The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-02
EcoNoMIZlNG IN SERVANTS
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)

Copyright, 1a15, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate).
As far as our own comfort is con-
cerned, most Of us are not much at
tected by the great European war.
Now and then we find that it touches
unsupported laces, for instance are
harder TO get than they used to be. and
household linen Is more expensive.
Then, too, the best class OF buffers,
footmen and chauffeurs have left for
Europe-butlers and footmen, anyway,
but perhaps the American chauffeurs
LETT are the equals OF the foreign ones
who have gone. For running an auto
mobile Is q job that American men
IKE. It $40 .s
Whether or not we keep a butler
and footman. the servant problem is
constantly growing more complicated.
In many industrial towns. the women
servants leave domestic service to work
IN the factories. Wages demanded are
higher--and going higher still. In
some places servants are voioing def
mite demands In the way of hours,
rates OF pay, and the kind OF work they
There is no reason why servants
should not demand better treatment
than they have been used TO rceiv-
ing, and higher wages, too, for that
matter. But the whole situation makes
q difficulty for the woman who has
only a small allowance for domestic
service. She cannot afford a really ex-
perienced servant, often she cannot
get q green" one because the unskilled
worker goes to the factory. What Is
she 70 do? 49,
Usually she longs for the time when
cooperative housekeeping shall have
been developed to such an extent that
all size will need to do will be to push
n hNNN Tn a.vIna e,I,. y
on the table-and dinner will marvel
ously appear from some wonderfully
efficient central kitchen. She knows
this time Is far away-but she longs
for Il, Just the same. In the meantime,
when the servant leaves, she tries to
give both babies a bath, their supper,
put them TO bed, get dinner, change
her frock. answer the telephone, receive
a caller, and be in charmingly agree
able state of mind and appearance when
her tired husband comes home.
IT can't be done, of course.
Now even in this day it is quite pos
sible to economize in servants. II is
possible, very often, to hire a servant
with the understanding that she is to
work for several families. For instance
very competent nurse maid, COM
manding highly competent nurse
maids salary. might be hired with the
understanding that every afternoon
she should take charge OF the children
OF three or four families. Her salary,
divided by four. would be quite small
and the housekeeper who gave her
board ana lodging would be entitled to
her services outside the hours when
she took charge Of the neighborhood
children. "
Then. too, often two or three famiI-
ies could divide UP the services of a
general housework maid. or course
she could be asked TO do only as much
work as she would normally do for one
family. But she could give an hour to
each OF three, busting, making beds
brushing rugs with carpet sweeper
and busting floors with dustless mop
every morning. In the afternoon she
could divide her time preparing dinner
in the three houses, perhaps, or being
on duty 10 receive callers and serve
tea. OF course, the Willingness OF the
servant in question would have to be
obtained. And each housekeeper would
stfii have 10 do much Of the work in
her own home--in the arrangement
svcgasted. she would have to get
breakfast and luncheon, for instance,
and serve dinner without maid. 9th
3or ARRANGEMENTS, OF course. could be
worked out And the maid ought to
find this sort ~ specialized work more
higher than usual too, for divided
one house. ~ G9 a