New-York tribune., 1903-03-12
THE SERVANTS SIDE.
Robert Erskine Ely Urges Women to Face
Souarely the Domestic Problem.

The nosstbilitv Of labor unions and strikes in the
world of domestic service. as seen by professor
Robert Erskne Ely. aroused keen interest ana dis
cussio1 among the members OF the Household ECO
nonic Association yesterday afternoon. Referring
to statistics gathered IN Boston. the lecturer said
that the average working day Of domestic ser
want was eleven and one-half hours, with an addi-
ton OF nearly two hours when she was supposed
to be ION tap to speak, II needed On sun
days the demands made upon her usually kept
within eight hour limit. with something ike
seven and one-half hours for the day out The
wages, he said, compared favorably with those OF
other departments Of labor. and, the financial
aspect was scarcely touched upon in the many
objections urged by working women against do
unestic service compared with shop or factory
work. The long hours. the social isolation ana
social stigma attached were the dimculties as
statistically gathered by the Womans Educatonal
and Industrial Union Of Boston.
s.cIt is not that housewives class are hard
employers" said Professor Ely. '"The root OF the
trouble is the indehniteness Of the work sched-
ule When q man goes to work for anotner man
he makes a definite contract as to daily Work
h.r-. and all overtime Is paid That is only fair
There is an agreement moreover. as to vacations
and holidays but for the domestic servant there
is practically no time that she can apsoIutely
count upon as her owr and Legally, no nonoays.
I'm the increasing volume or labor leg1slauon
+ne oeld Of domestic service IS not so much as
touched upon. It would be difficult task
grant you. but in Justice now dc you not 'hilih II
opzht TO be done? It would require OF COURSE Ine
enforcement Of the laws made, personal inspection
80, rreouent petty lawsuits, perhaps but is the
end not worth the means, however tedious: Al
least every intelligent mistress could give thoueht
to some solution of the matter, could orinE 10 pear
upon It the same executive ability and large mind
edness that American women as a "hoie ho'o
given to other domestic problems
In discussing the question Of tips, the lecturer
suggested that definite stipend. however slnai
be added by the hostess to the wage OF every eh-
hJyf has
household while the guests ne relueSie" u i
entirely from tipping
I'm all other Industrial phases continued Iiie
lecturer 1.-The tendency is steadily toward the com
rlete democratizfng Of life. but in this one the ol
FoudaJ lines remain intact Declarations ana
lamentations won't mend matters Every 1air-
v,t,6ad woman in the land will have to give hef
whole soul to her individual knot IN the genera
tanzIe until the whole be smQptheu fairly out,
professor Ely suggested the spread of cooking
.n6 sewing classes In the schools as a factcr III
tser h-eaking The woman who knows how
to cook a head of cabbage will be more patient
with her maid who Is trying TO do 1t. And the
who shat I seT m bond Of
Understanding between them He CITED the, 1ae young i
daughter caught 70 Of & ETe over ~he COOK stove For it's Miss
Reilly at the factory she e1PiaineeGGd eGd nnt
however think that even the miss you'd 1dodG help
"nonst try to substitute sentiment or charity for
rockbottom Justice" said Professor Ely. and ne
- ~ vexed problem the New-York State House
hold Economic Association draft model contracts
sTIch as might be used by mistresses eInploSllis
one SIX or a dozen domestic servants Lhese Ill
use would be binding on both mistress ano MATT; nlau;
Some one suggested that well trained doHeStc
servant could shorten her own hours 3y gooo m nan an
srement and that the first thing TO 90 was 10 m
Sfifufe training classes. so that every nousenoIu
would have practically to resoISe ltsed li'
s,,cb the exasperatng pupil meanwhile receiving
the same wages that were given skilled service:
To-o1acsor F-iy cited school for domestic ser
xsnte IN Boston which practically had 10 go put
of business for want of pupils. He suggested me
urard long
was no compensation in the way or pron9uon p , 20
ts bone6 for in kitchen drudgery- That the mis-
tr.s" sfSe Of the question had not had full airing
was lamented by many departing members ano
of the s.upder dog he had no thought for i mem
And IL he only knew IT., said some one, one, w we re re
eTnected to-he's only man!