The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-24
MAINE WANTS GIRLS
Commissioner Says 10000
eau Find Work.
TRIES TO SOLVE PROBLEM
Coed Wages, Kind Treatment, Shell
ter, Home, and Comfort Await
Those Who VIII Undertake House.
wOrk-SOme Interesting Statistics
COmpiled-WOnders at Conditions.

The Washington Herald is in receipt
Of a letter from Thomas J. Lyons. COM
missioner Of labor and Industrial pur-
suits. in Maine. announcing that one Of
the chief problems confronting the peo-
pie Of that State is domestic labor in the
house
Commissioner Lyons does not say he is
trying to solve the servant girl problem.
but he does say that 1890 homes are
open 10 Industrious girls IN that State,
where they can be assured OF good
wages. good treatment, and the comforts
of life.
Commissioner Lyons says ne has been
working at this problem FOR three years.
and that while he has succeeded in get
ting into Maine a considerable number
of good and faithful house girls who
have given satisfaction in the perform
ance OF homework. the State wants just
as many as it did three years ago.
Wonders at the Facts.
Commissioner Lyons wonders that with
the way open TO employment in the
State of Maine for 1000 young women,
almost at their own terms, as 10 wages.
and with the enormous congestion Of pop
ulation in the cities. accompanied by
poverty. stress. and trial for young wo-
men, they do not come in droves 10
Maine 10 do homework for the well-to-
do families Of that State.
Commissioner Lyons says the few who
have come express satisfaction with their
condition, and he is hopeful of finally
filling this want for household help
throughout the State
From his Office three years ago, were
sent out circulars to Industrial and la
Dor bureaus in 5I cities and towns of
Maine. From these llS replied. They
reported an aggregate number OF posi-
tons for girls willing to work as 1850.
From these facts were worked out the
proportion that the State as a whole
needs 10000. Following is a part OF Com
missioner Lyons letter TO The Washing
ton Herald;
The wages paid are equal to or bet
ter than those paid in stores and many
Offices First-ciass girls are offered from
50 TO Sc a week with board and all rea-
sonable privileges. a further advantage
is that there are no long periods of non
employment There is always a demand
for their services"
Reflects Common Conditions.
Probably Commissioner Lyons letter
reflects conditions. more or less accurate
~, all over New England and the greaN
er part Of the country. There seems to
be widespread aversion to domestic la
Dor on the part of the working woman.
She has pushed her way into the store,
the Office. and almost everywhere that
men were formerly employed, and has
abandoned the field Of her former ac-
tivities in many instances for less pay
and more exacting conditions.
Many studious men besides Commis<
sioner Lyons have endeayored to find
some good reason for this aversion TO
housework. which, generally speaking, is
easier than Office or store work. The
care Of the house has been left in later
years to the most incompetent and most
unreliable women to be found in the COM
munity. and it seems strange that II
should be so. Commissioner Lyons is
not the only official and wise man who
wonders at the conditions presented.
One of the claims made for industrial
education in the public schools has been
that it would go far to solve this prob
lem. Cooking schools and schools Of do
nestle science have been greatly multi
piled in this country, and though some
of them have been running for nearly
a generation no relief seems Ia come
theTefrom. The educated girl either does
not put to use her industrial training or
she does it within her own home where
it is not felt upon society at large.
II would seem that this question OF
housework must somehow soon be settled
by finding a supply OF labor or the Ameri-
can home. as II has been known IN past
generations, is doomed The housekeep-
ers Of the oiden time are fast passing
away, and the hired girl. worth her
weight in gold to the family, is diff
cult TO find anywhere now.
Perhaps It viii be necessary for men