Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-06-24

A 8 3
allied that we are not living under
the feudal system, and that he who
performs task, which every good
housewife has likewise done, unless
she has been incapacitated. must be
considered chattel Serfdom is still a
microbe in the mind of many employ
ers. The woman who goes in to an
other woman's kitchen and does her
duty there has conferred just as
great, if not greater, favor than the
one who parts with her lucre in com
pensation for such service Is it not
a matter OF exchange? No obligation
involved Yet. viewed from another
standpoint. Is there any monetary
consideration that would be equivalent
to compensate for the faithful devo-
tion and tender. loving care of many
an '0ld Nanny? What amount of
gold would be sufficient in exchange
for a mothers patient, devoted and
tireless effort toward the comfort and
welfare of the loved ones entrusted to
her care? The wealth of a Rocke-
feiler would look small in comparison.
In the declaration of Independence
we hear about the Equality of Man."
regardless of color, creed or previous
condition of servitude Evidently this
does not mean to apply to the present
condition. The man who handles the
pick and the one who sweeps the
street is Just as necessary to the well
fare of the community as the one who
sits in his office and draws salary
as "overseer of the highway" and
should be looked upon as such. We
are all in the process of evolution,
and few who have discarded the
sWaddling7clothes. Another phase
which must not escape notice in the
solution of this very grave problem,
which, like perpetual motion, bids fair
TO never be realized is this:
When man employs another he
makes definite understanding as to
a certain amount of labor for stated
consideration But it is very differ
ent with the lady CD of the house. |
keeper, as that sounds more elevating
to employ housekeeper. The defini- |
ton of which, to the average indi-
vidual who employs one, is very com
plicated. To her it is one who is an |
artist in the culinary line, understands
all the details of a well-regulated |
household do the washing, ironing, |
baking bread (for George so loves
homemade bread) do the family |
mending, look after little Jennie and
Susie; feed and care for the pet ami |
mails, if there are any; keep all the
yerandas, stairs and walks clean, not l
too seldom, water and NOW the lawn;
Iun all the errands; wait on company
and pick up after the children. InI
fact, be chef, housekeeper, laundress,
ladies' maid, valet, governess and |
nurse all in one package. Quite a |
genius to be sure-and to cap the CHI |
max, must always be good natured |
and never SO far forget herself as to
suggest that there might be a little
0ereliction on the other side. II
ALI those admirable qualities for the1
extravagant sum of four or five dol
lars week, seven days in the week,
for the biblical Injunction had refer
ence only to the OK and the ASST as
many hours in the twenty-four as
could be claimed. For very often of /
an evening our lord and lady wish
to sally forth and the children could
not be left alone. But of course,
Dina" gets all the recreation that
she needs in the great varsity of
household duties. Then, too, She
should seek the arms of Morpheus sol
as to be recuperated> sufficiently to
begin the routine again next morn
ing.
Will the time ever come when a i
mother realizes that her duty does
not end when she has guarded eare-i
fully over the welfare 'of. her own chill
d-en, but feels it incumbent upon her
to use every effort toward the WE'LL
being of all who come under her rocf.l
For Bridget is Just as precious to herI
mother and the community as whole
as Marjorie is. Both were created
altke, are tending upward to the same
goal and if we accept what the scrip
tlre has taught us, when released from
this earthly hahitation, We are all one
in spirit. Either man or woman Who'll
puts an obstacle in the way of the
proper development OF zone OF the
least of these" or fails TO lift hand
for their protection, is not worthy the
name
The cry is often heard: 81 have
such poor help. Yes, and there al
ways will be Incompetent help. For
an efficient person must be a very
strong character to acceps domestic
position while society points the finger
of scorn at one who is employed inI
that capacity.
The president of a normal school in
one of the states said ie respected
the girl who refused to go in the
kitchen, but rather went in the shop
at starvation wages. He hoped the
time would come when no one would
accept such position while it was
looked upon from SUCH a point OF
view.
Remove the stigma, then, and not
until then will the servant problem be
solved.
KATHARINE CAMPBELL.
Honolulu Hawaii.
June y, 1913