Even the most fortunate housekeeper recognizes in the present situation of domestic service a state of affairs sadly chaotic, perplexing and deplorable. Merely to cry out against it is futile and would be but adding to an already long list of complaints. The following pages are intended rather as an indicator of some indisputable facts, to be recognized and dealt with by would-be successful employers.

Domestic service in the United States has passed through great changes in the last fifty years. Conditions, in some respects, were never like those in any other country. Until within a few years in New England and the Northwest whatever assistance was needed in performing the work of the household beyond that rendered by the members of the family was secured by employing a neighbor's wife or daughter, who shared in all particulars the interests and privileges of the family in which she was employed. She was recognized in every way as an equal, sitting at the family table, sharing the common sitting room, often marrying into the family. While this continues to be true to a slight extent in rural districts to-day, there has been, generally speaking, an entire change, the present being a period of transition and reconstruction. The two factors which have had the greatest influence upon the domestic situation are immigration and the changes in the industrial system.

Chaotic Conditions

Changes

The influence of immigration upon domestic service has been more or less similar to its influence upon occupations for men. As the unskilled labor of the ignorant immigrant has entered into competition with the labor of the more skilled and intelligent native workers the native employes have progressed, pushing up and out into lines of work which have been deemed higher, more lucrative, pleasanter. This has happened in domestic service until very few native Americans can be secured for housework at the present time.

Rural districts have suffered a surprising falling off in supply due to this change, as the immigrants tend to congregate in the large cities, especially those who come to us from the countries of the principal supply of domestics-Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Newfoundland-and the country girl has learned to seek the city also.

Manufacturing industries have a large influence in determining the number of women engaged in domestic service in any city or community, as they seem to prove more attractive than housework at the present time. Whenever there is competition with other kinds of employment housework is inevitably the lesser attraction. It is done, if at all, only when there is no other alternative; a last resort rather than a choice. It is not surprising, in the light of these facts, that the kind of service rendered by those who are engaged in it is not as satisfactory as it should be and that the standards in the service are very low, with little apparent spirit of emulation or progress. Let us consider the leading elements in the problem from the point of view of both employer and employee, seeking to ascertain the real and alleged causes of this marked preference on the part of employees, and if there are any remedies which may be applied to the immediate relief of the situation.

If we turn to consider, first, the advantages of domestic service over other forms of labor open to women of the class thus employed, there are several decidedly advantageous conditions peculiar to the work. The conditions for preserving good health are superior to those in almost any other occupation. The work is normal, with greater variety, better provision of light and pure air and more consideration in case of temporary illness. Steady employment is afforded in work for the most part congenial to those who have any understanding of it. In spite of much said to the contrary concerning irregularity of hours, there is less rigid confinement than in most occupations.

It affords more home life than other kinds of work, although this is in the home of the employer and is not considered as home life by the employee. The degree in which the employee is allowed or made to feel this differs greatly, as all know, with employers and, to a certain extent, the number of employees. That there is far less difficulty where there are many employees is shown in the fact that the majority of state institutions have no difficulty in obtaining help of all kinds. Even insane asylums, where the work is very hard, can actually make a choice of applicants for housework instead of having to seek for them. Even under the worst circumstances a certain sense of protection and comfort is offered in connection with the work, and at its best the comforts and positive luxuries which surround the maids far exceeds those they could have in their own homes.

In spite of these important advantages, the work is most universally unpopular. All are familiar with the reasons offered for this. Irregularity of hours is a point frequently urged. It is true that the hours of labor are so loosely defined in most households that employees have little sense of having completed the work of the day. This is true to some extent in well-regulated households on account of the nature of the work. Lack of system and care in this respect too often unduly increases the irregularity and makes what might be a reasonable amount of work unreasonably heavy.

It is also true that the employee, although nominally in the family, is in no sense a part of it. This is a position infinitely lonelier than to be outside it altogether. Very few employes feel free to receive or entertain personal friends in a manner natural or pleasant to them, nor are they expected to do so. Attempts to secure personal improvement or pleasure are perhaps ridiculed. This is probably not intentional on the part of the employer, but seems to be the result of failure to appreciate the needs of the employees or to provide suitably for meeting them.