St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-15

Hldlly IOunu resting place Ill Ulle SefV-
ants quarters. Coming down stairs we
happened to meet the lady of the house.
"Where have you girls been?" she
demanded.
We've been up to see our sleeping
apartments" l answered, land I'm
not used to sleeping on rusty wire with
rag stretched over it," She was angry
at first, but finally concluded to rake up
some old wool mattresses for us.
"All of you get dOcked 10 cents
apiece" she said, ''for the time you
wasted up stairs" The girls didn't OBJ
ject, so l asked if she really meant what
she said, or was only talking.
Eyes, she means it; we get docked
for breaking dishes, getting up late,
talking back or most anything she
don't like" they replied.
We finished the washing that after
noon. At supper time we waited until
the family had finished, then the lady
came down and put away most of what
was left. About all could see for the
gir Is supper were
SOME BROKEN SCRAPS
of bread and cake. A couple of sausage
ends were carefully set away. [ was
hungry and ate them. Next morning
sauSageS? Don't you know that never
allow the girls any meat"
81 ate them," l meekly confessed.
She preached at me for my wickedness
and discharged me. l started out the
front door; she came and chased me out
the back door. saying that the girls
were never allowed to 90 out the front
way.
Hearing that some ladies required the
girls who look after the children, to
wear caps and aprons, thought it
would be amusing to try place of that
sort. / didn't know why the girls had
sonally had no objection to wearing a
livery of that sort, especially if fur
| niShed without cost to myself. l re-
flected that in wearing cap wouldn't
have to curl my bangs nor keep my hair
so nicely combed. | applied for the place
and was engaged. Nothing was said
about the cap and apron until next
morning, when the lady brought out the
regimentals and tol me to take the
children out for an airing.
Il have hat, thank you, and don't
need that cap," said, as politely as L
knew how.
But the cap looks so neat, and it
| amuses the children to see you dressed
that way" said the lady, persuasively.
| suggested that she give me red jacket
with brass buttons, and put some bells
around the edge of the cap: then l
could pose as monkey for the chill
dren's amusement.
''Oh, no." she said; "but you know
| it's necessary to have some means of
| distinguishing servants from mistresses.
Why, some of the girls have their
dresses and hats made just like mine.
| When l meet them on the street they
| look as if they belonged to the same
| class that do, and its terribly annoy
| ing.'
Fearing that if I argued the point
! farther that I'd be discharged without a
| chance to
TRY ON THE LIVERY
| at all, put Oh the white cap and apron
and took the children out for a long
walk. 1t must be that this custom is
| just being introduced in this city, for
my attire seemed to attract general at
tention. Ladies would stop to remark
how nice my costume looked; idlers on
the street corners took advantage of my
| position to make impertinent remarks
if | met working girl or fellow servant
she promptly refused to recognize me,
or, perhaps, gave her opinion of me in
no uncertain terms. l was glad to get
back and take off the hateful attire. My
mistress was sorry to have me leave. be.
cause she said it was so hard to get girls
|
higher wages couldn't tempt me to stay
One afternoon, while resting from my
labors as a servant, a lady friend OF
mine called to know if l would look
after her house for a week while she
went visiting. There were tive Sery.
ants, and | jumped at the chance OF
playing mistress for awhile. Ny friend
said on leaving: sit will take most OF
your time, Eva, to look after those girls
If they don't mind you, why, discharge
them and hire some new ones.''
One of the girls couldn't speak Eng,
lish, and the. other labored under the
delusiOn that she was mistress of the
house. Her invariable response to my
directions would be "Yes'm." If she
felt like it the work was done; If she
didn't l could do it myself. We
couldn't agree, so both girls left.
l sent to an intelligence Office, and
soon had
PLENTY OF MATERIAL
from which to select. Many were Scan
dinavians, who could not or would moi
make themselves understood. One
girl wanted to exchange references with
where she was working. l thought hel
idea good one. Another looked ovel
the whole house and concluded that i
wasn't stylish enough 10 suit her
About $3.50 week seemed to be the
highest wages for general homework
as none asked more than that and many
were willing to work for $3.50. care
you a Christian?" asked one. After
being assured that was she said: 81
won't work for any more of these peo
pie that are always preaching Christian
ity to their help, but never make the
application to themselves / didn't
blame her, as l had noticed several O,
that class myself. Finally | hired &
stout-looking German girl. She suited
all right, only that she left two davs
afterwards and by mistake, suppose
took one of my best dresses among hel
personal effects. The next girl had {
habit of staying out all night and sleep
ing all day, which was hardly satisfac
} tory. The last was a pretty good speci
men of the careless girl. Nothing coul(
induce her to wash her face, comb hel
hair or finish dressing until breakfas
was over and it was about time for thu
grocer'S man to call.
She always used the silver spoons ant
best china so as to save the stock O
kitchen utensils that were provided. i
meal were late or spoiled in the cook
ing, she didn't know how it could hav,
happened, and certainly wasn't t,
, blame. was in despair when myIfrient
came back, but she just laughed. sayins
that girl represented large class O
servants, who waste and destroy mucl
more than their wages would amour
to.
l have met all classes of girls and the,
agree in saying that, as rule, there i
! no sympathy between mistress and ser
, want. The servant, thinking that she i
| considered as an inferior and drudge
gets into the habit of evading everythin,
t possible. The mistress, on the othe
hand, wearying of incompetenc
and stupidity, concludes that al