The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-02
Men to Replace
w omen in the
Home Laundry,
BX Austin Mann
By Austin Mann.
n LMOsT without a question the aver
IN age housewife will declare that III
. laundry work Of the household give
her more trouhle than ANYTHING IL

n LMOSTs without a question the ave,
IN age housewife will declare that I'll
~ laundry work of the household give
H.. her more trouble than anything els
In the economy OF the home. TIL,
bachelor who has SHIRTS Numbered at ia,
& ~ reasonable price and with tho minimum
of wear and tear, cannot appreciate the 10
s.tion of the housewife who turns her hous,
hold wash of linens. napery. understands
shirt waists, and the like to the machiner,
of the modern laundry.
q In certain household in a big city wher,
the idea Of ever getting competent laun
dress for one of the best equipped of home
laundries had been given up as hopeless, tn,
housewife sent out the laundry work e
one of these machine driven washing estab
llshments The net result OF the experiment
was a triangular hole cut in an importec
double danask tablecloth that Is almost i'm
possible Of replacing to match the other
napery. And not cent of restitution for the
loss.
No Washing Edict of Girls.
The time has come when the hired cir
OF the household distinctly says No wash
Ing In her advertisements. She limits tn,
number In the family Ii, she can, but tina,
she Will do no washing is fixed condition
For the ordinary family of SIX, the averag.
washing and ironing will require two day.
of a woman's time at a cost OF So to $4 so /,
week. the household furnishing everything
including car fares and perhaps two meals
a day.
Two things are suggested to the workere
OF the great city In this condition, which rap.
Idly s growing worse. In the first place, /.
{ It not possible for a laundry system to be
perfected which will do the work OF the aver.
age household away from tho home, takinl
fair profit for the work and Insuring the
goods against destruction and loss?
Wages Better than Laborer's,
But, as more suggestive second consld.
GRAFTON, isn't the average earnings of the
washer In the average household quite large
+ enough to attract male labor to the work
The position OF the housemaid is that wash
Ing Is too hard for her, and many washer.
women declare that 1t Is too much for them
Is It not time for the male laborer to consider
the prospect?
Many a laborer at the hardest work In al
weathers that are at all permissible receives
his s1.50 day. paying his car fares to and
from his work. and carrying his cold lunch.
con. perhaps to be eaten out Of doors In the
cold. Such a man, taking up hand washing
IN the average household, would find him.
self sumptuously received and cared for
The work OF washing would not be nearly
80 lat1guing as that of digging trenches. TO,
instance; his work would be In a warm base.
ment In winter and In a cool basement IN
summer; warm luncheon would be served
him at table; he would receive his $3.50 a
day and his car fares would be paid in many
cases he would be given a better dinner than
he could command at home, provided he gave
satisfaction In his work.
Man Would Do Better Work.
It will be conceded In the main that a mar
would be a better washer than woman car
be, He has more strength In the first place
BY nature he Is more methodical and In the
adjustment OF laundry paraphernala and In
the use OF soaps, starches smoothing irons
and the like, his natural mechanical tastes
would lend to oertainties In effect that FEW
women command Tor Instance, if lust SO
mn tcI. I.,t, an