Evening star., 1924-05-18
DOMESTIC PRACTICE
HOUSE IS PLANNED
Innovation Ii Nation Wide Move
1neYlt to Train House Servants
Launched Here. =
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE SOUGHT
Promoters Propose to "Glorify
Service" and Dignity Profession.

"A Practice House for Domestic
Workers" is the latest innovation in
a nationwide movement launched
here to revolutienize the character OF
colored domestic service
Already suitable property has been
purchased at 1115 Rhode Island ave-
nue. northwest to be converted into
the practice house. Every household
IN Washington employing domestic
workers will be asked to contribute
81 toward the project. which is cal
culated not only to benefit the em-
pioye, but the employer as well.
The National Association of wage
Earnefs. Inc, with Miss Mamie H.
Burroughs of this city as president.
is behind the movement. 1t has elic-
tied the approval, encouragement and
cooperation OF many society leaders
of this city. Miss Burroughs is presi-
dent Of the National Training School
for Women and Girls and a leader in
movements for the betterment of the
colored people.
i. Practice House Planned.
The practice house is planned not
only as a place where women may
be improved in efficiency. habits and
; dress, but where there may be kept
an emergency help register. where
regularly may be enrolled and be
available for special occasions when
the cook. laundreSS waitress or other
help does not report for work. This
will save thousands OF homes from
being thrown out of gear.
"Colored women have taken an i'm
portant step for the Improvement of
their economic life and the removal
of the general charge of inefficiency.
. said Miss Burroughs. The commend
able thing about it is that they are
i not starting a charity. The movement
will be of as much benefit to white
people as it will be to coiored people.
For that reason they should have
the corporation of those who want
( efficient, better-fnannered and more
senSfbly dressed housemaids."
, "Right Use of Leisure"
The new movement hopes TO pop
ularize dress of which the domestic
I worker will be just as proud as the
5 nurse is of her uniform. 1t plans to
give training in the habits of cour-
! tesy and standards of conduct and to
I teach the fright use of leisure"
Improvement in personal cleanli-
! ness and care OF living quarters is
considered important, while training
{ of nurse maids will be a specially
to prepare them to be trusted with
OE
character and training are needed"
| said Miss Burroughs. because the
/ trust is sacred-the child is the most
f! valuable and important person in the
! home"
! '1Giorify the Service
The new movement will seek every
opportunity to dignity the profess
sion and slerify the service" and
: will seek employers who are anxious
to work with us in lifting the stand
ard of domestic work from the plane
OF dfudeery, where 1t does not be.
I long. into the class of professions,
1 where 1t belongs"
Among the officers and directors
! of the association are colofed women
/ who have distinguished themselves
for doing big pieces of constructive
work. Mrs. Mary Mcleod Bethune,
president of a school in Florida, is
the vice president OF the orsanixa-
. ton; Mrs. Maggie L. Walker of vir-
ginia, the only. negro woman presi-
dent of a bank. is the treasurer; Mrs
/ Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee,
Ala, is member of the board of
NNA - wa %