The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-27

before | engaged them that they wore caps
but on coming to me they have had nothing
ON their heads but tiny bit of net which you
could not even see unless you stood behind
them Before engaging you, think should
like to see one of your caps"
Every well, ma'am."
You tell me you have been accustomed to
open the door. l hope your manner to
visitors is respectful and modest, especially
when gentleman calls. / have not many
gentlemen visitors; but you know, to a gen
tleman you cannot be too guarded and reserved
in your manner. Never say word more than
you can help and never be seen to smile or
look pleased as some servants do.'
The next inquiry on the part of the lady
had reference to her leaving her last place
the reason why. To which the girl with, as
thought, great candor, gave an answer we'll
nigh fatal to her present prospect of engage
ment
''Well, maam, missus always said as she
was quite satisfied with the way did my
work and shouldn't have had to leave only
she thought as had an acquaintance
"a whatP
''An acquaintance, ma'am."
"An acquaintance ~ exclaimed the maiden
lady, her hitherto inhexible features being for
the first time summoned to participate in the
Mortified amazement with which the disclo-
sure was received-'an acquaintance Oh, l
do not wonder that you should have had notice.
never would keep a servant in my house who
was capable of such an improperly. place
soon loses its name for responsibility if
acquaintance are tolerated"
But, if you please, ma am, replied the
young woman, ''it wasn't true, only missus
suspected 500
"Ah but | should be afraid she had some
ground for her suspicion. Servants are so
foolish. They require so much watching to
keep them proper and respectable, that it
causes ladies great deal of trouble and anX-
iety. 1t shall never be said that l fail to look
after mine. Even on the Sunday, when they
must of course go to church, l keep them
within my own observation. / always make
them walk close behind me and sit near my
pew where | can see them so that no one can
even speak to them without my being aware
of it; besides that, | consider it my duty to see
all the letters that my servants receive, so as
to prevent anything like an improper cores
pondence."
On the disclosure of so complete a system of
espionage, the idea seemed to occur to the
young woman that the situation might not be
quite so desirable as she had supposed, and
for the first time there were symptoms of non
acquiescence in the lady's mode of dealing
with her dOmestics; so she replied, still quite
respectfully
''Please, maam, I've always been used to
have an hour or two to myself of Sunday
show anybody the letters as gets"
"Well, l could not alter my rules for any
servant. | only act in accordance with what
conceive to be my duty. If you think my
ways too strict, you had better not think of
my place.
There was few moments pause, during
which the girl looked down, as if to collect
from off the floor her thoughts, or words
wherein to express them, the result being, as
| quite anticipated, her final answer
'I'm most ateard, ma am l shouldn't give
you satisfaction
An exchange of 'good mornings" now
terminated this interesting though abortive
interview; and Mrs. Primworthy and the lady
being left in sole occupation of the office, the
latter recommended
Scarcely thought that person would answer
for me when she came into your Office She
is evidently fond of dress, and altogether there
was style about her that l do not like in a
servant
"Well, ma'am," replied Mrs. Primworthy,
Gas regards the matter of dress, why you see,
ma'am, servants is apt to get bit dressy
nowadays, and to tell the truth, ma am, |
shouldn't have considered that girl at all gaily
dressed as the times go. Things IS a good
deal changed now in comparison as they used
to be and the fact is, you can't get servants
to dress themselves the same as they did
twenty or thirty years ago, with large caps tied
under the chin and bonnets with scarcely any
ribbon, and short skimpy skirts and such like.
The times is altered, and we shan't have SER
wants the same as they used to be never again
no more. Besides, ma am, misstresses is so diff
terent | know some that takes a sort of
pride in the appearance of their servants, and
wouldn't have them dressed in the old-fash-
ioned style on no account whatever"
'How strange that does seem Perhaps you
had better try and find me more elderly per-
son. Have you any one on your list at pre-
sent who you think would suit me 2''
'NO, ma'am, not at present, I'm sorry to
say, no one at all; and Pm really afraid shall
have some difficulty in meeting with the kind
of person you require"
$50 l should fancy" soliloquized l, as on
the departure of this model mistress l in
dulged in speculations as to whence the
good lady had derived her notions of "do-
mestic' treatment; whether she had herself
in earlier years been subjected to anything
correspondent in the way of supervision and
restraint and whether, if so, how it had
answered in her own case. Whether, for
example, pains had been taken to impress
upon her youthful mind the improperly of
possessing an acquaintance" and all such OBJ
jectiOnable superhuities had been iudiciously
kept aloof. Who knows but what her pre-
sent freedom from marital encumbrance may
be due to the successful adoption Of this sys-
tenn She may perhaps own her state of
blssful celibacy to the laudable Intervention of
parents or others who checked every tendency
to cultivate an acquaintance and, thanks to
their efforts, life remains to her one continued
game of solitaire. But be it even so, l began
i -. 4. L l..