The Washington herald., 1910-08-07

ton Tor stenographers, but that no
women need apply. The officials who had
asked for these clerks did not want
women; did not want to be bothered with
them, and they are not the only officials
who do not want to be bothered with
women" In some Of the offices women
clerks are not received. no matter what
the circumstances or the influences
brought 10 bear.
The prejudice against them seems TO
be growing rather than diminishing. and
it may eventually result IN a falling off
IN the appointments OF women 10 clerical
positions under the government. Whether
this prejudice is unfounded. whether
women can do the same and exactly as
good service as men. is not the question
that will be discussed here but what
other avenues will be open to women
when what some students OF sociology
believe IS inevitable. the restriction OF
women IN government employ makes It
necessary for women to seek other fields
of labor
Ambitious to be regarded as the most
democratic country IN the world. Ameri-
ca nurses some singularly undemocratic
ideas. which result in the drawing Of curl
Gus lines between the classes and estab-
fishing amusing standards A young
woman, for instance. would rather starve
on a plttance OF S. week as a type
writer than she would to live in clover
as a domestic servant. She would rather
live on sardines and stale bread in the
hall room OF a top floor tenement as a
clerk in some shop than she would TO
be comfortably housed. well clothed. and
well fed in gentleman's family. Do
nestle service is the hurdle that all
women are born TO balk at
Despise Domestic Service.
This objection. to what in other eoun-
tries Is regarded as honorable employ
ment, rs excused by the explanation that
It is the American feeling OF independence
that prompts American girls 10 despise
domestic service. What independence can
a girl enjoy who works from to at
typewriter; dimes. like as not. on a sand
wich and a cup OF tea: sleeps on a pallet
in an fll-smelling tenement house. break
fasts on weak coffee and soggy bread.
and lunches. perhaps. on ice cream sodag
Ask a girl so placed 10 take a position
in your family as parlor or nursery maid:
explain to her that sic will be given
comfortable room. the use OF a sitting
room; good. plain food: certain after
Moons out and s. a week. and note.with
what naughty scorn she will reject Nour
offer She wants her freedom. forsooth.
will have her freedom-to starve. 10 de-
generate.
All talk 10 her Of the beauty OF service
the dignity OF labor. is lost. She IS las
good. and better than The woman who
wants 20 hire her. and she viii be no
ones servant. To eat below stairs no
matter how agreeable the surroundings
and conditions, seems to her the lowest
degradation. which brings 20 my mind "a
story-a true story-that I heard years
and years ago. but which still irresist-
ably appeals to my sense Of humor.
A certain literary man IN New York
noted for his rich wife and religious fer
vor, advertised in a newspaper for a
governess who loved Jesus and would
not expect 10 eat with the family" One
OF the applicants for the position sent
him a Roland for his Oliver. She GER
tainly loved Jesus. she replied. and under
the circumstances she would not care TO
eat with the family
wasn't Certain Privileges,
It seems strGage that other young
women. TO whom Domestic situations are
open. should not show the same spirit
and have a like sense Of humor. Few OF
them, naturally, are ambitious to eat
with the family. but they insist upon
other and ofttimes absurd privileges be-
cause they imagine It adds 10 their i'm
portance. 1t is a difficult lesson learned
when a woman comes TO understand that
nothing adds so much to her importance
as work we'll done Those whose minds
are fixed upon the task IN hand have no
time to observe or consider the attitude
toward them Of the people with whom
they are associated. unless It is studlously
rude.
The most Incompetent government clerk
I ever knew passed most Of her time in
complaining Of the rudeness OF the men
in her office. This man had passed her
in the hall without taking of his hat:
that one had spoken 20 her with a cigar
IN his mouth: another had insisted upon
having the window open for the sole pur-
pose Of giving her the rheumatism. So
II is with the women in domestic employ.
II they are constantly looking out for
sights they will surely receive them.
There Is no doubt Of the rooted obIec-
ton in this country to domestic employ
hent among women who must be bread
winners, especially among those women
who have seen better times" or believe
they have seen better times, for one
hears no complaining from real gentle
women, who bear their change Of for
tunes with dignity and calm.
friend employed In one OF the de-
partments tells me that he worked side
by side with woman whose father had
been q member OF a Presidents Cabinet.
who herself had been born with a golden
spoon in her mouth. and that he never
heard her utter one word Of complaint
or dissatisfaction. II was once my good
fortune TO know n lady in New York
who was the housekeeper in the home OF
a multimillionaire. who had not so very
long before been at the head OF her own
household household Of greater i'm
portance and elegance than that she was
then presiding over.
The family whom she served would
have beer delighted to make her one OF
them; 10 have her eat at table and
share in other privileges, but she re-
fused on the plea that It would interfere
with her work. and though I came to
know her well. never once heard her al
lude to her former wealth and position: