The Rich Hill tribune., 1910-04-07

be able to train her from the start,
not only raises the relative rate OF
wages, but puts a premium on incom-
potency. She repudiates her obliga-
tions 20 her own family, for nowhere
else IS the employment OF unskilled
labor more eNtravagant than IN do
nestle service. where processes are
so intricate and varied and where
routine counts for so little and unskil.
ful experimenting can hardly produce
the best conditions for bodily health
and comfort There are natural laws
that governin the economic world IN.
exorably. without respect 10 sex or
person. and one OF them Is that the
nature Of the supply Is governed by
the demand
The common expedient for balan,
cling the eXtravagance OF incompetent
service Is using poorer quality OF ma.
teriais and there again the same law
holds; less price means less OF some
thing. For example. we hear house
keepers say. "Oh. yes. know these
extracts are perfectly pure and much
superior in every way. but they are so
expensive and the cook Is no more
careful about wasting them than the
cheap ones. 50 I buy the cheap ones"
The facts are that the cheap extracts.
II really taken from the fruits or
spices they represent. are so diluted
that O much larger quantity must be
used 10 get the same result In the
case OF fuodtstuffs the lower grades
have a smaller percentage OF nourish-
ing power-Rn objectionable sin. Ev.
cry housekeeper is by her demand in.
nuencing the quality Of the supply for
every other housokeeper II Is the
demand OF the economical ~ house.
keepers that has made the problem u
adulterated foods assume such proper
tons
Large numbers Of industries are de.
pendent upon the home for the con.
sumption OF their products-the mar.
ket gardener. the dairyman. manufac.
turers Of grOccrs' supplies and an the
multitude o. industries engaged In the
production OF supplies for house dec.
oration and furnishings. and every
change IN the economic conditions
there r. registered IN some disturb
ance throughout this whole system o,
dependent industries
Tho real worth Of the decorative
and osthetically valuable things lies
In the artistic skill put into them. IN
combination OF colors. design or work.
manship, and the degree of lntelli.
genco necessary IN the proper care
of them Is IN almost direct proportion
10 such value when such intelligence
IL lacking In the housemaid the care
OF these things falls upon tho mistress
of the house and the wise woman Of
to-day very often comes 20 the con.
cluslon that her life and time have
too many more important demands
upon them 90 be used up IN tho way
that ownership Of many of these valu.
able things makes necessary Conse
quenuy the demand for tho really
hlgh-class commodities falls on and
those OF cheaper quality. limitations
etc, take their places and tho skllful
and artistic employees are supplantod
by cheaper and unframed workers
As n rule, lOw-claHs labor can be en-.
ployed prontably only upon the cheap.
or grades Of products, Tho compe-
toncy and intelligence OF those en-.
ployed as cooks and housemaids has
an important Influence upon the quai.
ity OF the supplies demanded by the
housekeeper and Il depends upon
these demands whether the employers
in the production OF these supplies.
who furnish honest. first-class quality
and pay good wages TO a high class
OF workers. shall be able 20 prosper
or whether the market shall be mo.
nopolized by the law-grads products
These are some OF the responsibility
ties that tho housekeeper assumes
when she becomes an employer. To
, study them and meet their demands
would not only lead 10 the solution OF
? that modern riddle Of the Sphinx ths
; domestic service problem. but would
help conditions throughout the in,
duatrial world
The thoughtful women Of the coun
/. Try should become actively interested
I In theaN questions. The great meet
. Is for general organized effort Amonl
. intelligent women TO put tho one In
I dustry exclusively controlled by then
into ia proper place In the socia
0 order.