The Washington times., 1916-11-14

from 2 per cent to nearly 70 per cent
over the wages demanded last year.
, Ella NJ, has been maid for three
years. She started when she was
twenty at a salary OF sl2 BY the end
OF her nrst year she was asking SIS and
getting IT, Last year she asked for so
ana was discharged. Finally she found
another place at the wages she asked.
Now she confesses that she Is planning
TO ask for another raise.
Sne IL an average maid, fairly slow
ana OF average efficiency! yet she thinks
Sne Is worth more than the wages she
II asked $40 a month because I think
I'm worth IT," she explained yester-
day. II get here at In the morning
ana don't leave until 1910 at night, more
time I'm standing up.
rheyre fussing because girls in the
shops don't get higher wages. Here I
am: working longer than they do and
g my ing "a less; NO on yes you say have
leavings from the table. cold at that.
and / don't get a chance to eat until
they are all finished. because I may be
wanted In the dining room.
Cost of Clothes More Now.
Then we've got to have clothes. I
heard my mistress saying only the other
day that she didn't know what she was
going to do, things cost so much. Well,
things cost more for me, too. Dress
goods cost more. Shoes cost lots more,
and have to buy everything ready
made because I don't have time TO
make my clothes, and I'm too tired to
sew nights.
Nom. / think $40 is mighty low. I
ought to be getting SIS for what do.
| wouldn't have minded taking SIS
to have $50 or l might as we'll not work
at ALL"
One housewife who has been baffled
by the servant problem at least six
times this month. confesses that she
demanded II a servant would do the
laundry work. As II Is, servants now
adays not only demand higher wages.
but refuse to do the laundry as well,
making an additional item OF expense.
Housewife Tells Experience.
The relates her experience as follows:
The maids that used to be worth SIS
month are now demanding $50. and
there Ia n corresponding Increase in the
wages asked by maids that have been
trained carefully. Now. the greenest
maids. girls that have never done a day
OF work and know nothing about table
service or the routine OF household,
demand SIS a month.
LAS for myself. would not mind Civ
Ing 25 or $50 a month to a maid who
would do the laundry at the house
Maids Who are now asking So, and who
refuse to do the laundry, do not seem
to realize that this item is costing the
mistress from s. to SO a month extra.
"Now had maid who had been
with us for ten years. Though she
grew mere assert,vC Hs time went IN,
W" put w. with i because she was n
perez: mad. She could coax end
serve "A meal of five or Sly "oIrsrs
withcut outside help. HeI kitchen
wa srotl"Es. She herself was the
pinN Of nrltness, However. she Kept
asking for an In rreale in wages. and
ypaf aftrr wear she got It, At>lasi IL
cane to tho point where ! cruid net
al ord TO lay any more and send the
laundry out, too.
."She had a good home with us, for
she had room and a lavatory all to
herself She was at liberty to go out
any evening she wished. At Christmas
she was treated like one OF the family.
for everyone knew us gave her pres
ents. We had to let her go to a family
that could afford to pay what she de-
manded. Since she left we have mad
"a succession OF slow. inefficient maids
that are not worth the $50 month they
ask"