Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-10-13
POOR MIDDLE CLASS.
Reformers Fail to Consider Sad Plight
of Millions Who are Ever Struuolino.


of Millions Who are Ever Struggling.
While Mrs. Norton and her sister
phi!anthropistS are dcvoting their
lives TO the comfort OF the poor and
Mrs. Blaine is erecting model habta.
tons FOR the helpless rich who is Civ
ing thought TO the suffering and an.
noyanccS of the middle Classes? Why
should so much time and energy be
expended on extremes whila the mean
is struggling against the most dis
couraging conditions? The rich have
their troubleS-as who has not-and
the poor are entitled To measure of
human sympathy, but what are their
petty gricfs and discomlJrts as com
pared with the overwhelming burdens
of downtrodden middle class? The
rich buy their assistance and relief:
the poor are accustomed by habit and
circumstances To assist ana relieve
themselves; the plain middle.class
folk cry out in their dire extremity:
Save ustor we persist"
The model tenement or apartment
for the middlc-class family should be
a compromise between the Ghetto
1t should be entirely devoid of the
frills that so plainly annoy Mr.. Bart
zen. Or. if there are any frills Mt all.
they should be in the rear of the
apartment, where the frilly lady com
monty lives The usual apartment
occupied by the middle.class person
with all income not to exceed s20,000
year--a mere bauble in this era OF
prosperity-is ridiculous in its failure
of provision for Scandinavia Tho wo.
man with the linen telescope arrives.
takes one look at the limitation of
closet where she is supposed to slum-
Der at intervals. or the basement room
provided for all dOmestics. says some
thing (probably offensive) in n
strange and unfamiliar tongue and de-
parts for Mrs. Blaine's rest cure.
where the families have relays OF help
and day and night shifts. How can
the middle class avail against such
opposition as that?
AS representative of this suffering
stratum of society, madam asserts
that Bartzen is wholly in the wrong
and that she speaks up for all the
frills so dear to Mrs. Norton's heart.
including the gymnasium. hospital and
amusement hall. The gymnasium ana
amusement hall are for the benefit OF
the lady help, the hospital for the en-
forced accommodation of the mistress
of the apartment. She believes also
i'll rear sitting room. large enough
10 hold a piano of ordinary dimen-
sions, and in conservatory filled
with horticultural allurements. from
waving palms to orchids. whittier in
resting periods the lady help may re-
sort and dream of the old home and
the luxuries thereof. Other features
have suggested themselves to madam
which are likely to be approved by
all intelligent hOusekeepers. A guest
room for the lady help is indispensa
bic. a room in which she may lodge
a friend who is temporarily unemploy-
ed and who is resting before taking
up again the burden of life at the Ray
mond. Just off this guestroom should
be a separate bathroom, with a show
or and other appurtcnances. in order
that the lady help may not be embar-
raised by srrrendering her own hath
ing conveniences to her visiting
friend. Special attention should be
paid to closets, large and airy enough
to accommodate the picture hat and
the contents of the linen telescope.
The lady helm is particular in the mat
ter of suitable closet room
The ideal kitchen is the necessary
concomitant Of the ideal apartment. II
should be arranged 50 as TO contain
the iceboX and one or more rocking
chairs. A kitchen without an iccboX
and rocking chair is an nbsurdity in
these days of luxurious domestic SER
vice. Special attention should he paid
to the gas stove, and only that design
shonld he put in which enables the
lady help 10 perform the culinary
functions without stopping over to in
spect the broiler. a lady hclp in
these days should never be asked to
stoop or otherwise lower and demean
herself,-Chicago Tribune.