Domestic Economy.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 37, 25 March 1875, Page 3

Domestic Economy.

MIDDt/E-CLASS WOMEN AND \ HOUSEWORK. There is a general idea afloat that whenever a demand exists for any article, a supply in answer will be forthcoming. So much is this believed in that an artificial demand is occasionally created in order to get rid of some supply; as when several friends of an author apply at different times at Mudie's and at the railway bookstalls for his latest work, in order to give the impression that it is much sought after. But that the statement is not a truth of universal application is shown by nothing more certain than by the demand for domestic servants, to meet which there is no adequate supply. That servants are to the average mistress still "the greatest plague in life," is as true now as when the amusing brochure with that title was penned many years ago. But things have taken even a more perplexing turn than they had then. There is now not only a difficulty in managing servants, but there is actually' a scarcity in the number who are willing to enter on domestic service. . A recent writer, whose personal experience must have been an exceptionally fortunate one, seemed inclined, when saying " a word for the maids," to insinuate that the whole fault in domestic management lay with the mistresses^—a conclusion which mistresses - indignantly • repudiated. It is very certain that servants now-a-days demand more indulgences than they used to receive, and that mistresses are perforce obliged to grant : them, whether they are thereby inconvenienced or not. Doubtless the spirit of the age has penetrated their ranks, and they demand more personal freedom than used to be considered good for young women— or, in fact, is good for them now. A servant now-a--days has no hesitation whatever in throwing up her place for any/reason, or, perhaps, for none greater than that f she has been there long enough." She is quite sure that whenever she chooses, and without any too strict inquiry, she: will -.find another .'. home. For,, mistresses who ■ want- help imperatively cannot afford to be too nice, although servants can pick and choose' among their expectant employers; ■'" , How many middle-class: housewives are there at the present day. who would rejoice if some means could he] dis : covered by which servants could be dispensed with. There are some families of whom we know, and more of whom we have heard, in which there are daughter", to whom as theyigrow up household work is taught, so that they can take the whole of the workinto, their own hands, and so" they rejoice ih being without the" burden of a servant. Intelligence and education ;are no bar to the performance of household work.. The educated woman seesf at once what is to be done, and does it : j without any iinnecessary fuss. A ! woman whose eyes and 1 fingers have jbeen trained is much less likely to displace articles) or to be : awkward in ;cooking or cleaning, than, one Jn whom jthe faculty' of observation has never jbeen properly exercised." An' educated l woman is quick, neat, and clever at her j household work, and- will "dirty no more i things rthapyare absolutely, needed.'' And. housa r work, in, a well-regulated house, need not extend over every hour of the day.1 - 1 We hear day by day of the difficulty of finding employment- for middle-elass-women onpuß hand,;: and ondhe other J hand the difficulty of-obtaining adequate [domestic, help. Let: the .women of middle-class „ households} return Jo the habits. 7 of the- days ...of r their.. grand- v mothers and grea^grahdrabthers,/and the difficulty would in a measure" eeaseV Formerly- 1 the - spinning s and; weaving, the -7 baking ; i and ? brewing,' the -picklih'g iand preserving needed by the house--, jholdptooki-up^tfio' 'time of the womenjfolk entirely. The girls were no incumbrances "than, but "useM members; who did nJu'cli IworkUb l ihelßmothers' house before they migrated to their own. ,T 51 ; ; t Ur A *\ v- ' f .T A r .fl ~^f A woman jshould he elegant, -liotqnly in °Aaiiner IbiitJ ih mind;!Mthout r mentdi : Mste, :! the: fairest fbrma^sappoirife! aMwMie s s? ::1 It sets .off evei^ r pt!^^^^d oifigar0 ifigar on e^chats v^pprbprlate%M; r -W& tint and piripb¥tiSff:T->Y6tT itfis^re" Easily uriderstood than defined; and better fell! elegances uTh© il m)pdes ( i i oit faahio.iij am en^t^ljdconv^ntidnaljp andf are often? as i ungraceful as they are 1 EW? bre«a%4s r 'MiftS v^mMbmrny^W is witl^PW^^S^'^^tlftjttPcoiistraining. - cr^f t'^V^ iihbbitrifc r tive and unpretending,. Jt "is .always self-, own place and its owja.jcielations.*^~lts courtesy it Wr 'offidfoas; A^or are its at^ention^ey^r^trouHfespnio^ JLetihis it eeen^stejg^lo^p <§§eoti^by no means an easy or common attainment. On the (xmtrarV, 1 wo J Bse# see women whOir^iSfeapJjvjeaGmuoh dtkinomfyvywyi deficient in this criterion of grace.