The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-28
Control Of Servants.

AS order is Heavens first law in the
regulation of the universe. so should it
be the first law of conduct in the regu-
lation of the household. Indeed, With
out strict order and regularity, the
housewife will soon find herself in the
midst of confusion and discomfort that
will quickly swell into the positive I'M
happiness of herself and those about her.
But the tact to manage household in
an orderly manner doesn't always come
with the knowledge of its necessity, nor
even with the desire on the part of its
mistress to so manage it. She must under
stand thoroughly how to control her ser
wants. These are called "helps, but
she will sometimes find that the more of
them she is blessed with the less help
she will have and the more imperative
need of her attention to all the details
of her housekeeping. Servants, as a
rule, look no further than their wages,
or, their followers" and the house
keeper that can truly say she can man
age her ''help" may be called without
any qualification, good housewife.
The management of servants being,
then, as this would intimate, the man
agement of the house itself, it may be
concernedly asked how are they to be
treated or in what their management
consists. A few hints will be all-sufii-
Gent to answer this.
First, in engaging them try to discov-
er whether they are competent to fulfill
the particular duties to be required OF
them. There will be no difficulty in
this if they are really competent. Then
agree to pay them what their compe-
tency is worth. If you offer them less
than this they will either refuse it for
they are apt to know their WORTHY or,
if they are dishonest, accept it with the
calculation of making up the deficiency
in some other way.
Second. Do not forget that they are
human beings. Birth and circumstance,
in denying them education, have not
deprived them altogether of feeling. The
same susceptibility of gratitude for kind
act, and the same disposition to resent al
unkind one, exist alike in the breast OF
the poor and the rich, the learned anC
the unlearned. A kind word that cost:
SO little has made many devoted ser
want and rooted an affection that NJ
ter-misfortune to the author of it coulC
change OF eradicate Therefore, while
you may be firm, be considerate in YOU
tirmness, and even courteous.
Ii was once our fortune to know anC
claim the friendship OF q man, whose
respect for the feelings of others, NJ
matter what their station might be, wa;
rather remarkable. He had in his EN-
ploy many poor girls. and when be me
or passed them be would lift his hat {,
the wearer of the shabby cotton shaw
with the same kind of recognition as
its owner We're a Hlllionaire's daughter
enwrapped in one OF !hd.a's Thousand
dollar dainties. He was a gentleman
by instinct, aRd, We believe, neither pol
icy nor profit had anything to do witt
suggesting his conduct in his intercours
with others The instance is rare one
and we mention it because of its rarity
The world could stand a few NOR
such without any injury to its civiliza
| ton.
So we would advise courtesy, even il
the management of servants. 1t canno
| lower you in the estimation of any bu
the silly, and it may breed love, as
certainly will resnect, in the breasts O
| those under your control and rende
that control an easy and pleasant task
| Tile Caterer