what diantha did-第18章
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fan upon her black glove emphatically。 Mrs。 Thaddler also nodded； which
meant a good deal from her。 The applause was most gratifying to the
speaker； who continued：
〃Fortunately for the world there are some women yet who appreciate the
true values of life。〃 A faint blush crept slowly up the face of
Diantha； but her expression was unchanged。 Whoso had met and managed a
roomful of merciless children can easily face a woman's club。
〃We have with us on this occasion one； as we my say； our equal in birth
and breeding；〃Madam Weatherstone here looked painfully shocked as also
did the Boston Marrow； possibly Mrs。 Dankshire； whose parents were Iowa
farmers； was not unmindful of this； but she went on smoothly； 〃and whose
first employment was the honored task of the teacher； who has
deliberately cast her lot with the domestic worker； and brought her
trained intelligence to bear upon the solution of this great
questionThe True Nature of Domestic Service。 In the interests of this
problem she has consented to address usI take pleasure in introducing
Miss Diantha Bell。〃
Diantha rose calmly； stepped forward； bowed to the President and
officers； and to the audience。 She stood quietly for a moment；
regarding the faces before her； and produced a typewritten paper。 It
was clear； short； and to some minds convincing。
She set forth that the term 〃domestic industry〃 did not define certain
kinds of labor； but a stage of labor； that all labor was originally
domestic； but that most kinds had now become social； as with weaving and
spinning； for instance； for centuries confined to the home and done by
women only； now done in mills by men and women； that this process of
socialization has now been taken from the home almost all the
manufacturesas of wine； beer； soap； candles； pickles and other
specialties； and part of the laundry work； that the other processes of
cleaning are also being socialized； as by the vacuum cleaners； the
professional window…washers； rug cleaners； and similar professional
workers； and that even in the preparation of food many kinds are now
specialized； as by the baker and confectioner。 That in service itself
we were now able to hire by the hour or day skilled workers necessarily
above the level of the 〃general。〃
A growing rustle of disapproval began to make itself felt； which
increased as she went on to explain how the position of the housemaid is
a survival of the ancient status of woman slavery； the family with the
male head and the group of servile women。
〃The keynote of all our difficulty in this relation is that we demand
celibacy of our domestic servants；〃 said Diantha。
A murmur arose at this statement； but she continued calmly：
〃Since it is natural for women to marry； the result is that our domestic
servants consist of a constantly changing series of young girls；
apprentices； as it were； and the complicated and important duties of the
household cannot be fully mastered by such hands。〃
The audience disapproved somewhat of this； but more of what followed。
She showed （Mrs。 Porne nodding her head amusedly）； that so far from
being highly paid and easy labor； house service was exacting and
responsible； involving a high degree of skill as well as moral
character； and that it was paid less than ordinary unskilled labor； part
of this payment being primitive barter。
Then； as whispers and sporadic little spurts of angry talk increased；
the clear quiet voice went on to state that this last matter； the
position of a strange young girl in our homes； was of itself a source of
much of the difficulty of the situation。
〃We speak of giving them the safety and shelter of the home；〃here
Diantha grew solemn；〃So far from sharing our homes； she gives up her
own； and has none of ours； but the poorest of our food and a cramped
lodging； she has neither the freedom nor the privileges of a home； and
as to shelter and safetythe domestic worker； owing to her peculiarly
defenceless position； furnishes a terrible percentage of the
unfortunate。〃
A shocked silence met this statement。
〃In England shop…workers complain of the old custom of 'sleeping
in'their employers furnishing them with lodging as part payment； this
also is a survival of the old apprentice method。 With us； only the
domestic servant is held to this antiquated position。〃
Regardless of the chill displeasure about her she cheerfully pursued：
〃Let us now consider the economic side of the question。 'Domestic
economy' is a favorite phrase。 As a matter of fact our method of
domestic service is inordinately wasteful。 Even where the wife does all
the housework； without pay； we still waste labor to an enormous extent；
requiring one whole woman to wait upon each man。 If the man hires one
or more servants； the wastes increase。 If one hundred men undertake
some common business； they do not divide in two halves； each man having
another man to serve himfifty productive laborers； and fifty cooks。
Two or three cooks could provide for the whole group； to use fifty is to
waste 47 per cent。 of the labor。
〃But our waste of labor is as nothing to our waste of money。 For； say
twenty families； we have twenty kitchens with all their furnishings；
twenty stoves with all their fuel； twenty cooks with all their wages； in
cash and barter combined we pay about ten dollars a week for our
cooks200 a week to pay for the cooking for twenty families； for about
a hundred persons！
〃Three expert cooks； one at 20 a week and two at 15 would save to
those twenty families 150 a week and give them better food。 The cost
of kitchen furnishings and fuel； could be reduced by nine…tenths； and
beyond all that comes our incredible waste in individual purchasing。
What twenty families spend on individual patronage of small retailers；
could be reduced by more than half if bought by competent persons in
wholesale quantities。 Moreover； our whole food supply would rise in
quality as well as lower in price if it was bought by experts。
〃To what does all this lead？〃 asked Diantha pleasantly。
Nobody said anything； but the visible attitude of the house seemed to
say that it led straight to perdition。
〃The solution for which so many are looking is no new scheme of any
sort； and in particular it is not that oft repeated fore…doomed failure
called 〃co…operative housekeeping。〃
At this a wave of relief spread perceptibly。 The irritation roused by
those preposterous figures and accusations was somewhat allayed。 Hope
was relit in darkened countenances。
〃The inefficiency of a dozen tottering households is not removed by
combining them；〃 said Diantha。 This was of dubious import。 〃Why should
we expect a group of families to 〃keep house〃 expertly and economically
together； when they are driven into companionship by the fact that none
of them can do it alone。〃
Again an uncertain reception。
〃Every family is a distinct unit；〃 the girl continued。 〃Its needs are
separate and should be met separately。 The separate house and garden
should belong to each family； the freedom and group privacy of the home。
But the separate home may be served by a common water company； by a
common milkman； by a common baker； by a common cooking and a common
cleaning establishment。 We are rapidly approaching an improved system
of living in which the private home will no more want a cookshop on the
premises than a blacksmith's shop or soap…factory。 The necessary work
of the kitchenless house will be done by the hour； with skilled labor；
and we shall order our food cooked instead of raw。 This will give to
the employees a respectable well…paid profession； with their own homes
and families； and to the employers a saving of about two…thirds of the
expense of living； as well as an end of all our difficulties with the
servant question。 That is the way to elevateto enoble domestic
service。 It must cease to be domestic serviceand become world
service。〃
Suddenly and quietly she sat down。
Miss Eagerson was on her feet。 So were others。
〃Madam President！ Madam President！〃 resounded from several points at
once。 Madam WeatherstoneMrs。 Thaddlerno！ yesthey really were both
on their feet。 Applause was go
