Evening star., 1917-01-09
CLUBWOMEN TO EXTEND
EFFORTS FOR SERVANTS
Plan to Continue Work for Closer
Ponds Between Employer and En-
ploye Started by The Star.
Service Certificates and Prizes to Be
Awarded Leaders of Contest at
Meeting January %.

AS result of the contest inaugural
ed by The Star to seek out and reward
long-tim faithful domestic employees.
with a view to solving the servant
problem" the home economics commit
tee of the District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs. which co-operated with The
Star. intends to continue its efforts to
promote closer bonds between the em-
ployer and the employe.
Service certificates signed by fedora
ton officials have been awarded to more
than 500 domestics who have been in
service with one mistress or one fam
lily for more than five years, and about
300 have been issued to those who have
been faithful for from three to five
years.
The cash gold prizes to those with the
best record for many years of service
are to be presented at the federation
meeting Tuesday evening, January 23,
in the New Ebbitt House. A report on
the activities of the home economies
committee as prepared by Miss Ellen
Marshall Rugg, recognized authority
on the subject. who has been for years
a close student of social service condi-
tions. has been prepared.
contest developed fTODlelu.
The report follows:
1.-The statement has been made by at
least one student of economics that
there is no domestic service problem in
Washington. If the 500 and more en-
tries for prizes in the recent faithful
and efficient household service contest
be a sufficient basis for deduction, then
there is no problem
The contest however, has developed
problem of it's own. because of it's
size and detail. But this problem will
have been solved with the awarding of
the gold prizes at the open meeting of
the Federation of Womens Clubs Tues
day evening, January %. The special
features of this meeting will be con-
Quoted by the chairman of the home
economics department, Mrs. j. Edison
Briggs and its members. Mrs G.. G.
Cornwell. vice chairman: Mrs. Fred ID.
Heisler Mrs. Clarence h. Smith. Miss
Ellen Marshall Rugg and Mrs. J. Fin
ney Engle. board member.
1.-The personnel of this department has
made the contest possible and unique.
1t is made up of women who not only
believe that home making is a profess
sion and houSeWork a trade. but also
exemplify their belief to the best of
their ability. Mrs. Court F. Wood.
Federation of Womens Clubs, not alone
as officio member. but because of
her interest has been a most active
and able worker in the contest.
Gave Much to Cause.
"The chairman has sacrificed both
time and strength for a cause in which
she is greatly concerned. 1t is a coin
cidence that Mrs. Briggs is the daugh
ter law of the writer olivia famous
generation ago for her advanced ideas
and work along home economics lines.
olivia intended that her historical old
home. $50 South Carolina avenue south
east. now the residence of Mr.. and Mrs.
J. Edison Biggs and family. should DEM
onstrate her IDEAS and ideals. A place
was fitted up to begin a regular domes-
tic science and service training school
OLIVIA while advanced beyond her
times. was never privileged to complete
her work.
MRS Cornwell. the vice chairman.
has the distinction of having in her
family an employe who has rendered
| faithful and efficient service for over
| forty years. Both Mrs. Heisler and
Mrs Smith are awake to the problems
! of home making and housework and
are active in the effort to solve them.
| Miss Ellen Marshall Rugg has been
| designated secretary for the depart
| ment because of her studies in home
| economics and her service in the home
| economics department of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs. 1912
| 1916 Mrs. J. Finney Engle, the board
member. is past president of the Dis
trict federation. having served 1908
1909
| while the contest is closing. the
work of the department is by no means
| closed. Its policy is to advance the
| profession of home-making and to
| bring about the realization of the need
| for training for home making. that
| women may become faithful and eff
! cient administers of the home. which is
| the bulwark of our nation"