The Washington times., 1914-09-01
What Are the Pri0ileges Of domestic
Helpers

Dear Annie Laurie.
Will you please write your opin-
ions on the home privileges of
the domestic helper? l read your
articles and enjoy them very much.
The place where work the
woman keeps two girls. and when
we go anywhere evenings and
come in We always find the front
door locked Is that a home priv
ilege? We have to go around the
house through six back doors
when one would do, if she, the
mistress. didn't feel SO superior to
her helpers.
We are both respecta BILE, white
Americans. but if we should want
company We could entertain them
in the kitchen. on the back porch
or elsewhere because we work.
Is il any wonder the girls don't
want housework where they have
nice homes" No! The housegirl
finds her place just respectable
stopping place, not a nice home
'' ~ Yours TRULY.
VOW. Your Truly. you write like
M a good. sensible girl who has
" got a silly idea into her head
by mistake. You are asking
my advice about it. and I'm going to
be honest and talk plain English. II
you don't like what I say I'm awfully
sorry. but so Ions as you have asked
me, there's only one thing for me to
do honestly and I'm going to do it
right now.
Why do YOU think that the woman
VIII" pays you money to do her work
feels above YOU" Just because she
wants you 10 use the business door Of
1F ba
You aren't guest in that house. and
YOU aren't a member Of the family. You
are there on business, good, decent,
honest. self-respecting business. II !
were in your place would haze too
muCn respect for myself to try 10 crowd
in where there was no room for M.
Is there chauffeur employed in the
family where you work? Who're does
he sit when he takes the family out for
q drive-in the back seat with mother
and grandma and Cousin Carrie, or IN
the frorl seat where he can atteni TO
his business?
When the groCers boy comes 10 de-
liver goods. where does he come? To
the back door. Have YOU ever heard
him say that YOU feel above him be
cause you don't make him 60 1" the
front door and ring the bell when he
wants t. hand you "A box Of "GSs and a
ca abOagC?
The Service Door.
How docs the mIlIlman manage g. de-
li:er milk at the back door without
having his feelings hurt And the coal
ices that come in at the front d"or,
toe, and the ice
Your part Of the house is the service
part. the business part. Your l:lt"hrn
is your office, and the kitchen door is
the handicst. the most convenient and
rhe only practical door for YOU to use
in goirr in and out Of sma house.
What do YOU want to do. parade
through the living room with your
(,i,rds and have the guests Of the
house gaze at each other in amaze
What 2 lot Of nonsense women always
talk about people who feel superior 70
them.
N,Men | go into shop to huy veil
uont the girl at the veil counter to
talk 10 me about wells and about n-,hlng
else
She may he twice AS clever as an.
five times as good LOOKING. three tunes
as well dressed. and have iamlIy tfre
that would make mine louN like black
borr,. bush when its all conc out OF
blossom But don't want that girl to
act as If she were doing ne great IA
vor when she gets down a Vel to show
10 me.
She isn't dCins me favor at all.
She's doing what shes paid to DO, and
she ought to be proud enough Of her
work to keep her mind on it and never
even think Of anything about me, eN-
cept to wonder how much money she
could make me spend for the good of
her store al her counter.
When A woman comes to my house to
sew. she's there to sew. not TO ne en-
tertained And vet ! have seen good
dressmakers maze themselves so oh
noXious with ridiculous airs that no.
BODY would have them in the house for
day.
Come. sisters, let's borrow a little