The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-24
A QUESTION WITH TWO SIDES

~HE following letter will, believe,
interest other housekeepers as it
has interested me:
80 In a recent daily paper an arti-
Gle appeared stating that the sery-
ant girls in one city are forming an or
ganization, purposing to blacklist GER
tain housewives.
1t appears to me that it is time the
housewives formed an organization with
the same intent.
We hear too much of the misused
and abused servant. but what do we
hear of the housewife who Is constantly
being taken advantage of by the maid2
Girls apply for positions. claiming
that they are able to cook, when they
cannot fry an egg properly. All they
have in mind is to do just as little as
they possibly can; get out every even
ing; no washing of windows, no laundry
work; two to three hours in the after
noon to themselves. They pay no at
tention to instructions, and if they are
reprimanded they either answer imperti-
nently or give vent to their spleen by
breaking the china If you discharge
them. your home life is thoroughly adj
vertised and they are always the abused
ones.
When such an organiza ton is formed
and is in working order. the maids will
be compelled to improve their working
Standard refer now to a union be-
tween housekeepers. There will be less
overrating of abilities among employees,
and the housewife will not object to pay
Ing for services that she can feel rea-
sonably sure are not being misrepre-
scented.
Can the Corner offer any solution of
the imposition of maids or suggest
who would be most capable of launching
an organization as suggested by the
writer? V. H. r."
Am I mistaken in thinking that the
topic of this letter will arouse the in
terest Of most housekeepers? There is
a great deal to be said on both sides and
the champions of each party are firm in
their belief that the right is confined to
the side they hold.
To begin with, the suggestion of the cor
respondent that the housemistresses
Ahould form an organization for their own
protection. This is not a new idea, Tho
plan has been talked of and tried before
and never thus far has it proved sue
cess. Shall be thought unkind of those
l represent when I say that loyalty be-
tween housewives Is a rare quality? Let
me give an illustration, which can doubt
less be paralleled by many others.
A friend of mine had maid who worked
for her for three months and at the end
of the time was discharged for untidiness
and suspected dishonesty. The employer
properly refused to give a reference.
What was her establishment when ell
Ing on a neighbor a few weeks after
wards to have the door opened to her by
ner former maid. While sitting in the
parlor waiting for her hostess to me
down she puzzled herself as to whether
Or not 1t was her duty to speak of the
reasons for which the servant had been
dismissed. Before she had decided her
friend came In and the visitor coon found
she might have spared herself the bother
OF studying the wise and Just course to
pursue. By the time the hostess wa3
seated she preached the subject herself.
suppose you were surprised to see
Ann is living with me-" she said lightly
i" She told me she couldn't let a refer
ence from you and dare say oug..- to
have asked you what was the trouble.
but was in tight place just then, e5m-
pany coming and no maid. and knew
that when Ann was with you you thought