And now we come to the perplexing, annoying problems of Domestic Service! We wish we had some effective solutions to offer! Some women, in discussing the condition, have contributed valuable hints regarding successful methods employed which, if not wholly new, might well be reconsidered by many an employer.

Hugo Munsterberg, contrasting conditions in America and Germany, writes: "The conviction of every American girl that it is dignified to work in a mill, but undignified to be a cook in any other family, would never have reached its present intensity if an anti-domestic feeling were not in the background. If we seek for the most striking features of woman's work here and abroad, it would seem that the aim of the German woman is to further the interests of the household and the American to escape from the household."

It is a striking fact that in almost every instance the students who have written on the subject place the lion's share of the fault with the employer. What inference shall we draw? It reminds us of a School of Housekeeping which was started to train employes, but after a two years' study of conditions it was changed to a course for employers in recognition of the fact that they, first, needed training.

I quote below from a few of the papers:

"All who have help do not need it, many can ill afford it. Some time ago I heard the eldest daughter of a family of five girls urging her mother to get a servant since they were now in a large house. The mother asked what a servant would do in a family of so many girls. In reply the girl said, 'we shan't be considered anybody if we don't have a servant.'

"It is in a spirit like this that much of the trouble lies. When women are willing themselves to learn the art of good housekeeping and are willing to do a part of it, no matter how small the share, to show the interest, and then by kindness, gentleness and thought-fulness seek to help the servants along in the world, the situation will be greatly improved."

It is the women with this spirit and attitude who are having least trouble.

"I always employ intelligent help and do by them as I wish to be done by. When a young girl is intelligent one has splendid material to work with in training her to do as you would your own daughter.

"I have had help, who, after leaving my home when I needed help no longer, would return at odd times for a half day when they thought I stood in need and offer to give me their time without pay, wishing thus to show their appreciation of my kindness toward them. I believe my success is due to consideration and thoughtfulness of their little fancies.

"Thoughtfulness goes a great way in winning the love of one's help. When I do my shopping I always remember my help as any other member of my family, not with the thought of being repaid in services, but through kindness. I have no patience with the person who does another a kindness merely to gain some selfish point."

One woman attributes her success to personal attachment and a consequent desire to please. She says:

"So few have any idea of how to buy clothes or get any value for their money that I made it a point to show them how they could have good clothes inside and out instead of the showy things they were having. They appreciated the interest I took in them. I think that women who employ are themselves largely responsible for the conditions of domestic affairs. Reprimanding before others, constant nagging and giving few liberties are the methods of many."

"Most women in service change in the hope of 'bettering' themselves, which is laudable but often disappointing. It would seem profitable for employers to devise a scheme of increasing wages at stated intervals until a certain point is reached, after that a sum as yearly reward for continued service. I knew a family where some such plan has been followed for a number of years with great success. The lack of promotion in household service must be deadening to ambition."

An Iowa student writes:

"My observation has been that well ordered households and households where the servants know just what they must do and be held responsible for, have been more successful even though the work was more arduous than homes where there was no system, the mistress capricious and all sorts of personal service was required. I believe that when housekeeping becomes a business, women will have trusted and valued employes as do their husbands."