The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-28
Modern Women
lII.-WOMEN AS MISTRESSES.
BY Frederic j.. Haskin.

In the minds of many people the
terms, "mistress' and "servant,' have
become obsolete and out of Keeping
with American ideas of democracy, al
though others still hold that they are
more in keeping with the relations
which the two hold to each other than
the more modern designation of en-
ployer and cmploye. While the many
conditions bearing upon domestic serv-
ice and its relation to the American
home are recognized as SO important
that a government Investigation is
under consideration, it must be borne
in mind that they do not affect the
whole nation. More than tWo-thirds
of the housewives of America attend
to the comfort and necessities Of their
families without any hired help. Yet
the mistreSses of the country are a
class worthy Of consideration because
Of the social influence they exert upon
women less fortunately situated.
Those who are studying domestic con-
ditions divide mistresses into two
classcs-those who keep only n serv-
ant and those who keep two OF more.
As fully fifty women keep but one
ANt '''N f'' |''' " 49, N''i '''s -
more, it is the one-servant mistress
upon the welfare of the ration. A
great change has taken place in the
relations of mistress and maid in the
past half century. This change is
almost entirely to the advantage of
the mistress. The modern maid re-
sents this fact. In this circumstance
lies the explanation Of the maladjust-
mcnt of domestic service in America
which is the subject of such universal
comment. In the discussion of this
problem at this place only white Serv-
ants are considered, as conditions af-
fecting negroes in domestic service
are radically different both in regard
10 present conditions and past tradi-
tons.
In the earlier period the girl m
ploNed as a helper in the home was
treated nearly, if not quite. as a social
equal. She and her employer worked
side by side and in most instances
she received as much consideration as
a daughter in the family. She was
cared for in illness and her leisure
was apt to be spent largely With the
family. The kitchen, in which she
performed her work, or most of it, was
a CHEEKY, homclike place used extern
slNrly as a family sitting room and
dlllcrlng IN every a from the cheer
less kitchen Of the modern home, even
though the latter be equipped with
tn" latest ConVcnienCoS and be kept
with interchangeable ntatncSs. De-
spite its white sink, polished spigots
ana shining range the average mod
ern Kitchen is not a homelike place,
ana yet 1t is the only sitting room
the average mistress provides for a
lonely girl in which to spend he,
scant leisure. The servant of half q
century ago worked harder for a frac-
ton OF the modern wage. but she re-
c"lV"d consideration-that most i'm
porlant but somewhat elusive oualit,
TOO often found to be lacking anon
the mistresses of today. In return
the girl gave faithful and honest sery-
ice and usually showed herself aDso-
iutely loyal to the interests of her
employer. The changed social condi.
tons make it harder for both womer
today, but 1t is the mistress who frs,
should adapt herself to the new orie,
OF things, and this 50 far she has