The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-24
BY FREDERIC J. HASKTN.

The great problems revolving around |
the tariff and States rights and the in |
come tax may be appalling and por- |
tentous, but to the average American !
woman they are all together not patch !
on the servant question. Before the all |
absorbing anxiety as % whether Mary
Jane will stay or whether Susan can
ever be persuaded to come back, other
earthly things fade into insignihcanee- !
From North, South, East, and West comes !
the plaintive plea: send US a compe-
tent, reliable, wei-trained servant It
is just another way Of sounding the old
Macedonian cry. Come over and help
US"
There are 100000 American women do
ing their own work in their own homes
without pay, while l,500.OOO servants and
walters look after the wants Of the re-
naming 100000 families In this country.
This is an arithmetical problem that can
not possibly work out to the satisfaction
Of all, and so a goodIy percentage of the
100000 families are driven into hotels and
b0arding-hOuses- With only one servant
10 every four families. conditions cannot
be idyllic. because the heads of three of
these families must be ever on the strain
10 find. capture. and d0mesticate that rara
avis, "a good, plain cook"
Take up any daily paper and see just
how many weary housewives are beseech-
ing the cooks, maids, and Iaundresses Of
the land TO look with favor upon them
This Is not "a new question in this country
II began with the making of history on
this side Of the pond. Even the Win
throps, the powerful family Of Massachu-
sets colonial governor. had their trOu-
bles- Whenever ships landed servants in
New England, the governor naturally had
the pick of the lot, yet In the early days
or Boston history we find John Winthrop
writing despaiTingly to his father Of the
lying, ungrateful servants" he had. In
those days it was a toss-up whether q
housewife, be she New Englander or Vir-
gilman, should buy a black savage from
a slave ship and train him. get an Indian
fresh from the forest who might toma-
hawk her any minute, or 90 to work and
do the job herself
No wonder a slave ship was often re-
ceived with tears Of thankfulness. The
old elders Of Newport were wont to gather
themselves together after the arrival Of a
Dutch or English SLAYER and piously ex-
press gratitude that "a gracious Provi-
dence has been pleased to bring TO this
land of freedom another cargo Of be
nighted heathens to enjoy the blessings Of
gospel dispensatiOn." At such times there
were also some very strong thoughts IN
their minds about ire-building and other
domestic chores that the benighted
heathens might conveniently lift from
their shoulders in exchange for the said
gospel dispensation.
In the South, where the slaves used 10
be past-masters in the different branches
OF domestic art, one would hardly expect
TO find dearth of servants, yet the
housewives of Memphis. which is located
near the heart of the black belt, are writ
ing to Ireland for servant girls. In reply
"a priest wrote that England had already
drawn upon bis and surrounding parishes
for all available girls. and that those who
had the best interests Of his people at
heart were unwilling TO see them go into
service in foreign lands.
And where is the fault? What is the
reason for this lack OF hands TO do honor
able toll which so soreIy needs TO be done?
Is it because in this country zone whom
you employ to-day may be your equal to-
morrow Have We used the right kind
Of hired girl" so badly that she won't
have anything more to do with us2 Or
is it due TO the fact that women generally
lack the executive ability TO manage
their houses? In widespread investiga-
lion OF the question, the chief reasons
given by employees for leaving their places
were; Hours too long; hours too irreg-
ular. too many restrictions placed on per
s0ual liberty: too much isolation from
friends; too little time allowed for visit
ing; poor sleeping accommodations; poor
food-often the cold and unDalatable re-
mains of the family meal; the illegal
Withholding of wages. and the tendency
Of most housewives 20 have all things
done after their own way. when the way
of a weII-trained domestic might be just
as good and much elsieT.
on the other hand, the employers claim
the help they get is unframed; that ser
wants demand too high wages; that they
cannot allow liberties. for if an inch is
given an ell VIII be demanded; that II too
much liberty outside the house is given
Il IS likely 10 encourage a tendency to-
ward immortality that great many ser
wants are dishonest and viii speedily de-
plete the family larder If not watched
and the universal finality is Il can't get
the right sort Of girl; the best members
Of the working class will not enter do
nestle service at all. preferring the mills
and factories instead"
In this last statement there Is much
explanation and no little pathos As a
factory hand girl Iooses no social caste
She is always entitled to the distinction
OF Miss" or Mrs" and may mingIe
with her former associates. As a domes-
Tic she becomes merged into the great
army of Mary AIMS and finds all the
world one big cold shoulder to her small
social aspirations. The average working
girl is a gregarious creature. She likes to
flock with the men and women of her
class Just as much as do her more fortu-
nate brothers and sisters Of the upper ten.
and when denied this privilege and right
as servant, her loneliness drives her 10