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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 going onirregularlysoon dropped。 Only；
from the group in the gallery it was whole…hearted and consistent。
Mrs。 Dankshire； who had been growing red and redder as the paper
advanced； who had conferred in alarmed whispers with Mrs。 Ree； and Miss
Massing； who had even been seen to extend her hand to the gavel and
finger it threateningly； now rose； somewhat precipitately； and came
forward。
〃Order； please！ You will please keep order。 You have heard thewe
will nowthe meeting is now open for discussion； Mrs。 Thaddler！〃 And
she sat down。 She meant to have said Madam Weatherstone； by Mrs。
Thaddler was more aggressive。
〃I wish to say；〃 said that much beaded lady in a loud voice； 〃that I was
against thisunfortunate experimentfrom the first。 And I trust it
will never be repeated！〃 She sat down。
Two tight little dimples flickered for an instant about the corners of
Diantha's mouth。
〃Madam Weatherstone？〃 said the President； placatingly。
Madam Weatherstone arose； rather sulkily； and looked about her。 An
agitated assembly met her eye； buzzing universally each to each。
〃Order！〃 said Mrs。 Dankshire； 〃ORDER； please！〃 and rapped three times
with the gavel。
〃I have attended many meetings； in many clubs； in many states；〃 said
Madam Weatherstone； 〃and have heard much that was foolish； and some
things that were dangerous。 But I will say that never in the course of
all my experience have I heard anything so foolish and so dangerous； as
this。 I trust that thedoubtless well meantattempt to throw light on
this subjectfrom the wrong quarterhas been a lesson to us all。 No
club could survive more than one such lamentable mistake！〃 And she sat
down； gathering her large satin wrap about her like a retiring Caesar。
〃Madam President！〃 broke forth Miss Eagerson。 〃I was up firstand have
been standing ever since〃
〃One moment； Miss Eagerson；〃 said Mrs。 Dankshire superbly； 〃The Rev。 Dr。
Eltwood。〃
If Mrs。 Dankshire supposed she was still further supporting the cause of
condemnation she made a painful mistake。 The cloth and the fine bearing
of the young clergyman deceived her； and she forgot that he was said to
be 〃advanced〃 and was new to the place。
〃Will you come to the platform； Dr。 Eltwood？〃
Dr。 Eltwood came to the platform with the easy air of one to whom
platforms belonged by right。
〃Ladies；〃 he began in tones of cordial good will； 〃both employer and
employed！and gentlemenwhom I am delighted to see here to…day！ I am
grateful for the opportunity so graciously extended to me〃he bowed six
feet of black broadcloth toward Mrs。 Dankshire〃by your honored
President。
〃And I am grateful for the opportunity previously enjoyed； of listening
to the most rational； practical； wise； true and hopeful words I have
ever heard on this subject。 I trust there will be enough open…minded
womenand menin Orchardina to make possible among us that higher
business development of a great art which has been so convincingly laid
before us。 This club is deserving of all thank