The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-04

you at your own estimate. II you meas
ure your opportunities and meet your re-
sponsibilities,. you can lift the rank Of
the housernaid as high above that Of the
shop girl as she now thinks hers to be
above that of cook. You must claim your
inheritance to position of respect and
honor. In order to do this you must edu- I
cate your minds. You must learn how to |
make a fine art out Of cooking and sweep |
ing. You must recognize that in the eyes
of all men openly and those Of all women
furtively, a perfect pie is poem and a |
perfect cook an artist You must learn |
that what you think Is drudgery is really
sacrament and that the work you do |
is as holy as that of the priest
Taught by Professionals.
Having said this (and much moro to
the same effect) out Of full heart, the
minister invited these young WON en- to
take advantage. of the conveniences Of q
model suite of church parlors and an ideal
kitchen.
For their entertainment and instruction
the following arrangements were made:
A professional seanstress instructed
them to make stocks and shirt waists.
A professional musician taught them to
sing the old familiar songs.
professional physical sculturist"
taught them the most charming move
ments In calisthenics
A professional cook taught them the
science of the culinary art.
Besides such occupations, they had the
leisure for conversation and for FASTING
pictures in scrap books for the children 8
hospital. Sometimes they were read to.
Som eti1nes music was provided by SYM
pathetic friends.
They met In this way once a week thru
a large portion Of the year, and their
interest and enthusiasm were unabated
up to the last moment. Better behaved
and more earnest girls it would be hard
to find In any Of our young women's col
leges. They were eager to learn. They
were quick to appreciate kindness. They
were grateful for help.
For Better Service.
Can any one doubt that clubs Of that
kind would do the housemaids good? And
if it would do the housemaids good then
why not the mistresses? Everything
that reflnes these young women and
makes them contented with their lot re-.
bounds by an inviolable natural law to
the benefit of those they serve. If any
of my readers believe that the way to get
+ efficient service is to keep the labofing
classes down." I will let some one else
argue the point. shall satisfy myself
by saying that 1t Is not only an unscien-
tiic idea, but that 1t Is paganism, pure
and simple. If anyone is afraid that this
sort Of treatment will make young women
aggressive and presuming, 1 have only to
remark that If this Is the effect of Gull
ture on other women it will be on them.
Otherwise not.
What an opportunity the multiplication
of such clubs, under the conduct of our
most cultivated women, would give them
to do good to others and to improve the
conditions Of domestic service One of
these advantages, a very clear and posi-.
tive one, is that the house1naid is any
number Of times more willing to be taught
by 9. professional" than by q lmistress."
Another of these advantages Is that with
thoroly organized system Of such clubs
employment bureaus could be discarded.
Every such club would be its own en-
ployment bureau, in and of itself.
We do not know what charming per-
sonalities some Of these young women
possess until we meet them in this way
In spite Of all the abuse we heap upon
them, because of innumerable incompe
tents, there are in every community many
Of these ,housematds whose persons are
as beautiful and whose characters are as
noble as those of the women for: whom
they work It is credibly affirmed that
were It not for the "housen1aids'' from
: churches in Cincinnati could not survive
a year.
Club Success.
, the pastor and his helpers who conducted
, this experiment are ready to say with
, enthusiasm: Here is a feasible scheme to
improve domestic SERVICE" Make such
|. efforts seriously and conscientiously and
, they will pay. The element Of religion
, was not left out in this one. At the close
Of every meeting the young women re-
: peated the following pledge, offered the
I following prayer and sang the following
r hymn:
Y PLEDGE OF THE HoUsEMA1Ds CLUB.
Y I hereby promise:
r That as a member of the Housemaids' Club,
I will earnestly strive after personal purity in
thought and word and deed, and will use my in
huence with all my friends to lead them to dc
9 the same.
r That I will show myself kind and friendly in
a all the relationships of life; but that In my work
h sin any home where Providence casts my lot
: VIII pc especially earnest and careful SO to live
. that the life of the household win be happier and
e better for my presence in it.
PRAYER OF THE HoUsEMAIDs' CLUB
-, = Lord, our Heavenly Father, we beseech thee
> to bless the Housemaids' Club We long to Dc
- the most good we can and thereby to enjoy the
It truest happiness Of life. We therefore pray
e Thee to help us realize how great opportunity
q we have TO influence the lives of others in tn,
: sacred privacy Of the home. May we be faithful
- to appointed task cheerful In our spirits
= helpful in our labors that all shall see tina
q we have been with Jesus Christ, our Lord
II Amen.
c SONG OF THE HOUsEMAIDs' CLUB.
l. To lives OF patient helpfulness
: We all are summoned by that voice
~ That speaks with firm authority
"a And bids us in our task rejoice.
We may not always choose that task,
IL It may not always please us best, ~
IL But in performing 1t Alright
" Our troubled hearts gain peace and rest.
- We thank, Thee, Lord, that we are called
: To labor In LIES noblest sphere,
ss The sphere Of home, and pray that we
i Nav hold that nrfvi1o0e mo-
1t And Tho th.a. homes are MI our 49,