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and approval。 Here was a subject appealing to every woman present； and
every man but such few as merely 〃boarded〃； even they had memories and
hopes concerning this question。
Solemnly rose Mrs。 Dankshire； her full silks rustling about her； and let
one clear tap of the gavel fall into the sea of soft whispering and
guttural murmurs。
In the silence that followed she uttered the momentous announcements：
〃The meeting will please come to order；〃 〃We will now hear the reading
of the minutes of the last meeting；〃 and so on most conscientiously
through officer's reports and committees reports to 〃new business。〃
Perhaps it is their more frequent practice of religious rites； perhaps
their devout acceptance of social rulings and the dictates of fashion；
perhaps the lifelong reiterance of small duties at home； or all these
things together； which makes women so seriously letter…perfect in
parliamentry usage。 But these stately ceremonies were ended in course
of time； and Mrs。 Dankshire rose again； even more solemn than before；
and came forward majestically。
〃Members…and guests；〃 she said impressively； 〃this is an occasion
which brings pride to the heart of every member of the Home and Culture
Club。 As our name implies； this Club is formed to serve the interests
of The Homethose interests which stand first； I trust； in every human
heart。〃
A telling pause； and the light patter of gloved hands。
〃Its second purpose；〃 pursued the speaker； with that measured delivery
which showed that her custom； as one member put it； was to 〃first write
and then commit；〃 〃is to promote the cause of Culture in this community。
Our aim is Culture in the broadest sense； not only in the curricula of
institutions of learning； not only in those spreading branches of study
and research which tempts us on from height to height〃（〃proof of
arboreal ancestry that；〃 Miss Eagerson confided to a friend； whose
choked giggle attracted condemning eyes）〃but in the more intimate
fields of daily experience。〃
〃Most of us； however widely interested in the higher education； are
stilland find in this our highest honorwives and mothers。〃 These
novel titles called forth another round of applause。
〃As such；〃 continued Mrs。 Dankshire； 〃we all recognize the
difficultthe well…nigh insuperable problems of the〃she glanced at
the gallery now paying awed attention〃domestic question。〃
〃We know how on the one hand our homes yawn unattended〃（〃I yawn while
I'm attendingeh？〃 one gentleman in the rear suggested to his
neighbor）while on the other the ranks of mercenary labor are
overcrowded。 Why is it that while the peace and beauty； the security
and comfort； of a good home； with easy labor and high pay； are open to
every young woman； whose circumstances oblige her to toil for her
living； she blindly refuses these true advantages and loses her health
and too often what is far more precious！in the din and tumult of the
factory； or the dangerous exposure of the public counter。〃
Madam Weatherstone was much impressed at this point； and beat her black
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 cus