ill settle these questions for ourselves, for each of us is
responsible for his own conclusion. But as to the inevitableness with
which such questions do rise in our minds, I take it there can be no
difference of opinion.

A. RABAGLIATI.

HEALTHY HOMEMAKING.

_For the benefit of new readers it seems well to explain that this
series of articles is not intended for the instruction of experienced
housewives. It was started at the special request of a reader who
asked for "a little book on housekeeping, for those of us who know
nothing at all about it; and put in all the little details that are
presumably regarded as too trivial or too obvious to be mentioned in
the ordinary books on domestic economy."_

XXI. HIRED HELP.

It does not seem proper to conclude the present series of articles
without touching upon the "servant problem," but I do not pretend to
be able to solve it. It is a problem usually very difficult of
solution by the homemaker of small means. If she has but few persons
to cater for, and is not the mother of a young family, she is often
very much better off without hired help, except for a periodical
charwoman. But it is not always indispensable to the woman who has
other duties besides housekeeping.

I am not here concerned with the housewife who can afford to keep more
than one efficient servant. Indeed, I am hardly concerned with one who
can employ a really good "general" at from L20 to L25 per annum. The
person I am concerned with is the homemaker who can afford at most to
employ an inexperienced young girl at from L10 to L14 per annum.

I will draw the worst side of the picture first, for although it _is_
the worst side it is true enough, as so many harassed housewives know.

The young "general" often comes straight from a council school where
domestic economy had no place in the curriculum, and from a home in
name only. Such an one is usually slatternly and careless in all her
ways, has no idea of personal cleanliness, and regards her "mistress"
as, more or less, her natural enemy! She is "in service" only under
compulsion, and envies those of her schoolmates whose more fortunate
circumstances have enabled them to become "young lady" shop
assistants, typists and even elementary school teachers. If she had
her choice she would prefer labour in a factory to domestic work; but
either a factory is not available, or the girl's parents consider
"service" more "respectable" in spite of its