QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Girls’ Employments.
Domestic Service.—“I am a lady by birth and up-bringing, but I have always had a sincere desire to be a domestic servant. I should choose a housemaid’s position, as I am fond of housework. When I was a child, playing with my dolls, I always took the part of servant, and, as I have grown older, every story that I could get that had anything about servants in it I have read and re-read. I have tried two other occupations, but have failed for various reasons, and believe I should succeed better as a servant. How could I be trained in a housemaid’s duties? Must I go as an under-housemaid first of all?
“Catherine Nancy.”
Evidently “Catherine Nancy” has a distinct vocation for domestic work, and she would therefore do wisely to follow her natural bent. The important question a girl should ask herself in choosing a career is “What is the best class of work that I am likely to be able to do successfully?” For instance, there are conceivable cases in which a girl might feel that she would make a good dressmaker or a good painter; we should then consider that, if no difficulties presented themselves on the pecuniary side, the painter’s profession should be chosen. Girls nowadays often fall into one of two errors; either they try to do work which stands highest in human esteem and fail because they have not the power to do it, or, from reasons of over-modesty or indolence, they choose to perform mechanical and subordinate work, when with a little effort and determination they could rise to something better. But among girls of the middle class the first mistake, the mistake of over-ambition is the more usual. To return to the practical problem set us by our correspondent, we think there is every argument in favour of “Catherine Nancy’s” entering domestic service. Formerly no doubt there might have been an objection that “Catherine Nancy” would be cut off from association with friends of her own class; but this difficulty is rapidly disappearing. “Catherine Nancy” may like to be informed that “lady servants” are now in great demand, and that employers are often willing to make important concessions in order to obtain them. Many persons employ only ladies in their service, while others are often willing to give training to a well-educated girl in return for services. “Catherine Nancy” could very probably be received into some clergyman’s or other nice household on the footing we have mentioned. It may be worth while to remind “Catherine Nancy” that it might be desirable later to rise from the position of housemaid to that of parlourmaid. The duties of a parlourmaid, comprising as they do the showing-in of visitors, waiting at table and polishing the plate and glass, are peculiarly suitable for a ladylike girl to perform. But it would be time enough later to consider the advisability of such a change as this, and in any case it would be well to begin as a housemaid. We recommend “Catherine Nancy” to advertise for a situation as housemaid in a house where lady-servants are employed.
Laundry Work.—“Is there any place where I could obtain lessons in laundry work? I need to earn some money, and I think I could obtain the washing for one family; but though I wash well, I do not think I am a sufficiently good ironer at present.—C. M.”
“C. M.” could be well taught in the Battersea, Borough Road, or Regent Street, Polytechnic. The last would be most convenient for her in point of locality, but by inquiry at some Board School in her neighbourhood she might hear of evening classes being held still nearer to her home. This would be decidedly advantageous, as omnibus fares from north-west London, where she lives, would cost money, which we are sure from her letter she could ill afford to spend. For some reasons we should have thought it better for “C. M.” to take employment in some large steam laundry until she has learnt all departments of the work thoroughly, for she is doubtless reluctant to leave home for many hours at a time. May we express to “C. M.” our admiration for the thrift displayed in the little account she gives us of her expenditure. There are not many couples who would attempt to spare out of 22s. a week, 2s. 6d. for insurance and sick pay, and 2s. for an aged relative. But we cannot doubt that people who enter on married life in this spirit, determined to be both thrifty and generous, will not want for means or help in days to come.
Dressmaking Question.—“I wish to place a lady, aged twenty-one, in some business or profession to enable her to earn a living. She leans to dressmaking. Do you recommend that trade? How long will it take to learn it in all its branches? What premium will have to be paid by an outdoor apprentice? Presuming that she studies for two years, what ought she to be able to earn at the end of that time? What would be the hours of work of an apprentice who paid a premium? Can you recommend a firm of dressmakers in Brighton who teach?—Stoke.”
