The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-05-01
SERVANT GIRLS IN SWEDEN
There the Mistress is Really Mistress
of Her Household.

Down In these country towns. and in
fact. everywhere in Sweden. except In
stockholm and one OF two other OF the
larger cities, domestic servants are en-
gagged under contracts for at least six
months and generally for year. On
the 24th OF April and the cath of Oct
ober contracts are always made and SER
vice always terminates on one Of those
days. Girls who come In from the coun-
try To seek employment as servants
gather In the market place on the morn
ing or these days, where an Official
from the police department is present
to look after them. They usually bring
recommendation from the village pas
TOR as To their character and previous
conduct and from their former en-
ployers IL they have been In service be-
Tore. Some may be fortunate enough to
have testimonial from the burgo-
master or merchant or some other
dignitary who Is known by reputation.
Their names ages, places OF birth and
former residences are all taken down by
the police officials. who also make
briefs of the recommendations they
carry.
During the morning housekeepers
who are in want of servants come TO
the market place. The official In charge
tells them the name and the record OF
each girl, and there are usually per-
sonal interviews. When n housekeeper
finds a satisfactory candidate she
crosses her hand with silver-that Ia.
gives her from to 8 kroner as earnest
money and tells her to report at her res
idence on the date she names. In the
meantime the police Official has taken
down the terms of the agreement. the
mar rs OF the employers and the en-
pioyed. the amount OF wages and the
length of service agreed upon.
Girls who are already in service and
desire TO make change file q notice
with this official. who already has their
| recommendations ana what you NAV
call their domestic history on his
books. He thus acquires the name. age,
character and reputation OF every SER
| want In town, so that when any lady
| inquiries for a cook or a housemaid he
can give her reliable information con-
corning every applicant
A girl must give her employer a
weeks notice OF change. and vice versa.
so that both the employer and the en-
ployed may have plenty Of time TO pre-
pare for the contract day--the Gath OF
! April or the 2ith OF October.
In the cities employment agencies are
conducted by the municipality, and
when n hOusekecpcr wants n servant
she goes TO one OF them and finds ap-
! pllcations from every girl who wants
place and the mi-enaations she car
ries. When she picks her house for n
| personal interview and bears card
which must he returned TO headquar-
| ters within 2l hours after II Is issued
III the interview Is not satisfactory the
girl brings back the card and waits for
another chance II II Is satisfactory the
lady OF the house fills out the blanks
with the date and term Of employment.
the wages agreed upon and other facts
affecting the. contract.
II the girl Is not satisfied at the end
OF a certain time she must go to police
headquarters or to the municipal offi-
cial In charge Of that business and
state her grievance. He makes an in
vestlgation and acts as sort of Judge
! In the case. II the family IL not plsnsed
with their servant after trial they ap-
ply to him aud are compelled to abide
by his decision. No girl can be dis
charged or obtain her release during
her term of employment without his
consent. II q girl deserts her employer
she may be arrested and punished by
a fine or imprisonment and forfeit her
| claims To future consideration of the
employment bureau II will be impos-
siblo for her 10 yet another place. II
her employer refuses to pay her wages
or do's not treat h7r properly she can
appeal 10 the nearest magistrate for re-
dress,