The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-06
THE HOUSEWIFE AND THE
SERVANT PROBLEM.

Every once in a while some essayist
writes something on the many domestic
problems that have been bones OF con-
tention since the meeting OF the first
woman's club. But IL is seldom that
one receives such an interesting disser-
tation as In Isabel Wilder's article in The
Home Magazine for October.
on the subject OF wages she says
'Ihe woman who raises the rate OF
wages In her own household compels
every other employer In her neighbor-
by accepting inferior service. and this re-
suit follows whether her motive in so do
ing was TO raise a wage untustly low or
TO avail herself OF the efficiency acquired
through some other womans careful
training. or whether IL was done I'm pure
thoughtlessness. The woman who takes
into her employ, in place of a competent
and well-trained cook or housemaid an
unframed and inexperienced one. at the
same rate OF wages, because the girl,
through natural stupidity or ignorance OF
the ways OF her adopted country. lis not
up 10 the tricks OF girls in general or
because the housekeeper wants TO he able
10 train her from the start not only
raises the relative rate OF wages, but
puts a premium on incompetency.
She repudiates her obligations TO her
own family. for nowhere else is the en-
ployment OF unskilled labor more extrav-
agant than in domestic service. where
processes are so intricate and varied, and
where routine counts for go little. and
unskillful experimenting can hardly pro-
duce the best conditions for bodily health
and comfort. There are natural laws
that govern I'm the economic world mex
orably, without respect to sex or person.
and one Of them Is that the nature OF
the supply Is governed by the demand
and any employer I'm domestic service. as
In any other occupation, who introduces
into that service the unskiled or socially
inferior class. pushes out OF II. and into
other fields OF labor. the better class OF
workers. thereby compelling every other
employer In the occupation TO accept in
competency and lowering the social
standing OF every worker employed In IL.
as we'll as disturbing the whole Industrial
balance by sending the better class Of
workers from the employment into 9th
ers perhaps already oVercrowded. 1t ~
the careless disregard OF such laws and
obligation on the part OF the employers
that has put the occupation OF domestic
service into the hands OF the unskilled
class OF emigrants.
THE housekeeper who does her whole
duty To those who are members OF the
household-may her tribe increase,-
rests serenely I'm the confidence Of hav-
ing performed the whole duty of woman.
Nevertheless. every once in while her
home Is invaded by the reprehensihle
one Of the nomadic host that forms the
constant procession through our Ameri-
can kitchens with uncomfortable and
sometimes calamitous results; or sud
den demand Tor an increase OF Wages
from "A carefully trained and reliable
maid reveals the fact that some other
housekeeper In the ncighborhood, IN dire
stress OF circumstance, or for less non
orablc reason. has been tempted To oner
higher wages The good woman can not
understand how she becomes the victim
OF such unmerited disaster. and wonders
why people can't mind their own Dusl-
ness and let her alone, and she forthwith
goes to the intelligence office and nils the