Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-09

THE HIRED GIRL PROBLEM

one Of the great trials Of the city
housekeeper and TO some extent OF her
country sister, Is the difficulty Of OBJ
tanning competent and reliable help in
the home. What is called "the servant
girl problem" has caused much per-
plexity and 1t has not yet been solved.
The substitution Of Chinese and Jap
anese labor for white girls work is
not satisfactory, and there is always a
big demand for "female help without
corresponding supply
There appears to be repugnance
% the part Of many young women to
be classed as hired girls" that term
icing usually applied to those who are
engaged for household work They pre-
fer "clerking' in p store, dressmaklng.
millinery or other similar occupation,
although they are equally "hlred' Tor
that service and do not gain much II
any more by their labor when the cost
of food and lodging is taken into con-
sideration. But there is a prejudice
against serving in families that is hard
TO overcome, and this is one cause Of
the difficulty to obtain that help which
may be rightly numbered among the
'long-felt wants.
We do not expect to be able to offer
O complete remedy for the Ills COM
plalned of in this respect. but only a
few suggestions that may be worthy
Of consideration An experienced ply
stefan of this city who enjoys an
extended and confidential practice,
has treated many ladies whose nerves
have been almost broken down with
family cares and the worry OF house,
hold labor, and has noticed their FREE
quentraillngs against the incompetence,
or willfulness. or other faillngs of the
hired girls whom they have to change
70 frequently and without much i'm
proyement. The thought impressed him
that possibly the very nervous irritable
ity. impatience fretfulness and lmper-
alive disposition Of such patlentsmight
be one cause rather than conse.
quencc OF the dissatisfaction complain.
ed of. Is It not likely that this Is cor
rect?
While we do not dispute for mo-
ment that there Is reason for the out
cry of disappointed housekeepers. we
invite their scrutiny into their own
selves, in thought. into the "hired
girls place. Imagine that they enter a
place. Imagine that they enter a
strange house. unacquainted with the
ways and wishes Of the family. often
various and opposite, unfamiliar with
everything pertaining to the house aud
fits usual regulations, and yet expect.
ed 10 take hold and act as though she
understood all that is wanted Think
OF the short, snappy rebukes, objections
and marks Of disapproval II mistakes
ere made. the lofty distinction drawn
between the sphere Of the mistress and
the servant, and the hundred and enc
snubs and fault-hndings TO be endured
under nervous. particular and high
strung INVALID
OF course every lady OF the house
wants 10 have her manner OF conduct
ms It respected and complied with. But
hired girls Of experience have acquired
SET ways and habits ana they are not
easily abolished a little consideration
fof them would sometimes avoid trou.
bic, and the desired conformity
might BE- obtained n sought for
in kindly spirit instead Of
a dominoering OF dlctatoral man
ner. In this mountain country in
dependence Of character and disposition
Is marked in both sexes, and the dis
like to be subjugated burns ike q con-
tinual fame.
Some ladies go 10 the extreme OF
familiarity with their help" and rear
lie consequence in the contempt which