The Washington herald., 1910-08-07
SOLVING THE SERVANT PROBLEM

as she has the knowledge and power 10
do IT, and to exact for that work the
highest possible wage.
Still another woman was suddenly
dropped from the rolls Of the department
where she worked. She could neither
brew nor bake nor mend. Domestic
science was a closed book 10 her. But
she must live and to live she must eat,
but how? One OF the reasons, the private
reasons, alleged for her dismissal Was that
she dressed too well for a government
clerk. and she did. for she bought the
finest and most beautiful materials she
could find. but everything she wore, lin
gerie. gowns. hats-alI were fashioned
with her own fingers. Her clothes had
long been the envy Of her associates, and
II was whispered that she not only spent
all OF her salary. but went into debt for
the wonderful CONNECTIONS that adorned
her
Her dismissal threw her into the deepest
dispair, for she had no resources, and she
saw starvation staring her in the face,
when she was suddenly inspired. She tells
the story OF this inspiration herself. THAT
night / quit work 1 cried and cried and
cried until cOulG not see out OF my eyes.
From. sheer exhaustion I would drop of
to sleep for moment, but would wake
again sobbing, sobbing, for what was to
become Of me? I was q silly little fool,
and could do nothing. nothing. hadn't
been good clerk. and no one knew it
any better than 7 did. but tried TO make
up in amiability and pleasantness what I
lacked in ability and knowledge. But
what I 70 do
fell asleep and dreamed that ali the
women with whom had worked were in
the room 1t seemed very pleasant 10
have them there, for they wore their
happiest expressions, but they looked so
strange, so much smarter than had ever
seen them / soon saw the reason for
this; they were wearing my clothes. Then
! il all came 70 me I could be a modiste,
and that is how I happened 70 become
/ Nile. Elise" and one OF the most sue
! cessful business women in New York. she
might have added. for Washington soon
/ became too small for the talents OF Mile.
/ Elise, who now blesses the happy day
when she was dismissed from government
/ service
Found Vocation Pleasant.
Yes" you say: but being at the
/ head OF a big establishment is not do
nestle service, and il is domestic service
/ you are advocating" True enough. but
through the door Of domestic service
mademoiselle reached her present posi-
ton. for she took service with a rich and
fashionable woman as a maid that she
might study the types, whius. and vaga-
ries Of the women for whom she planned
10 work. and she insists that she never
had a more delightful and comfortable
time in her life than when she was in
the pay Of Mrs. Moneybags. whom she
converted from a crude and angular wo-
man into a rounded and graceful beauty
but that is another story.
Domestic service" cries some one.
cial level" The mean and low are only
cilaI level" The mean and low are only
those who feel mean and low If you
can keep your thoughts on the stars.
your aspirations high, it matters little
how your hands are occupied. whether
/ they are brewing. baking, or mending.
am not proposing that all those who are
thrown out OF clerical positions should
enter domestic service. Far be It from
me 10 suggest and plan what would be
such an injury TO the service What
co suggest is that when a woman loses
a position because OF incompetency she
should Try 10 find her right place in the
world. not scOrning il even though II
lies among the pots and pans and kettles,
or in some neglected child's nursery.
I4abor-saving machines have revolution
lied domestic service The finest lady in
the land could do her own work to-day
and not soil her fingers. The cleaning
and keeping clean OF a big house is play
to what il was even a quarter OF a cen
fury ago. and 10 my mind il seems much
pleasanter work 10 live among beautiful
things and refined people than TO be
wearing ones life out in a shop or ones
head out with figures. It is what we
make out Of the work, not the character
OF the work that counts.
Herbert's Lines Recalled.
Herberts lines always begin running
through my head when the mention Of
domestic labor evokes a contemptuous
smile or naughty toss Of the head:
a servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine;
! Who sweeps room as by the laws
Makes that and the action me-.
There is a place for everybody in the
world. and il is futile and foolish because
one fails once or twice. yea. thrice. 10
NOPE and mourn and talk about IN luck.
The only road TO happiness and we'll
being Is the road that leads YOU 10 the
place that YOU can I'LL, so the quicker you
put on your seven league boots and
march toward II the Quicker YOU will be
at peace
The CRYING need in America at this
writing Is for good domestics. There is
abundance OF room IN that service for
all the disappointed clerks and shop girls
in the land. if they viii only bring them
selves to the point of giving il a trial.
and disabusing their minds Of the idea
that it is mental.
It is a false American idea, for II pre-
walls nowhere else in the world, that Il IS
hardship for women to work. that they
should be taken care Of by the man OF
their household. their every want pro-
vided for. Absurd! Il Is a woman's right
and privilege TO work; more. it is PAN
acea for her every woe. II women
worked more they would weep less It IS.
TO be sure. not always pleasant or prac-
teal for her to go into the marketplace
and work for hire. but her work in the
home should be as valuable as mans IN
the street, and the greatest shame that
can come to man or woman is the re-
lfusaI OF honest work that stands ready for
their hands
4 Scented n Bargain.
From the Boston Traveller