The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-07-27
TOLD BY A LADY'S MAID.
THE STORY OF THE LIFE AND DU-
TIES THAT FALL TO HER LOT.


The French Girls Have Almost Mo-
nopoly-With Propensity to Gossip
They Are Discreet and Silent.
Generally among the crowds of eager, ex-
cited, we'll and badly dressed men and wo-
men who surge up and down the gangplanks
and decks Of the outgoing ocean steamers are
few simply gowned, well hammered women
who quietly bid farewell TO their friends, do
not join in the wild hurrah and waving as
the ship swings from her pier, yet stand on
the main deck just behind the wealthiest and
most prominent people, and are off for long,
varied trip abroad.
They will visit Paris and London, put up at
the first hotels, and perhaps pay flying visits
to the German spas in company with our
wealthiest countrywomen. They are, in fact
ladies' maids, servants, il you will, and in
nearly every case Of any other nationality
but American. How is thisf asked sew
eral young women Of quiet social standing,
who gain livelihood by working in box and
candy factories. 1t would seem that for such
position, where the work is light, wages
good and travelling expenses paid, there would
be innumerable applicants.
THAT is well enough" they replied, but
one is obliged to wear a cap and apron and be
constantly at another's beck and call, so we
prefer factory life and freedom"
WHAT THE FRENCH MAID SAYS.
Let us see just what the maid will say for
herself and sound her opinions on the sub
ject. A little brown eyed Frenchwoman,
who had lived many years In the United
States, was proud and delighted to give her
ideas on the question in detail:
had been taught the profession Of hair
dressing when quite a girl, but decided !
wanted to come to America, so. secured a
place with an American woman as maid and
kept it for five years Some people think it
an easy occupation, and rather contemplate
on that account; but let thoroughly expert
enced woman try and see how signally she
will fail.
Those thousand little personal wants must
be remembered and all satisfied with a degree
of def skill that only comes by practice.
One must be at least a clever hairdresser, sew
neatly and rapidly, have taste in the arrange
ment Of costumes, and at times she will be
called upon to both read and write for her
mistress. She Is busy from one day to an.
other with merely mending lace, laying fine
darns in silk stockings, catching up or letting
out seams, as my lady's plump proportions
wax and wane, putting toilets away in linen,
and bringing out Others with the innumerable
accessories of gloves fan, slippers, wrap, etc.
Then there is one talent think indispens-
able, and if not natural, should by all means
be cultivated-that is the gift of good tenn
hiatt 10. txin int
the lady as she is having her hair briskly
brushed and her nails manicured, bat there
are times when ones good humor will DC aw-
fully strained it is so in every profession,
and ours is not an exception. But the ques-
ton of mistress and maid has been SO fire.
quently and carefully discussed in fiction,
and either the one or the other held in disa-
greeable light, that 1t is pleasure to refute
all this false testimony.
THEY GOSSIP LITTLE.
AS tell you, l lived five years with Mrs
L., and although there were ups and downs.
my life was pleasant and comfortable. The
house being that Of a rich woman, ! shared
in its luxuries, and could hold myself a bit
above even the butler. My room on the top
floor was carpeted, curtained and warmed by
u RdS stoVe anu IIluCu VI tlo uay slSiht
working for myself. lived on the choicest
fare, was given many Of my clothes and so
to save nearly every cent of my
wages, 500 month.
Yes, met other ladies' maids in the dress
ing rooms at large balls and receptions, and
we French women were naturally friendly
We would criticise the ladies' gowns, and,
I must say, did a deal Of honest gossip, You
know how great a temptation it Is TO rake
over the Goals of other folks, social, domes
tic and financial failures and successes. But
we are very clannish and do battle for our
employers when any outsider begins even to
cast disparaging glances. You would be sur
prised d. the discreet silence of many Of these
maids, for, with born propensity to gossip,
they will hold many family secrets that time
and again have been carelessly discussed be-
fore them. Would any maid take upon her
self the task of publishing her memoirs or
as Mr. Jeems Yellowplush once
did, warrant she could unfold as interesting
q tale
Now, for my part, should think Ameri-
can girls of thrift and Judgment would do
far better in this business than the unsatis-
factory pegging away at factory work.
With the fine opportunities to save her sal
airy, she will at the end of two or three years
have accumulated enough money to be indie
pendent and set up for herself in a small
way. There are many Of the leading mo-
listes, milliners and hairdressers in London,
New York and Paris who got their early
training as maids, and now are at the head
IF prosperous houses. Then the positions
Of maid and mistress are reversed, and it is
often Nine So and So who drives up in her
brougham and requests an audience of her
ex-bonne to plead longer time on the milf
ler's bill that has grown out of all proportion
" her income.-New York Star.