Domestic Service -

Lucy Maynard Salmon

Forgotten Books

2018

370 páginas

12h 20m

ISBN-13: 9781330395783

Salmon has been toiling patiently for years at the problem of domestic service, and has furnished a distinct contributionto the history of the family institution in America. The first step taken was a careful investigation, by means of 5000 statistical schedules, of the conditions affecting I025 employers and 2545 employes. The national census and many labor-bureau reports have been used for checking or extending the generalizations. Of course it was impossible to make an exhaustive inquiry, but the study of typical cases is thoroughly done and the inductive process seems to be reliable and trustworthy.
The effort is made to lift the whole inquiry above its present level of mere personal gossip, complaint, and recrimination into the clear atmosphere of history and social science.
There is a broad survey of the various phases through which household industry has passed during the colonial period and up to our own day. The redemptioners, slaves, native "help," and recent "servants," Irish, German, Chinese, negro, and all other elements are described and their place assigned.
Economic changes, new political ideals, democratic feelings have made the old methods of employment intolerable. Mere personal devices and " tipping " will not cure the deep sore. Radical changes are recommended, all of them in the direction of natural social development. The specialization and socialization of household industry is insisted upon as the central principle. Domestic service must be brought under the control of business methods. Household science and art must be lifted to their true place of social dignity by being given a position as a learned profession.