OVERWORKED MOTHERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 11

OVERWORKED MOTHERS.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —tour correspondent "Domestic Worker" evidently tries to blacken domestic service by stating one side of tho question, summing up by declaring it to be the "lowest rung of the social ladder." Let mc state what ha.v happened in my own home for the last ten years and more. My houso consists of nine rooms, and is worked by one maid, who follows the regular routine of work laid out for her by her mistress. She rises at seven o'clock, and' by two o'clock her work is done until .„ six o'clock tea, with the exception of wash-ing-day. She has a weekly half-holi-day, and every other Sunday from 2 _ i>.m., nearly all special holidays, and any evening she asks for, and receives nearly £4 every month, with good food, bedroom, etc., equivalent to her salary. Compare this with the workers your correspondent mentions —the factory girl, who certainly has all evenings off to roam the town ; the poor shop girl, with her wearying work of standing behind the counter from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m., and lastly the office-girl. Are any of these "workers" better paid than" tho maid, after allowing for their cost of keep? You .might as well compare the office-boy to the accountant, anel no ono can say the maid is on the "lowest rung of the ladder." ' If more girls took to housework, men would not be so afraid of marrviug. Lately I heard of a case of a young wife sitting her husband down to baked corned beef for his dinner! —Yours, etc., PATER.