what diantha did- 第15部分

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　thanks　from　the　community　for
extending　to　so　many　the　privilege　of　listening　to　our　valued
fellow…citizenMiss　Bell。〃

He　bowed　againto　Miss　Belland　to　Mrs。　Dankshire；　and　resumed　his
seat；　Miss　Eagerson　taking　advantage　of　the　dazed　pause　to　occupy　the
platform　herself。

〃Mr。　Eltwood　is　right！〃　she　said。　　〃Miss　Bell　is　right！　　This　is　the
true　presentation　of　the　subject；　'by　one　who　knows。'　　Miss　Bell　has
pricked　our　pretty　bubble　so　thoroughly　that　we　don't　know　where　we're
standingbut　she　knows！　　Housework　is　a　businesslike　any　other
businessI've　always　said　so；　and　it's　got　to　be　done　in　a　business
way。　　Now　I　for　one〃　but　Miss　Eagerson　was　rapped　down　by　the
Presidential　gavel；　as　Mrs。　Thaddler；　portentous　and　severe；　stalked
forward。

〃It　is　not　my　habit　to　make　public　speeches；〃　she　began；　〃nor　my　desire；
but　this　is　a　time　when　prompt　and　decisive　action　needs　to　be　taken。　
This　Club　cannot　afford　to　countenance　any　such　farrago　of　mischievous
nonsense　as　we　have　heard　to…day。　　I　move　you；　Madam　President；　that　a
resolution　of　condemnation　be　passed　at　once；　and　the　meeting　then
dismissed！〃

She　stalked　back　again；　while　Mrs。　Marrow　of　Boston；　in　clear；　cold
tones　seconded　the　motion。

But　another　voice　was　heardfor　the　first　time　in　that　assemblyMrs。
Weatherstone；　the　pretty；　delicate　widower　daughter…in…law　of　Madam
Weatherstone；　was　on　her　feet　with　〃Madam　President！　　I　wish　to　speak　to
this　motion。〃

〃Won't　you　come　to　the　platform；　Mrs。　Weatherstone？〃　asked　Mrs。
Dankshire　graciously；　and　the　little　lady　came；　visibly　trembling；　but
holding　her　head　high。

All　sat　silent；　all　expectedwhat　was　not　forthcoming。

〃I　wish　to　protest；　as　a　member　of　the　Club；　and　as　a　woman；　against　the
gross　discourtesy　which　has　been　offered　to　the　guest　and　speaker　of　the
day。　　In　answer　to　our　invitation　Miss　Bell　has　given　us　a　scholarly　and
interesting　paper；　and　I　move　that　we　extend　her　a　vote　of　thanks。〃

〃I　second　the　motion；〃　came　from　all　quarters。

〃There　is　another　motion　before　the　house；〃　from　others。

Cries　of　〃Madam　President〃　arose　everywhere；　many　speakers　were　on　their
feet。　　Mrs。　Dankshire　tapped　frantically　with　the　little　gavel；　but　Miss
Eagerson；　by　sheer　vocal　power；　took　and　held　the　floor。

〃I　move　that　we　take　a　vote　on　this　question；〃　she　cried　in　piercing
tones。　　〃Let　every　woman　who　knows　enough　to　appreciate　Miss　Bell's
paperand　has　any　sense　of　decencystand　up！〃

Quite　a　large　proportion　of　the　audience　stood　upvery　informally。　
Those　who　did　not；　did　not　mean　to　acknowledge　lack　of　intelligence　and
sense　of　decency；　but　to　express　emphatic　disapproval　of　Miss　Eagerson；
Miss　Bell　and　their　views。

〃I　move　you；　Madam　President；〃　cried　Mrs。　Thaddler；　at　the　top　of　her
voice；　〃that　every　member　who　is　guilty　of　such　grossly　unparlimentary
conduct　be　hereby　dropped　from　this　Club！〃

〃We　hereby　resign！〃　cried　Miss　Eagerson。　　〃_We_　drop　_you！_　　We'll　have
a　New　Woman's　Club　in　Orchardina　with　some　warmth　in　its　heart　and　some
brains　in　it