THE LOT OF THE DOMESTIC

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13744, 27 May 1910, Page 9

THE LOT OF THE DOMESTIC

SERVANT. TO THE FJJITOR OF "tUE I'RKSS." . Sir—l was much interested in th" letter signed "'Domestic Worker which appeared in your issue of Friday last. Will you allow mc _pae*o in your columns to comment thereon? Your correspondent states the position of a servant as one of inferiority, anel one in which unnecessary rnles and regulations are enforced.. Surely in all wellregulated and well-ordered households rules and regulations are absolutely essential to the well-being of everyone. With' to . the statement about such a position being one of inferiority, I believe no ono with a well reguhited mind ever looks down upon anybody who is earning an honest livelihood. When it comes to a question of liberties — shop girls versus the domestics —I think the domestics havo ah "easy win Surely your correspondent is making an unwarrantable use of the term profession in applying it to 'the occupation of those who, she says, are on "t!tilowest rung of the social ladder." The term profession implies nome superiority in education anel in social life, nnd this latter carries with it a rignt sOpse of relative position. , However, T have reason to believe that -most domestics are capable of commanding their own terms, generally speaking, live a very comfortable life, and are far hapnier than many of the .eirls in so-ralleel "society.". With regard to the writer's statement about n living wage. I should very much like to know what her ideas are of :: living wase. For instance, here the muid receives £52 a year, has a comfortable bedroom, cood fooel, ..mr. as "ho family. She ri?cs at 7. A washerwoman is employed for the wnnhing. A boy for the boots. 'Besides these, the ladies of the house, attend to the ly*d rooms, the drawing-room, etc., etc. The domestic has one afternoon off in 'he woek, and even- other Sunday afternoon and evening. As tlie family consists of only four (no children), aiiel tho house is fitted with every modern convenience, it is unite clear that the wori*cannot be arduous, anel our maid earns a gootl wage. Now, how doe-" this compare with a clerk- whom I hearel of the other day who has a wif' and fiv" children, earns £2 a week, works from 9 to 0. a**d :-. often -s not goes back **■<-> h'c office four nights out of tho week?— Yours, etc.. HOUSEWIFE.