The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-10-23
DOMESTIC SERVICE.
Family Servants the Theme Of
DR.. Talmage's Sermon.
Humble Vocation should Rightly
BE Regarded as One of Honor.
Woman's Opportunity In the
Kitchen and Nursery.

copyright. 1919. by Louis Klopsch.l
CHICAGO. July 26.-In these days Of
social and domestic struggle the prob
EN- Of family help is rapidly becoming
me OF the first importance in our great
.ities. Or. Talmage's sermon shows
that domestic service. far from being
1 vocation TO be despised, should right
y be regarded as one Of honor and lu-
.ratiye reward. The text is Matthew
*, p. "Whos0syer will be chief among
[ Sou let him be your servant"
Startling theme. Apparently a con-
Tadiction I'm terms but really pro-
'ound truth proved by reason and ex-
perience The men most honored in the
Horld today and the men Of the past,
whose names history will never for
get, are the men who have rendered the
world the best service. Eminence and
asting fame are won not by riches or
dtles, but by doing something that ben
silts others. That is a sound general
principle which applies not only TO the
highest walks Of life, but TO the
aumblest. II may correct our views Of
1 station which IL is now the fashion
20 hold In small esteem II we see how
[ is affected by this principle l speak
" the girls who. I'm performing the
humble duties Of domestic service, con-
Tibute so much 10 the comfort and
happiness Of a family
The tremendous opportunities OF use
.ulness open 10 a consecrated domestic
5 the subject. No position today ac-
,essible 20 q woman Of ordinary men,
nl and physical capabilities will bring
greater returns. financially and spirit
ially, than that offered TO the average
,ervant girl The gods were supposed to
aave allowed the beautiful queen OF
Cyprus TO bless her little kingdom in
wonderful way. Every place Of the
rocky island which her foot might
ouch would instantly be covered with
brilliantly colored fora or with rich
green verdure. Not so does God endow
any human being; but in better way
Toes the fable come true. The humble
domestic Servant. be she cook in the
titchen, or a guardian in the nursery,
br waitress in the dining room, or
imply a chambermaid, may live life
which will carry fragrance wherever it
goes.
But this sermonic theme has Its dark
side as well as its bright. 1t Is shad-
owed either by avoidance or by sloth-
tuiness-by avoidance because in de-
spising It and seeking other occupa-
lions inconvenience and social diff
.ulues are entailed on others; by sloth-
fulness because no one can do a duty
BADLY or carelessly without deterlorat-
ing in character. The kitchen or the
nursery may be a throne room, with a
..onsecrated domestic servant as a
aueen, or IT may be a den Of miserable
irudgery and the scene Of constant
pickering and discomfort In olden
times there were two classes OF sery-
ants. both male and female. The one
was that consecrated band Of workers
which clearly realized that true sery-
tee, no matter how humble. implied
aonor and usefulness.
The second class OF servants was
composed OF the sullen slaves captured
In war. They were, FOR the most part,
disgruntled and rebellious seryitors.
They felt that the tyranny Of fate had
placed the captives' manacles upon
their wrists, and as soon as possible
they would fee when chance for es-
rape offered. So there are women to-
day serving in the kitchen and in the
nursery who act as II they believe that
they are captured slaves. They are
grumbling against their work and
meager pay. They are spending one
half Of their time in finding fault
with their mistresses and the other
half In trying 10 find out a way Of es-
tape into some other occupation where
they can have more liberty and In
creased emoluments.
The word royal" Is not restricted TO
station. II IS legitimately applied TO
any woman whose conduct In her own
sphere is noble and faithful-conduct
(which is becoming or fitting 10
uueen." Nor is the financial compen-
sation for her service inadequate. Her
remuneration is as large as any other
wage Garner in proportion TO the phys
lcal labor and mental training which
tre required Of her. Prove it, I will.
Compare today the net financial re-
turns OF the average servant and those
Of the unskllled worker In any other
departments Of life In our large cities
the nurse girl receives at least $3.50 to
81 and IS per week, the good cook
rom "a to 81, even TO $40, per week,
the waitress 81 per week, the cham
bermaid S4 per week. That means that
each one Of the household servants re-
ceives, usually. wages running any
where from SIT TO S25 per month.
That Is more than many OF the well
dressed fiOorwalkers in the large city
stores get. That Is more than the
average typewriter receives, for she
has 10 pay rent ana board, Which the
domestic servant gets free.
I am talking about the princely net
income Of an average servant girl. But
n you are going TO judge the condition
Of each class a laborer by the standard
OF money then the servant girl is not
only better paid but she receives
steadier service all the year round. She
is not laid of Ike the masons or car
penters or the lake sailors or like the
many employees who, though during
the busy seasons they receive high
wages. are idle during certain months
OF the year. The royal domestic can
have perpetual employment. Thus,
from a financial standpoint, | would
commend to our sisters and daughters
this noble work Of the kitchen and the
nursery. | commend the occupation
TO you because the financial returns are
princely in comparison with the mental
49,