Evening star., 1924-03-23

condition. and we are lacking in COM
mon sense and constructive initiative If
we sit down and wait for white women
to do for US what we can do for our
selves, After reading this report a few
colored women talked the matter over
seriously, and decided not to stop until
we have organized all negro working
women into a labor union" She adds
that what We want is help to get this
message over to white people, who will
get just as much benefit out of it as the
colored people-perhapS more"
Emphasis is laid upon the statement
that domestic servants are the only wage
earners that are not improving the
quality of their service. Housewives put
up with more slipshod methods and
harum-scarum work than employers in
any other field. The air and the maga-
zines are full of complaints. but COM
plants alone will not stimulate in
household workers a desire to give bet
ter service. 1t is also pointed out that
people have been keen to provide
schools for the training of workers in
stores and factories, but the women who
have the closest personal contact with
the family are picked green from the
streets or greasy from employment
agencies"
Domestic Service Practice House.
1t is upon the hypothesis that
women cannot do domestic work
without training, and that nine
tenths of such workers are in service
by reason of necessity, therefore, the
work is distasteful to them and they do
not try to become efficient, that the Do
mestic Service Practice House has been
established. Shortcut courses, not
from books, but with the materials
and problems they are to handle in
the homes, will be given women who
seek positions as cooks, chamber
maids. laundresses, Mattresses, nurses
or maids.
All who apply for work will be
given practical examinations or try
outs II woman wants a place as
cook she will be given meat, veg
etables, bread and pastry to cook.
If she seeks a position as a waitress.
she will be required to set a table,
serve meal and tell what she knows
about serving and caring for the din
ing room and it's appurtenances. All
applicants will be given instructions
in good manners and general conduct
and advised as to the kind of clothes
to wear for their particular work.
They will also be taught how to care
for their own rooms.
Applicants will be graded according
to the way they handle practical
tests, their general manner and their
personal appearance. Each woman
will be given a service and a rating
card, the one to be kept at the sery.
Ice center and the other to be sent to
the employer. Employers are asked
to cooperate by keeping the rating
caro- accurately and encouraging the
workers by fair treatment
Training In the habits of courtesy
and standards of conduct and i'm
proVement in personal cleanliness and
care OF living quarters will be stress
ed. 1t is said. In the matter of dress
an effort will be made to popularize
a dress OF which the domestic work.
ers will be just as proud as the nurse
is of her uniform.
1t Is also planned to maintain an
emergency help register. Carable
women who do not work out regu-
larly but are available for special oc-
casions, or when the cook, Iaundress.
or other help does not report for
work will be enrolled, and their serv-
ices will be available on cali. This.
it is said, will save thousands OF
homes from being thrown out of
gear.
The Washington Practice House
Will be used as a model for others to
be established throughout the coun-
try as the organization grows In
membership.