"I SERVE."
[To THE EDITOR or TIM " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—I was thankful to see the letter from your correspondent in your issue of January 7th on " I Serve," apropos of the ever- vexed question of domestic service. It so well expressed what has needed saying for too long. May I be permitted to ask a few straight and pertinent questions to which I have yearned for an answer for many years? When I last expressed my views in pre-War days wild Suffragists poured scorn upon my foolish head, but experience has confirmed me in my views. Here are my questions :—
1. Are not families the foundation of the State—or nation?
2. Are not proper feeding and hygienic housework the very foundation on which good families are built, and a strong and happy nation the best result?
3. Is it utterly useless to ask that teachers should imbue girls at school with high ideals of their citizenship as women (not merely as clerks), with the desire to help in keeping a great country great by helping to make healthy, happy families through being able to cook or do good housework—if not both— for others first, and for themselves when the time comes? It should be considered shanzeful for a girl of eighteen to be helpless in a house.
4. When domestic work is undertaken in return for payment why cannot it become a profession, with compulsory exams.? It should rank as one of the highest, if not the highest, for women, for the nation's well-being is founded upon it.
5. Is it quite useless to ask the big, brainy Education Authori- ties to cut out something less practical in the curriculum at Council schools and replace it with housekeeping theory and ideals for the girls, arousing their curiosity, interest, ambition?
6. Could it not be made compulsory to "train," just as for any other profession, for certificates from " very plain cook- ing " in grades upwards, and from " rough housework " up to the refinements of parlourmaid and lady's maid?
7. Finally, how much are registry offices to blame for the wickedness of exorbitant wages for thorough incompetency and unwillingness? Surely it should be possible to solve this weary- ing problem and avoid complications by making it an honour- able profession, to be looked up to, by making registry offices merely a place for introductions on fixed fees, and certificates should be the proof for capacity.
Only to-day have I had to pay a " booking fee " of 4s. in order to find a housemaid-waitress at £40. Threepence in the charged on engagement-10s. Having paid 14s. and done my best to extract truth from both the girl and her " reference," I may find I've been had again, because too many mistresses, alas! will put up with careless ways for fear of being without a maid, and finally pass her on to another victim as "suit- able " without a qualm. A certificate would show her capabili- ties for work, and one would only need to ask references for personal character. It should not be possible for " any fool " to " apply for the place " and make out that she is capable when she is ignorant. As a profession, it should have its recog- nized uniform, and there should be no silly nonsense about the " cap being a badge of service." As your correspondent points out, there is nothing degrading in service. The hospital nurse, policeman, sailor, soldier, porters, &c., all wear head- gear suitable to their calling and in keeping with the rest of their uniform, which all makes for smartness, self-respect and pride in one's job. I enclose my card.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A NORTHERN HOUSEKEEPER.
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