The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-01-15
"Salaried Daughters"

"Salaried Daughters"
Under this head the New York In
dependent, in it's customary lucid and
helpful way, discusses the question Of
keeping Girls in the Home" a ques
ton quite as important as that sc
widely discussed a few years ago oil
How to Keep the Boys on the Farm
Beginning with the statement that il
is desirable that daughter should re
main in her fathers house during thai
period of indefinite length that comes
between the graduation and the mar
riage day, the question is carried or
to a reasonable solution in suggesting
plan whereby the girl may develor
into an individual with the right and
power to decide for herself and at the
same time enjoy the protection-phys>
cal, financial and moral-tO which, as
a daughter and a woman, she is en-
titled.
1t is admitted that the feeling which
prompts a young woman to leave the
home to seek economic independence is
normal and creditable one. Every
adult, able-bodied, capable individual
has a right to earn his or her own
living, and, though the daughter may
do this in assisting her mother in the
family home-making, and in such fila
attention to both parents as is just
kind and seemly, these services do not
have a commercial or financial value
and she must ask her father for the
money for her wardrobe, her charities
her amusements and her general cur
rent eXpenses-nOt as wage, but as
favor. 1t is disagreeable to ask fol
money, whether the custodian of the
purse is a father or a husband, and
though the mother usually arrangeS
this for the daughter, the latter feels
that her usefulness in the home, is not
taken into account in the disbursine
process.
The situation here is easily analysed
On the one hand is a young woman al
the period of her life when she is most
energetic and ambitious and most
needs to be given work and RESPONSE
bility with such compensation as oil
right belongs to these. On the Other
is voluntary or indefinite services tf
which no financial value is attached
and which she feels, too often with
good reason, are not appreciated. En-
ters here the young man with PROBES
sions of affection and love and dec
laration that he needs her to make
home for him of which she will be
queen, and the early and perhaps in
iudicious marriage follows.
To relieve the strain OF the trying
situation, before the condition illus
trated by the old saying OF Jumping
out of the frying pan into the fire
supervenes, the following salary sys
tenn is proposed:
In many cases where the daughter
leaves home wholly or for the day tt
do teaching, typewriting, or other
work in Office, shop or factory, there
is need of her work in the home, arc
often help has to be hired to take hel
place. In such case, the daughter
should be given a regular salary, APP
proximately the equivalent of What
she could earn outside after making
allowance for board, room rent ant
mum berless privileges a girl has in he1
fathers house. The salary should bt
at least equal TO what would have tt
be paid for the same work If a strang
er were called in to do it, and the
duties should be as distinctly defined
and as promptly and efficiently per
formed. This is very different
thing from an allowance without def
mite duties.
The plan is commended to parents
in whose homes one. or more idle
daughters bide, feeling that they arr
useless or Observation-Disclosures.
pensioners, whose services are mo-
taken into account in the household