiled,
from their point of view. But ii would be equally
reasonable for American housewife object to
bringing well trained American servant into
France the plea that she would be demoralized
by the different manners and customs prevailing
here
AS things exist to-day, the French girl In ser
vice contented than the American girl,
although the latter receives much larger wages and
more concessions When one considers that girls
in Paris Cwhere wages larger than in any other
part OF France) do general homework for S. 50
or. at the most. SO month. and that afternoon
month out is the extent of their defined hours of
liberty. their lot seems severe One hears,
too. deal of their personal services. Of their
brushing clothes and backing the boots not only of
the women. but the men of the household. of their
going TO market every morning. rain shine. and
of errands demanded and household mending ex-
pected. But this is only one side OF the picture
ieges and demanding the equivalent would have
the effect OF making household service any more
popular IN France.
HOUSEWIVES HERE INJUDICIoUs.
Il IS a common criticism that Americans both
overpay and overwork their servants In America
the maid of all work is unusual; in England
where wages are low, she is the exception in FAM
lilies OF any pretension toward gentity. In France
large proportion of well to do people. people who
entertain in conventional manner. keep only one
servant. but housekeeping in France is infinitely
easier than In America. and the 'bonne a tout
fatt." with her multiplicity of duties has an
easier end certainly much cheerful time
than the average general servant" in America.
The French have lived in apartments for so
many years that they have reduced the labor of
housekeeping TO the minimum. Kitchens are small
announcement. and much work possible is
done outside the house A back court a roof
fun OF drying clothes is unknown in France It is.
in fact. forbidden by law. All laundry IS into
the country dried in special rooms in the city
laundries Nurses expected to wash the fan
nels and underclothes of their little charges and
dry them as best they in the house. but the
cook or general servant does laundry work and
indeed. sends her clothes out with the family
washing.
Bread and cake never made in the house and
the average cook general servant knows little
about buildings. Desserts either bought at the
patisserfe consist OF cheese and fruit. good
many entrees, such pates and minced FISH in
shells. may be ordered outside cheaply as pre-
pared ct home and there are pressed cold meats
Of a sort and variety difficult 10 prepare home.
Meat and fowls may also be roasted outside and
cooked vegetables bought but a well managed
household rarely avails itself OF these privileges
Yet IL IS plain that a French servant may easily
prepare and serve an elaborate dinner without any
great work IN tse kitchen
HoUsEwORK EASIER IN FRANCE.
The housemaid's work is also easier than in
America The French occupy. a rule. small
apartments. and there always hardwood floors
and rugs IN place OF carpets. II is rare that a
general servant is asked TO polish floors She is
expected TO keep them clean, rub of any spots
that may gather and shake rugs. but comes
once week or once a fortnight TO so the en-
tire apartment. Open fires. of course. make more
busting, but when considers that washing
ironing and bread and cake baking unknown in
a French apartment. ii is easy to that the
maids have time for other things
The servants room IN French apartment houses
is at the top OF the house. and from the time the
pears IN the morning she is apparently chez ellie"
She IS N her kitchen at in the morning, She
conee and rolls. and tides the dining room BY S
Sciock. and TWO hours later the whole house is in
her DOCK 10 her mistress, who goes over her &C