snow: the servant girl problem. 39 



" A diploma will be given on graduation from the school. If a 

 girl remains a year in the place she goes to on leaving the home 

 school, she will receive a second diploma. This would be a 

 guarantee to anybody desiring her services that she was thoroughly 

 proficient in the branches of household work which she had 

 studied. With the supplementary diploma she would be given a 

 sum of prize money and could without doubt command the best 

 of pay afterward." 



It is to be hoped that the time will soon come when others 

 who have money and wish to do good, will see the great 

 work to be done for servant girls and will follow the example of 

 Mr. and Mrs. Trask. Why should not the establishment of such 

 schools be considered the duty of the state? 



Many of our domestic troubles arise from the ignorance, not 

 always of the servants themselves, but very often of the mistresses. 

 They expect results which are absolutel}' impossible on the part of 

 any human being, and only because the}' know nothing of the work 

 they superintend.. If every young woman should receive a 

 thorough training in cooking and in household management, she 

 would find in the future that she would be able to instruct and 

 direct her servants with good results. Every house where servants 

 are employed, should include a training school on a small scale. 

 If a girl is unfortunate enough to take her first position in a slack 

 and disorderl}' household she acquires habits which will always 

 hinder her advancement. 



The pett}' fault-finding, which is habitual with many house- 

 keepers, should give wa}' to kind reproof and careful correcting of 

 shortcomings when necessary, and to praise when it is merited.. 



A servant must know her place, but kindly dignity on the part 

 of the mistress who is not afraid of being imposed upon, is 

 better than lofty superiority. So long has the latter method been in 

 vogue that it may be considered one of the causes of the low esteem 

 in which domestic service is held among the better class of girls. 



More system with regard to work and well-defined working and 

 leisure hours should be insisted upon, as also a greater regularity 

 in payment of wages. 



Above all is it important that the instruction given in the public 

 schools should overthrow the foolish notions of disgrace which arj 

 so common, regarding labor with the hands. 



The solution of this problem is really to be found in the words 

 "harmony and sympathy on the part of both mistress and maid," 

 and all efforts expended upon it should aim at the establishment 

 of such a relation. 



