Year: 1879

CHICAGO, Oct. II, 1879.
| Correspondence OF tho Leader.


A very important move is about to b,


made In this city In the direction o


servant-girl reform. There is to be


change, and that soon, in the system o


paying and fixing wages, and the i'm
portant might key" problem which 4
the cause Of agitation in the minds o
most every Chicago servant girl, is t,
be settled. Some Of. the wealthies
ladies In the community have had th,
nerve to inaugurate the reform, and ii
this they are to have the cooperation
OF the leading employment agencies.
There Is to be combination between
employers to pay uniform rates. Ser
want girls are, according to the present
system, to be employed on the sam,
common sense principal that bushes,
men employ clerks.


By the new system, monthly pay
ments are proposed, as we'll as the
written stipulation that each contract.
ing party is to give each other at least
weeks notice, in case either desire tc
change.


The contract and wages will be kept
for the purpose. And another stipula.
tfon is that the servant shall remain in
her situation until another supplies it,
and loses at least one weeks pay, In
event Of her refusing and leaving.


A great many valuable arguments
and suggestions are set down in the
new code, which space will not permit
US give. 1t would be we'll for ladies in
other cities and towns in the union to
think this matter over, and instead OF
trusting to the intuitive qualities of
inexperienced servants, go themselves
to the kitchen, laundry, culinary de-
partment and in fact to every portion
OF the house where help is employed,
and give directions, and institute a
general plan which should be law in
the household. how work should be
done.


Servants must have considerate care.
they are class dependent upon the
more favored Of Gods earth for their
daily bread; and employers are respon-
sible for their well being in degree
which should keep them constantly on
their guard. 1t is well known fact
that the sweetest charity at all times
is placing person where they can help
themselves, and so it is In the servant
girl question, If we would do them good
and at the same time win their respect
and confidence, we must help them by
governing them by business like rules,
and ourselves practicing the principles
which we would imbue them with.


The bee-keepers of the United States
and Canada meet In annual session in
this city on the 21st inst.


Christopher Jansen, one of the first
poets Of Norway, will be here in a day
or two. His object in this country is
to learn how his emigrated country
men are doing, and to tell them some
thing of their father-land. His coun-
trymen will give banquet at the Pal
mer house in honor of his arrival in
this city.


Mr.. George Jacob Holyoake, one of
the leading and most radical reformers
of England, delivered an address in the
city Sunday evening.


Last week and the present are mem
orable ones, being the eighth anniversa-
ry of the great FIRE in Chicago. The
city has risen like phoenix from its
own ashes, and who that looks up and
down our broad and clean streets to-
day, at our magnificent mansions and
business-palaces and at our grand parks,
gardens and boulevards, can help feel
ing an admiration for the great city
which exhibited SO much pluck and in
dustry.


At Seas the mammoth cheap store of
the city, there has been an innovation
introduced in the way of cash. girls, In
stead of cash boys, as heretofore. The
poor little girls with white caps on their
heads look weary, conspicuous and out
of place, and from our hearts we pity
them. The life of shop girl in the city
is oh, such weary one! They are
drudges, the most to be commiserated
OF all drudges, and we had rather q
sister or daughter would scrub side
walks or till the soil than lead the life
of an ordinary shop girl.


The Rock River Methodist confer
ence heldits Fortyieth annual session
here last week.


The great horologlcal and astronomi-
cal clock, the work of Felix Meyer, is
still in the city on exhibition. Mr..
Meyer, we understand, is negotiating
with nobleman Of Europe for the pur-
chase Of this wonderful work, the price
hxed being 800, 900.


The clock will be In Chicago for two
months yet, during which time those
who visit the city will have an oppol-