The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-24
MAIDS AS
Maids Who are Honored by Their
Mistresses as Confldantes.
New York Home JonrnaI

Maids Who are Honored by Their
Mistresses as Co~nfldantes.
New York Home Journal.
The ladies maid with the white cap ia
more common than the valet. Allofthe
more prominent actresses have maids,
and nearly all leading society ladies have
them also, One of the most noticeable
results Of foreign travel is the acouisi-
ton of the lady's maid. These maids are
often maids of-all-work, and occupy the
dual capacity Of maid and com panion or
~contidante. A well-known actress gives
all her letters to her maid to answer; in
deed, except to legal documents, she
seldom takes pen in hand, as her educa-
ton was neglected in early life. and she
ls not skilled either in c~hirographv, syn
tax or etymology.
There is a great difference in ladies'
maids, according to their nationality.
The foreign ladies' maids, French Swiss
or English, seam subservient or def
%ferential. and. it may be added. svco-
phantic. The colored maids are the
most afectionate and reliable. The
maids selected from poor families are
the most intelligent, and at the same
time the most independent. The French
and Swiss maids generally succeed in
eliciting the confidence of their mistress
es and occupy the position OF a con-
hdaste, though mercepary, and it is
dangerous to trust them with valuable
secrets.
The position of governess or compap
ion must not be c%onfounded with that of
ladies' maids, though they are in the
families OF the lparvenu. and at the
hotels, where a companion can ride in
the elevator, the maid not being permit
ted therein. but compelled to
walk up and down stairs the same as
the ether servants. The COVER
ness md companion are
generally ladies of position in reduced
circumstances, who are every way fit as
s%oclates OF those who employ them, and
often much superior in every respect to
them, excepting social position and re-
sources. The governess OF companion
IS permitted to dress to suit her taste,
while the lady's maid is compelled to
wear the white linen cap and the plain
gart of the household subordinate.
Ladies' maids are generally young
women, past 25, or elderly women,
child!ess widows of deceased BARRIERS or
walters or grooms. Their functions are
Identical in regard to the ladies' who
employ them as those of the valet to.
ward the master. only more confidential
Inc more social, rs the two former are
brought more together and more
infinite than TIE latter
and consequently intercourse
is more familiar. Ladies' maids have
much leisure, and going about with their
mistresses have a much pleasanter.time
than the other servants, who have their
h%ebdsmadal "day Off . personal en-
joyment.
The remuneration of the lady's maid
depends on circumstances and DISPOSE
ton of the employer, Some are gen
erous and clothe the maid we'll; while
others are close-isted and consider the
position SO attractive that small wages
should satisfy. The lady's maid mnst
be more rigorous and decorous in her
life than any other of the servants.
She is exposed to less temptation, and it
is seldom one hears ola iady's maid III
volved in scandal.