The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-20
EVENING CHAT
By RUTH CAMERON

Il had rather stretch my arm or rise
from my chair than be served by one
who does it not for ve''-Emerson
The maid problem was on the tapis.
One woman with a family of three
complained bitterly that she paid her
maid five dollars and a half week.
put out all the washing, did all the up
stairs work herself and even then re-
ceived very poor service.
Another indignantly related how a
domestic sent out by the employment
bureau to look her over, calmly re-
fused to engage herself because there
were two rooms with carpets instead
of hardwood floors, and because the
family was too large The family con-
sists of herself and her mother.
A third disconsolate house mother,
with the abnormally large family of
four, told of her absolute failure to get
any maid at all, although she offers
six dollars, puts out all the starched
things and does some of the cooking g
herself.
The social worker came in at this
stage of the conversation.
The social worker lives alone but
has a very large, old-fashioned house
and a pack of company" She pays
her maid fifty cents a week less than
any Of US, puts none of the washing
out, and does absolutely nothing about
the house herself. Her maid, besides
the regular three meals, often serves
afternoon tea or chocolate to evening
guests. And she has thoroughly
caDable efficient and good tempered
maid, who has been with her for three
years, and who was recomm to
the place by another maid, who served
the social worker for five years and
left to enter q convent.
The social worker related this state
of affairs.
1t was hailed as miracle.
II don't see it." said the social
worker.
.sYou pay fifty cents less than any of
vice. What do you do?''
The social worker thought mo-
ment IF there is anything I do
which is different, it's this she said.
Besides giving my maid her board
and wages, ] try to share with her
some of my interests, and to take
kindly interest in her affairs. I have
a good many unusual experiences, you
know, in my work. Well II l am
alone, I often talk to Mary about them
when she is serving me or when we
are looking over the pantry and ice
chest together, and planning the work,
or in the evening. Several times she
has helped me when I have had in
vestigating to 10 which required two
persons
IN return she tells me about her
beaux a nd her family in Ireland, and
shows me her sisters picture with her
four children in her lap, and her hus-
band standing behind the chair with
his feet crossed, and asks my advice
about her plans for the future and so
FORTH
But doesn't she take advantage of
your kindness and get presuming
and impertinent broke in the lady
with the inefficient maid
The social worker smiled. Il don't
think dignity and Ixindness are in
com patibie,'' she said, land 1 try not
to have them so Ny maids have al
ways been most respectful
We'll, that may do very Well with
Mary" said the lady with the abnor-
ma1ly large family of four, but
think she's an unusual girl Isn't she
the kind that would stay anywhere If
anyone was halfway decent to her2'
she was in five places in two
months before she came to me-. said
the social worker
"Oh, said the lady with the abb
normally large family and then Oh,
look, there goes the LIS new touring
car Why I thought It was much