Gilpin observer., 1915-03-25


must be experienced, which she is
milliners' or dressmakers' helpers are
wanted.
The only position open to the great
army Of young women looking for
work is in households.
She secures place of this kind aft
er going the rounds, as a last resort.
No matter how amiable the mistress
of the home may be, if she is maid
of all work, the pleasant smile may
tighten her heart, but it will not light
en- the burden of work her hands, and
hers alone, must accomplish. Hard
as the toll is, most girls would not
complain If little sunshine could
drift in now and then to dispel the
gloom of the steady, monotonous
grind. Willfully blind is the mistress
who cannot see that an injustice is
done to the maid who is refused the
health-giving privilege of an after
noon a week to get out of doors and
breathe Gods free, invigorating sun
shine. and every other Sunday for
herself as well.
1t is the monotony of the work that
causes girls to shrink from engaging
In it. Few 'mistresses take the trou-
BILE to consider how pitifully disheart-
ening is the houseworker's lot. Up in
the morning at dawn, i'll or well,
through zero winter weather or SUM-
mer heat, going through the same
duties of getting hearty breakfast
ready with the utmost dispatch. II the
chops brown occasionally trifle too
much, the eggs play joke on the
three-minute process, or the biscuits
refuse to raise quite enough. not one
mistress in fifty is wise enough to
wait until they are alone to inquire
about it, but takes the maid angrily
to task before the entire family at
the table.
To offset this lonely existence, what
are her pleasures? Visiting her girl
friends on her outing days. and often
er than not helping them in their
tasks, or bringing her hard-earned
wages home to the old folks, who
grow each day more dependent upon
her earnings. People who do not un-
derstand set up the cry: why don't
girls who are looking for work take
positions to do general housework,
where their wages are paid regularly
and a roof and good food furnished
them"
Money, a roof and food furnished
are not everything. Who can blame
the young for craving evenings to
themselves for amusement and the en-
ployment which permits them this
relaxation after the days labors are
over? Housework would not be dread
ed as an occupation by young girls
II the matter of recreation for them
was entered into and adhered to by
their mistresses. Girls should have
home privileges to make them content
ed. What girl would not appreciate
and be doubly faithful to the good mis-
tress who gave her the use Of nice,
neat, plainly furnished sitting room,
to which she could invite her friends
one evening In the week? The girls
and their escorts would be decorous
in their department, appreciating the
loan of the family Victrola and the
privilege of enjoying cakes and cof-
fee.
The anticipation OF such pleasure
would be something for girl to look
forward to- Her work would not seem
monotonous. There would be smile
and a song on her lips instead OF a
sigh. II large number Of women
employing maids would enter into
such compact for Frightening the
lonely lives of the girls working in
their homes, the housemaid problem
would be happily solved with satisfac-
tion all around.