We are great believers in the doctrine that it
will all come out right in the end."
"Ah, I don't wonder at that," said the Altrurian, "if the process of
natural selection works so perfectly among you as you say. But I am afraid
I don't understand this matter of your domestic service yet. I believe you
said that all honest work is honored in America. Then no social slight
attaches to service, I suppose?"
"Well, I can't say that, exactly. The fact is, a certain social slight
does attach to service, and that is one reason why I don't quite like to
have students wait at table. It won't be pleasant for them to remember it
in after-life, and it won't be pleasant for their children to remember
it."
"Then the slight would descend?"
"I think it would. One wouldn't like to think one's father or mother had
been at service."
The Altrurian said nothing for a moment. Then he remarked: "So it seems
that while all honest work is honored among you, there are some kinds of
honest work that are not honored so much as others."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because some occupations are more degrading than others."
"But why?" he persisted, as I thought, a little unreasonably.
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