The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-08-04
MISCELLANEOUS.

How to Treat Servants.
Timothy Titcomb' is writing a Sc
ries Of very interesting common sense
letters to. Young Married People, for
the Springfield Mass. Republican,
We extract the following from one of
his recent letters. on the relations be-
tween mistresses and servants, which is
very sensible and true:
l cannot close this letter better than
by saying a word or two upon the sub
ject Of servants. The general position
that the quality of the servant is de-
pendent upon the quality Of the mis-
iress is sound one Ii woman who
frets and scolds her servants ever has a
good servant, it is in spite Of the treat
ment she receives. In order to be a
good mistress. it is necessary to be-
lieve in few fundamental truths, which
may be briefly stated as follows
First, servants are human beings.
and. consequently, have souls; second,
servants having souls are consequent
", controlled by the motives which ad-
dress themselves to common humani-
~; third, being human servants, they
have rights which no amount of SER
vice money can buy and fourth, trans
cendent intellectual endowments, a
physical development offfty-horse pow
CT. the broad circle Of the Christian
graces AID virtues, faultless DISPOSE.
ion. a knowledge Of French cookery,
and elegant habits cannot be obtained
for nine Yankee shillings week. A
mistress admitting generally the truth
Of these propositions possesses basis
for securing service that shall be rea
sonably satisfactory to her.
There is quite too much of the feel
ing among mistresses that they have a
right to use servant as fast boy uses
a hired horse. They are to get the
most out Of them that they can for the
money they pay. They take no perso-
hal interest in them, -extend in tn am
no matronly care and kindness. They
forget that servant is a social being.
They forget that she has humble loves
and hopes. her desires for freedom and
recreation. as important to her as the
higher lovers and hopes and desires of
the more favored girls who occupy the
parlor. They forget that the labors OF
the kitchen are tedious that the con-
finement Of the kitchen Is irksome.-
They become exciting.-strict in rules,
rigid in discipline, and peremptory in
their commands. It is not in human
nature to stand this kind Of thing, 50
the servant gets hardened at last, OF
vilfully careless. She rece yes no praise
any way. and therefore tries to get none
A servant. generally speaking, whose
feeling as humble woman are appreci.
ated by her mistress, who is praised fol
what she does that is well, and kindly
and patiently instructed to correct tina
which is not we'll who is treated K
sympathetic and consideTate words
and indulged in that liberty which il
absolutely essential to her bodily ant
mental health, will love her mistress
and have desire to please. This, j,
all good and tolerable sensible natures
will settle the matter. A girl exercis
ed by this love and this desire will be
good servant ninety nine times in
hundred. 1t is under relations Xix
these that attachments are formed whicl
are as tender as humanity and as lastinl
as life.
There is broad view in which thi
and all kindred matters are to be regard
ed. The mistress is quite as dependen
upon the servant as the servant upo
hhe mistress. She renders an equivs
lent for what you give her. and her sci
vice is as essential to you as your me
ney il TO her. You cannot get alon
without her, nor she cannot get alon
without you. Your position. to b
sure. is superior to hers but she owe
you nothing, save faithful service an
respect. The obligations are not a
upon one side. It is just as much you
duty to be kind mistress and frien
I TO her, as it is her duty to give faithf,
service and respectful treatment to 20,
II therefore, you fail in your duty, 70
must not blame her for failing in her
I never yet saw good servant who ha
not either q good mistress, or one WI
wsSeetually inferior to herself. Hums
nstare Is verL prevalent among wome
and especially among maids of all wor
NJ When daughter remarks, Mother,
would not hire help, for can assist you TO
all the work in the kitchen set it down til
she will make good wife. Sensible you
men will "make note of it,