Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/128

 114 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Domestic Service. By LUCY MAYNARD SALMON. New York : The Macmillan Company, 1897. Pp. 307. $2.

PROFESSOR SALMON has been toiling patiently for years at the problem of domestic service, and has furnished a distinct contribution to the history of the family institution in America. The first step taken was a careful investigation, by means of 5000 statistical schedules, of the conditions affecting 1025 employers and 2545 employe's. The national census and many labor-bureau reports have been used for checking or extending the generalizations. Of course it was impossible to make an exhaustive inquiry, but the study of typical cases is thor- oughly done and the inductive process seems to be reliable and trust- worthy.

The effort is made to lift the whole inquiry above its present level of mere personal gossip, complaint, and recrimination into the clear atmosphere of history and social science.

There is a broad survey of the various phases through which house- hold industry has passed during the colonial period and up to our own day. The redemptioners, slaves, native "help," and recent "servants," Irish, German, Chinese, negro, and all other elements are described and their place assigned.

Economic changes, new political ideals, democratic feelings have made the old methods of employment intolerable. Mere personal devices and " tipping " will not cure the deep sore. Radical changes are recommended, all of them in the direction of natural social develop- ment. The specialization and socialization of household industry is insisted upon as the central principle. Domestic service must be brought under the control of business methods. Household science and art must be lifted to their true place of social dignity by being given a position as a learned profession.

Dean Talbot's judgment is expressed in the following note :

"One of the most suggestive and admirable chapters in Miss Salmon's notable book is that entitled Education in Household Affairs. Here the keynote of the whole book is sounded as the author points out that progress in solving the problems of the house- hold is not to be attained by instinct and blind tradition, but by study, training, and investigation. It is a mere commonplace that 'woman's sphere is the household,' and yet how many women are there who enter upon its duties with any real idea of their significance ? As Miss