The Translation of Souls
Article reprints the story “Gretchen from the kitchen and her rich employer in new surroundings” from The Outlook.
Collection
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Creation Date
1911-11-08
Your TR Source
Women household employees
The rise of the kitchen tryant; – and how she may fall
The domestic servant evolves from country housewife to an employed domestic through seven scenes beginning with the barefooted housewife receiving “the summons to the land of the free.” In scene two she is greeted by relatives who presumably coach her in the fine art of choosing her employers, which she does in scene three “with haughty discrimination.” In scenes four and five she fills her leisure time with social activities, such as attending church and enjoying social gatherings at home. The central figure, scene six, shows her as an over-sized and defiant “Kitchen Tyrant” with four well-dressed women, on their knees, pleading with her. The final scene shows her downfall, “a ready and delightful solution of the whole problem; – one that we are all coming to.” It shows a tall skyscraper, “Family Apartment House” offering “more comforts than at home – no more wrangling with servants – meals, laundry work, valets, chambermaids, and all domestic service provided by the management.” In the background is a row of low, brownstone-like walk-ups, “This row of dwellings to let cheap. No reasonable offer refused.”
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1901-03-06
How to keep a girl
Print shows a vignette cartoon with 12 vignettes around a central figure, showing how the employer should treat her woman domestic, if she wants to keep her. Vignettes include 1) “Promise her anything and everything,” 2) “Give her the best bed in the house,” 5) “When dinner is ready – wait on her,” 6) turn a blind eye toward thievery and to 9) “packages and bundles carried out by relatives,” as well as 7) turn a deaf ear to her rants, and 12) “Raise her wages higher each month.” The center vignette, numbered “13,” shows a woman holding keys as her domestic help stands next to a stove, and suggests another option, “Take Matters into Your Own Hands and Keep Her in Her Place.”
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1883-12-05
Creator(s)
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894; Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937