Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-16
A Plea for Our Servants.


A Plea for Our Servants.
i We all know how glad they are to
rush ont on every possible occasion; are
dissatisfied if they do not get their Sun
days out,. even when wet-their even
ings with their friends; and, il. not al
lowed to go out, too often take French
leave and walk out as soon as their
master and mistreSs's back is turned.
Vi course this is very wrong, and such
conduct can not be too strongly con-
demned; but we are inclined to think
that we do not 60 the right way to work
to prevent their acting in this sort of
manner. How few rflistresses take tho
slightest interest in their servants well
fare, their joys Or pleasures! If only
they do their work proserlv, that Is all
they care about. But ought they to feel
in this way with regard to the inmates
of their houses? We think not; but, on
the contrary, as far as possible, mis-
tresses should endeavor. to procure inno-
cent and rational recreation for all their
dependents, whether children, governess
or servants. The old proverb about
''all work and no0play making Jack a,
dull boy holds good with young and
old. Men who slave in their counting
houses or their offices from morning
until night without a due proportion of
rest, become in time not only dull, but
i'll. Children who have not q reasona-
BILE amount of healthy exercise and rher-
ry games are sure to NOPE, and proba-
bly, will get into mischief; and it is the
same with servants. If they have not a
sufficient amount of recreation, either
their health flags or they too get into
mischief-and mischief of much more
serious kind. 1t will be seen, therefore.
that, even from selfish point of view,
it would be we'll to take some little in
terest in those around us; and if we
only consider the unhealthy Kitchens
and underground premises in which
servants for the most part live, and the
dreary attics in which they sleep, it will
be seen how very necessary it must be
to give them opportunities of obtaining
fresh air and exercise, il their bodies
and minds are to be kept in a proper
state of health.
7 In the skating season how much they
would enjoy being spared for an hour
or two to 60 and see the sliding and
skating, or for brisk walk in the parks;
and in the Summer pleasant walks and
expeditions ought occasionally to be or
ganized for them, and this could gener-
ally be done in most establishments with
a little forethought on the mistress's
part, without deranging the family COM
fort-for instance, on days when the
master and mistress are dining out, or
when, from some cause or other, there
is not so much work as usual to be done
in the house. And all this need not en-
tail much expense; there are exhibitions
costing trihe to see; and visit now
and then to picture gallery, museum,
or even a concert, would make a pleas
ant change from the daily routine of
cooking, sweeping, and cleaning-or,
in case of nurses, of washing, dressing,
and minding children-and might help
to elevate and educate class of people
which sadly needs encouragement in
every way to prevent their falling into
bad and disreputable ways.
Small social tea parties could be ar
ranged without much trouble or ex-
pense, and to these brothers and sisters
of the servants might be invited, and
the evenings made cheerful with games,
picture books, illustrated papers, and
the like. How much better would this |
be than altogether ignoring that ser.
wants have friends and relations, and so
driving them to courses of deceit and to |
underhanded proceedings, such as max |
ing signs to attract their friends as soon |
as their masters and mistresses are out;
sending letters to their friends as soon |
as the mistress has given her orders for
the dav, on finding no late dinner is re-
quired; slipping off when there seems no
chance of their absence being observed;
and other practices which gradually
lead giddy girls from bad to worse, and
from one little deceit to some great |.
fraud. .5 ano
Almost all servants in the present day
can read and write, and bright, whole
some stories, light books of travel and
and biographical sketches
would be much appreciated by them and
would tend to while away a Sunday at
home, and induce servant to stay ut
home, even when it is their day out,
should it be wet or unsuitable for her to
90 out. Such books also might prevent
the entrance into private houses of news
papers and publications which would be
far better burnt than read by any one,
and which no modest, -principled
girls should ever be allowed to set eyes
upon. We must expect many a disap-
pointment, yet on the whole they will
be found grateful for the kindly thought
shown them; and such considerations
Tor their happiness will often bring their
own reward, by inducing servants to
give their services less grudgingly and
With more cheerful countenance.-
Purat NetC Yorker.
Cannon Ouotatiou Errors.