New-York tribune., 1907-11-04
WHAT Is THE SOLUTION2
After Varied Experiences Two Women
Give Up" the Domestic Problem.

What OF the unframed woman who must earn
ea th HNehhood? nN What Of the woman going down
-, @ mn mn tOWard the sunset, without family or
IFlehds? These the questions that are heinz
asked over and over and over again What of the
nousehoIds that are willing and glad to give a com
~ Hoile' conslderate treatment and good
wages to maid. helper or housekeeper and cannot
nh1 i, them? What of the women who want and are
WAihg 10 pay promptly for cleaning laundry worl,
service? 'S Competent
One humble household composed of two nrofas
slona1 women. has been trying for six rnontbs to
answer these questions. The two attepted to start
nousekeeplng IN small and simple way thirty
nhIes from New York for the summer They were
poth IN the city all day. they lived with the utmost
simplicity, they wanted to make their little cotaFe
d nome Tor their helper, well as for themselves
- .I lions III our village were SUCH, said one
OF theSe women, that could guarantee vvorl, 10
Ieliapie man OF almost any trade, and knowing
1Ioi the experiences of friends the probable diff
Guilty OF keeping the ordinary unattached maid
cohtehted we applied to one OF the charitable or
ganizatiOns in the city for colnle with or with
out a child, promising work TO the man good
wages for the wifes services as houseworker and
two rooms. besides the use of the kitchen and the
privilege OF unlimited garden making. The head of
the associations relief work said promptly:
we haven't couple on our lists (they keep in
touch with some six thousand famies) who would
consider such an offer. good as it is None them
want TO leave the city L can't promise you any
hope OF a couple, either
The summer proved a series of exneri,nen+s
Ihote OF less disastrous and trying. One widow
with an eight-year-old child. who had declared her
self competent to do any and every thing that
might be required proved helpIessly shiftless and
sioVenly and left feeling herself bitterly agerieved
Her successor q woman with a thirteen -year-old
daughter, developed in few days a carping spirit
of complaint about every detail Of the life and
work and proved wilfuly negectful of the most
obvious demands Of her position. She said frankly
that the child must live in the country to keep
wei; at times she seemed TO appreciate the kind
ness shown the little daughter. who was included
as FAR as possible, in all drives picncs but she
could not, or would not, control her complaining
tongue, and she steadily shrked every possible de-
tail OF the housekeeping-crea an atmosphere
of disorder and discomfort
"One woman after another came and went-and
II puzzled us, who worked hard through any stress
through good days and bad watch how our help
ers however superior they might seem in the first
interview. seemed when put TO the wearing test to
lack conscience, reliability, common sense even
and to have no care whether or not they kept the
position.
Now that have been in the city for some
weeks. having taken refuge in an apartment hotel,
we are still puzzled and disturbed by the same
problem in different form. We paying several
dollars week 10 the laundries because we have
not yet been able TO find a upon whom We
can rely. Woman after woman known to be de-
pendent upon such work pays attention 10 re-
quests to call and get work. Woman after woman
has been tried. has done the work badly. has kept
1t days beyond the week. has cooly handed work
on hand over to another without apology. And
know that lack Of courteous treatment and failure
TO pay promptly the bottom OF our trou-
bles. We wonder what is?"