Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-18
BY RUTH BAILEY WHITNEY.

When the railroads first engaged
women to clean the cars we wer,
taking a short trip, Lorene and
During wait in the Des Moines sta
ton We watched some women clean
ing out sleeping car on nearby
track. Very neat and clean they
were, in their unionalls, and very neal
and clean the car looked, too, when
their work was done.
1T makes me mad every time
see women doing that kind of work,
came the voice of a woman behind
US, clear and loud, as voices sound in
stationary car. "They think they
are helping win the war. II women
want to work why not let them work
in the homer There are plenty OF
such places where they could help
out, but no--they like work where
they get notoriety."
Il am going to tell you about
something ] did once" Lorene said q
moment after. II have never told a
soul before, but what that woman
said has determined me to tell you and
let you write it up. 1t may help some
one to understand the eternal servant
girl question"
This is the story she told me:
1T was three years ago that Lorene
gave up her work in an Office where
she was considered so indispensable
that she had come to bear the greater
part Of the burden, and her nerves
broke under the strain. No more
brain work. was the doctors order.
She had to work--her savings
small. Women's work is appreciate
insofar that they give women
enormously heavy burdens to carry,
but seldom does that burden consist
of salary Of any great weight.
After deep thought she decided to
go to strange city and get posi-
tion as housekeeper. She had kept
house at home and was a good cook
Hand good manager. She loved chill
dren and had patience with them. 1t
seemed to her there must be many
homes where her services would be
needed and her nerves receive the
needed rest.
She told her friends they need not
expect to hear from her, as she was
going long way off and would take
complete rest, with no letters, no
TEST ties to bind her Then she disap-
She went to a respectable but quiet
and moderate priced hotel in a large
city. In the leading dailies she placed
the following ad: "A young woman of
good education would like a position
as housekeeper; good cook; neat; no
objection to children"
When she called at the Offices the
following day she found a sheaf of
letters awaiting her. Widowers with
and without children, women with
babies. club women, priests, elderly
people, invalids--every kind and con-
dition of man and woman. it seemed,
needed a housekeeper. All one day
Lorene sorted the replies. Finally she
selected three to look up.
Y Six Children.
One was widower with six chill
dren. She called there first, because
she felt he really needed her and she
would have free hand with the chill
dren.
A hard faced woman met her at the
door. II am Anna Stoner," said Lo-
rene, giving the name she had select
ed, you answered my advertisement
for a position as housekeeper.
Grudgingly the woman stood aside
and let her into a hall dark and filled
with the odor of innumerable dinners
bacon, cabbage, onions, fsh-the
menus of weeks gone by could be
traced by a we'll trained nose. The
parlor was decorated with infants
wear, imperfectly washed and hung
over the furniture to dry.
Yes, Willie needs housekeeper,"
the woman said complainingly, Il help
him what / can. but ! am too busy to
do it all. But ] live right next door
and | would help you keep an eye on
the children. am Mr.. Wright's
mother" she explained. Right there
Lorene decided against the place.
Mother had decided ideas about
things, and she soon found a loop
hole of escape.
The next place looked good, to her.
Mrs. Adams herself let her in and was
very pleasant. II have three darling
children" she said, but they will give
you no trouble, and / will help you
with the cooking. am sure we will
enjoy our work together"
Lorene moved in that afternoon.