New-York tribune., 1906-07-31
VAIN SEARCH FOR MAIDS
Domestics abroad Won't Emi CRATE,
Says Mrs. Egan.

Mrs Hester o. Egan. who has been in Eng
land, Scotland and Ireland for the last three
months as a representative OF the Canadian
government, 20 select domestic servants wishing
employment in the various Dominion provinces.
has sust arrived in New York. She reported that
her mission has been far from successful.
Before / had been long in Great Britain"
Mrs Egan said, II realized that Canada ana
.he limited States are not the only countries
that have the servant problem to deal with. In
the United Kingdom servant girls were drug
on the market until three years ago; since that
time they have become not only noticeably
,fearce but exceedingly independent. In Glas-
COW. FOR instance, the women domestics nave
come 20 realize that they are living IN a Iree
country and have rights as well as the men, ana
they are now asserting them TO the limit. Tney
have actually organized servant girls uniO1l
announced a regular scale OF wages a1lo
declared an eight-hour day. with extra pay for
overtime as well the power Of deciding the
number OF afternoons Off every week which
each girl may have.
sa7The domestic girls in London are no less as
sertive. There they have housemaids' union,
which IS flourishing In several other places the
housamaids are organizing for their own benefit.
1n London one Of the rules is that members
shall be suitably and neatly dressed for their
duties, and the head Of this union. whom found
70 be woman Of unusual intelligence and en-
serprise. informed me that when her organiZa-
rI0n Is a little stronger il intends 20 demand
the same thing Of the employers in the matter
OF dress. and, incidentally, civility.
Another town / visited is Paisley, in Scot
land, whsre / learned that Mrs. Murray, wife
OF Professor Murray, OF Montreal and
woman of wide social and economic knowledge:
IS endeovoring t. encourage the emigration OF
Paisley domestics to Canada. She belongs TO
Paisley and so does her husband. l don't know
lust how successful Mrs. Murray has been.
but / succeeded in getting only one domestic
syirl from that city emgrate TO Canada. The
same dearth and independence of servant girls
found IN nearly all the places visited. Even
in ireland, where poverty is supposed TO reign
] must say 1 succeeded better in my mission
there than elsewhere, as / got fifteen girls. In
all I captured thirty-siX where fully expected
20 get at least two hundred.
''The fact IS" added Mrs Egan. 'the first
class servant girl iE Great Britain, now that
she has begun to assert her rights and sees a
better future for herself, cannot be made TO
understand that she can improve her condl-
Gion by emigrating. And honestly think sne
Es right, too. Most girls employed in the better
tics are kept. have anything but a hard time Of
g, and their wages are good. Indeed. there are
many refined but INDECENT women who would
gladly accept their positions. On the other hand,
the less experienced domestic, aside from her
growing scarcity and independence, is becom-
ing strongly prejudiced against emigrating
20 either Canada or the United States.
This has been brought about to some extent, I
found, by false stories circulated by girls who,
having emigrated 10 this side from the United
new conditions after few months. have re-
turned home and told their friends that dOmes-
tie life on this side of the water is far from
what IL Is supposed 10 he"