To anyone with a taste for dressmaking we undoubtedly recommend the business. We receive intimations continually of good openings for women to establish themselves as dressmakers. We will reply to “Stoke’s” numerous questions in their order. In two years a girl ought to be able to obtain a fair all-round knowledge of dressmaking; but she must be careful to insist on being taught the work of each department, as in some firms there is a tendency to keep a girl at one kind of work only. An outdoor apprentice is not usually asked to pay a premium, but is expected to give services for some little time. The length of this period of free service varies greatly, as much according to the custom of the firm as the ability of the young dressmaker. In any case the outdoor apprentice is not likely to receive more than a shilling or two a week during any portion of the first year. What she would receive at the end of two years is most difficult to foretell, so much depending on the amount of aptitude she had developed in the meantime. The average wages of employees in London dressmaking businesses are, resident fitters, £40 to £100 a year; experienced bodice-hands, 16s. to 20s. a week; ordinary bodice-hands, 12s. to 15s. a week; assistants, 8s. to 10s.; skirt-hands, 8s. to 18s. It is probable that she would have to begin as an improver at 8s. A fashionable and well-paying firm in the West End that is known to us pays its out-workers 11s. to 18s. a week. The maximum fee to indoor hands is £2. Dressmakers’ hours are regulated by the Factories and Workshops Act. The regular day, that is to say, is one of twelve hours, including meal-times. A good deal of overtime is unfortunately worked during the season. An apprentice, whether paying a premium or not, would be expected to work these hours; but it is possible she might be excused the overtime, if special conditions to that effect were made at the time of engagement. We do not happen to be able to recommend a firm of dressmakers in Brighton.
Emigration.—“Will the Australian Agents-General be sending out any more girls from this country to Australia this year, on the same terms as last year? I am a general servant, getting £20 a year. Could I do better in Australia? Do they treat their servants better out there than here? I do not like service, but am very fond of housework and do not mind what I do. Would you recommend the Cape or Canada in preference to Australia? I think many of us girls complain and grumble when we ought to emigrate instead.
“A Would-be Emigrant.”
If it is the conditions of English service that “A Would-be Emigrant” dislikes and not the work itself, we think she might very likely find herself happier in Canada or Australia. The Cape is less to be recommended, as much Kaffir labour is employed there and consequently only very good servants are wanted. Free passages are given to domestic servants of good character between the ages of 18 and 40 who wish to emigrate to Western Australia. Inquiries should be addressed to the Agent-General for Western Australia, 15, Victoria Street, London, S.W. To other parts of Australia there are no free, but some assisted and nominated passages. To Canada there are no assisted passages. The emigrant to Canada should select April as the month in which to leave. Women should communicate with the Women’s Protective Immigration Society, at Quebec, and at 84, Osborne Street, Montreal, if they think of going to Canada. Servants in Canada receive the following wages per month:—Prince Edward Island, £1 to £1 8s.; Nova Scotia, £1 4s. to £2; New Brunswick, £1 4s. to £1 12s.; Quebec and Ontario, £1 4s. to £2 8s.; Manitoba and the North-West, £1 8s. to £3; and in British Columbia—where nurse girls mainly are wanted—£2 8s. to £4.
Employment for Middle-Aged Ladies.—“How can three middle-aged ladies, greatly reduced in circumstances, best obtain a living? They could spend about £30 in preparing for employment, and have an income of £30 per annum. Some persons have suggested that they should take a small house at about £50 per annum, and then let apartments; but these ladies do not feel that they could incur heavy liabilities or have the responsibility of a large establishment. They are educated, and used to keep a ladies’ school.—M. S. S.”
These ladies are quite wise not to spend all they have on the rental of a house, leaving themselves nothing for board or servants’ wages. The profits on lodgers are small and would certainly not cover the expenses of conducting such an establishment for some time to come. In our opinion it would be best for the ladies to separate and to take any posts that they could fill. They should try to obtain some kind of employment in the capacity of matron. Possibly one of them might obtain the matronship of a workhouse, or of one of those homes in which young children are trained. Educated ladies who are equal to doing some housework are much sought after to act as “house-mothers” to small colonies or families of poor children. Matrons are likewise sought for rescue or preventive homes for girls. It is for some occupation of this class that the ladies might wisely offer themselves. If they fail to obtain such posts on immediate application in reply to advertisements, then it would be advisable to spend some portion of the pounds they have by living and working for a few years in one of the London women’s settlements. This is the best advice that can be offered; but the case is certainly both sad and difficult.