The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
The SerUant Problem,
 And Why There Is One.
Birmingham News.

Blrmlnghdm News.
 From the woman who has employed one servant for fifteen, years to the one who changes every month or week, to the woman who has been read out in church" time and again as being a mistress of undesirable qualities, there goes up a wall of regret that condi- tions are reaching such a crisis that the plight of the average housekeeper is too pitiful to be put in words. The woman who has always had one servant is fortunate in one sense, but it might be suggested that her individual tastes and desires have been lost in the more powerful will of her maid of all work, and in her own home she steps in gingerly manner for fear of transgress- ing certain laws laid down by the tyr annical mistress of the culinary de- partment. Her engagements are made with conditions, and if dates have not been made by the arbitrary individual whom she calls servant, then she may perhaps manage to go. Otherwlse-re- ally 1t Is too ridiculous to tell what she is compelled to do and does resignedly, too. as has been her habit for years. This, you may note, is not lost on the despotic femininity in whose vocabu- lary there is no such word as grati- tude This fear of losing what is considered absolutely necessary at the sacrifice of a certain amount of free- dom and inborn self-respect, is what is doing more to bring about the de- plorable conditions of what Is termed the servant problem" than all the so- called tyranny of the mistress herset.
 There are two enemies to any bet torment to these conditions. Women have always been their own worst en- emies. their severest critics, their most unrelentless prosecutors. That Is put ting 1t pretty strong. but when IL comes to servants there are few women who display any amount or conSclence or charitabIeness toward their own sex The custom of tempting neighoor nurse with higher wages when that neighbor Is in particular need of help (and where is there a mother who IS uot?) is a habit peculiar to the South so if is said. Nancy works for you al S2 a week. Mrs. Blank up the street sees her with your children, very neat. prepossessing girl she thinks and notes her kindness to the children. II is hut an easy matter to offer her $25C n week and maybe other inducements to come to her. and yOu-why you and your 9omfort are not to be considered when Mrs. Blank has proven herself smart enough to capture prize. Ihere are women in this city, so 1t IS arhfm' ed. who in the softest tones or voice ask to speak to the kitchen maid over her mistress telephone or drive up 1T her carriage to the front door and cal susan to the gate. The next day the lady of the house receives notice. Sht and Mrs. Blank do not speak as they pass by.
 The tip nuisance, 1t is said, Is enter ing Into the private homes and now al extra glass of water, bucket or coa
 or a few pieces of kindling must b'
 accompanied by tip, and as for com pany the extra work involves calls fol d generous tip. And the sad par' of it is that women are too much afraid to refuse this demand, The thought O being without help. of being confronteC | with the tob of cooking potatoes anC