CHANGE OF NAME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 18

CHANGE OF NAME

DOMESTIC. SERVANTS

THE PRIZE SUGGESTION

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, February 3.

A company of judges, with the Dowager Lady SwaythlingCat its he&d, has been ■ considering -suggestions: lor a designation to take the place of "servant." The opinion, has been more than once expressed that maids would be more" easily obtained and more content to live in with nice families if the word servant could'-be .eliminated entirely. The competition was organised; by -the:,. Electrical Association for Women.

Thinking caps were put on, with but little satisfactory,, .result. The judges have awarde.d the" first prize— two guineas—to "the person 11 who suggested "domestician" as a,suitable substitute. ■' Some .';' of "home worker." "■■ "'' ' '•:■-■.•-:

An outside suggestion—and quite a good one —is : that 'the -: professional "Martha" should call herself by that name—but there is the possibility of it: being transcribed■• sometimes into "martyr," and that would be anything but desirable.

"My dear, I now. have; a perfect domestician!" It does sound' rather stilted. ■

After all, why the word "servant" should be regarded as derogatory it is impossible to understand, seeing that everyone, in every walk of life; is almost bound to serve someone else. There is nothing lowering abou+ domestic duties, and in "these days ol labour-saving devices and time off, drudgery has been practically entirely eliminated. • ■

If a bo^yl °f lime is placed in the cupboard on the' shelf where jams, jellies, and preserves are stored, no mould, will ever gather on the.fruit.