The Iola register., 1901-11-15
BORN TO SERVE
By Charles NJ. Sheldon.
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to spare from ner own work in sc.
curing facts connected with her pro
posed plans. Mrs. Ward herself went
with her to several well-known
houses in Crawford, and introduced
her to her friends. In every instance
Barbara found there was the great
est possible interest in the subject,
but no two women seemed to agree
as to any policy or plan. There was
unanimous agreement on one thing;
namely, need of capable, intelligent,
honest servants in the house, who
were to be depended on for continu-
Gus service, or for at least "a period of
several years that might be reckoned
as continuous, the same as busi-
ness man could count on the con-
tinuous service in his employ of
competent bookkeeper or clerk who
was necessary to the welfare OF the
business, but no more SO than
competent servant in continuous
service is necessary to the welfare
of the home.
"The trouble is" one woman after
another would say. "in the girls
themselves. They do not have any
ambitions as n class. They do not
wish TO be taught. They resent adj
vice. They are ungrateful for nearly
all fayors. They do not thank any
body to try TO improve their condi-
ton We are tired of constant efforts
made to solve an unsolvable problem
with the material that must be used
Still. in spite of all discourage
ments. Barbara bravely determined
to go on. and her next effort was di-
rected toward the girls who had eX-
pressed willingness to go into serv-
ice in the home instead of the store
and factory.
She managed to call all these to-
getfkr Saturday evening at her own
home and with her mother helping her
she made a pleasant evening, serving
some light refreshments and enter
tanning the girls with music and pic
lures.
There were eight of them in all.
Two of them had had little expert
ence at house service. None of them,
Barbara found on questioning, was
really competent to manage the af-
fairs of n household. Two were
American girls who had lived on
farms, and had come into Crawford
20 accept small places at Bondman's
Their experiences there had not been
pleasant. and they were ready to try
something. that promised at least a
temporary financial relief.
Barbara gave little impromptu
talk before the girls went home, and
ended by asking the girls to ask ques-
tions or talk over in general way the
prospects of housekeeping service as
she had described il to them.
"Do you think, Miss Clark, from your
own experience, that the hired girls
loss of social standing is the one great
obstacle TO the settlement of the ques-
tion of service?" one of the American
girls asked. She was a bright-looking
girl, evidently lover of fne-looking
dresses, and, as Barbara discovered,
with habits of extravaganza far be-
yond her little means to crafty.
Barbara hesitated a moment before
she answered.
Eyes, / think perhaps that is the
most serious factor in the problem.
/ don't consider it unanswerable.
believe that Christian housekeepers
and Christian servants can find an an
swer that will satisfy them both"
81 think the irregular hours are the
hardest part of the housework," said
one OF the girls, an honest-faced Ger
man, somewhat older than the others.
81 worked two years for a family in the
west, and some days l did not get
through my work until nine and even
ten o'clock at night. One reason
have liked the store is because the
hours of labor have been regular. l
know just exactly how long l have to
work. But cannot earn enough where
l now am. l saved over one hundred
and fifty dollars one year when was
out working at four dollars week"
"It's the dirty work that don't like"
spoke up understanding girl whom
Barbara had found in the bundle de-
partment at Bondman's. Barbara
did not know just what it was that
had drawn this girl to her; but some
thing had done it, and there was some
thing very attractive about Barbara to
the girl, and she had expressed a GER
servant so as to be competent.
THAT never troubled me any" said
the neatest girl of all. my trouble
was caused by not knowing how to do
the work satisfactorily. found | did
not know how to plan for the meals
and cook them properly. One of my
friends, who was in the next house,
was splendid cook and manager. 1t
was a large family, but she seemed to
throw the work off easily, because she
knew how to plan it right"
That's it," Barbara spoke eagerly.
'Is it any wonder that SO many women
complain at the troubles they have
with servants when so many of them
have no experience, and yet claim as
high wages as If they had? A book
keeper would not expect to get and
retain a place in a business firm il he
did not understand the business of
keeping books; yet the housekeepers