Public Ledger

A Stir in the Kitchen.

From the London Punch.

Emulous of the example of her Caledonian sister, the English female domestic servant is about to initiate a movement to better herself, and to form an association to protect her interests against that worst of all tyrants, despots, enemies, oppressors and down-treaders--"Missis."

Preliminary conferences have already been held in halls and kitchens of the highest respectability, and as soon as the weather is finally settled, a great open-air meeting will be called at an hour convenient to those whom a hard fate compels to dish up a late dinner, at which the following programme will be recommended for adoption, as essential to the comfort, happiness, self-respect and independence of all those whom "circumstances oblige to resort to domestic service for their livelihood:

No servant to accept an engagement until she has first received a satisfactory character of the mistress who is anxious to secure her assistance.

Public waiting-rooms to be established, at which mistresses shall attend (at their own cost), to be inspected and questioned by their intending employees.

No servant to permit, on any pretext, the slightest difference in the quality or quantity of the provisions supplied to the parlor and the kitchen. The best tea to be provided, and an absolute prohibition to be placed upon the use of moist sugar.

No mistress to enter her own kitchen without giving previous notice of her intention to its occupants.

No cupboards, sideboards, store-rooms, or cellars to be kept locked.

Free access to the beer-barrel.

No servant to be rung up in the morning, or expected to retire to rest at a certain hour at night.

No interference to be allowed with a servant's dress, of which she is to be considered the best and only judge.

Artificial flowers, veils, jewelry, parasols, chignons, and high-heeled boots to pass unquestioned and unnoticed.

No restriction to be placed on kitchen company. Male friends to have the entree to that apartment whenever it may be agreeable to them. (This last stipulation to be sine qua non.)

Cold meat to be eaten only at breakfast, luncheon, tea and supper.

Charwomen to be engaged to undertake such onerous and disagreeable duties as washing, scrubbing, black-leading grates, lighting fires, and preparing the rooms for the reception of the family in the morning, making beds, cleaning boots and knives, etc.

Servants with musical tastes and accomplishments to be allowed the use of the piano.

A supply of newspapers, magazines, and reviews, and a subscription to a circulating library for the extensive accommodation of the kitchen.

The total abolition of the irksome and barbarous custom of washing at home.

All such degrading terms as "place," "wages," "character," and "maid-of all-work," to be forbidden; and, in their stead, "salary," "testimonials," and "general domestic" to be employed. The word "kitchen" to be gradually discontinued in favor of "Servants' Apartment."

Two half-holidays a week. Vacations at Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide, and a month's leave of absence in the summer (without any deduction from salary), for the seaside, the Continent, etc.

An evening party once a month.

The Sunday question to be a matter of special negotiation: but all leave of absence on that day to be considered to apply to the whole of it, and no hour to be fixed for the return of domestics to their duties at night.

All salaries to be paid in advance, and servants to be entitled to draw as much money as they please on that account.

Servants not to be required to give warning, but all existing customs, as regards notice, wages, etc., on the part of employers, to remain in full force.

The extension of the franchise to domestic servants.