Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-10-02
TEACH YOUR SERVANTS.
They Need to Learn Many Things
to Make Things Pleasant.
Pleasures Of Housekeeping May BE
Greatly Enhanced II the Work Il Done
Neatly. systematically and EcOnom.
ically-Some Valuable Hints.

good servant should know, and which are
not trifiing matters nor Of little impor-
tance. The great majority of servants
know only half their duties, and yet, truth
fully observes the Chicago Herald, they
firmly believe they 'know it all.''
Teach them that the setting of the table
can make frugal meal a success. Teach
them to lay the creases of the table-cloth
straight; "a wavy line up and down the
4ength of a table is constant vexation
Teach them to use extreme care in making
the arrangements Of each cover exactly
similar, and to see that the lines on either
side the table between one claret glass and
another, ETC., are straight as q die, that all
the distances are evenly proportioned, and
that all the articles are placed so as to be
as little as may be in any ones way, while
as near as possible to every ones hand.
Just above the forks small salt-cellar and
pepper-castor Cayenne, also, if liked)
should be put for each person, as well as
the individual butter-plate. Every knife
and fork should lie with precision upon the
cloth. One cover carelessly put on ruins /.
the effect Of the whole table.
Teach them to cut the bread the right size
for soup, and to be exact about the thinness
of each slice, as well as the necessity of
having the Pile arranged exactly even upon
the bread dish. Teach them to be as partic-
ular in the laying Of the sideboard and the
side tables as in the table itself; that much
Of the charm Of q well-served meal depends
on what is placed on these pieces Of furni-
ture. Extra dishes and table utensils, veg
etables and bread should be placed on the
side table. The dessert, sugar and cream,
sometimes the salad, and any thing that is
pretty accessory, must 60 on the side
board. Teach them to wipe every dish be-
fore leaving the pantry, especially such as,
from their use, must needs come from tho
kitchen. A dish should no more be allowed
to remain in q condition that will leave q
rim on the cloth Of the side table than to be
placed on the table itself in such shape.
Teach them careful habits of keeping the
taele-cloth clean, how to dip small spots in q
bowl OF boiling water and then set the bowl
itself on the table, the cloth spread out over
this slight elevation to dry, which 1t should
be by the time the work in the buffers nam,
try is done up. Teach them the monetary
value Of each piece of china and glass. and
that they are responsible for each indlvid-
ual article. If the lesson seems q hard one
to learn, enforce it by exacting payment for
broken things. 1t is q disagreeable task "
set ones self, but often is the only mems To
an end. Teach them that the silver (the
small SILVER In daily use) must be counted
q
spoon or a fork Is abstracted occasionally IA
serves as test. Teach them to unlearn a
habit which they have probably been taught.
to lay all the forks and knives at each cover
which will be used during the meal. 1t il
far better to supply them as they are needed
from the side table. Some persons dislike
extremely to see such an array Of imple-
ments Of war before them.
Teach them the need Of keeping a watch
ful eye on every person, so as To sunnlv
their needs without the necessity of being
told, to keep the glasses flied, the butter
replenished, knife and fork always at
hand, spoon ready, etc. In spite of the
many demands on them, well-trained serv-
ant will always do this. Teach them that
TO oner one dish without it's accessories Is a
capital crime, as coffee without sugar, or
small fruit without cream and sugar, etc s
Teach them to step about the room and
round the table as If they were shod in vel
vet; In fact see that they do wear felt shoea
In the dining-room. Teach them the neces.
sity OF extreme neatness about their per-
sonal appearance. If you can afford to en-
ploy good servants see that they have a
comfortable place for bathing, and make
them understand that finger-nails can and
must be kept clean. Teach them the suita-
Dllty OF clothes, and do not permit them to
go about the house in your half f-soiled finery
Remember the case of the young house
keeper who, having a new bodice made tn a
certain dlnner-gown, gave the old one tn her
parlor maid, and, wearing the dress on the
occasion OF dinner, was crushed on he
holding the maid come in to serve at table
got up In the old bodice Of her mistress,
gown, long lace ruffles in the sleeves. and
all. reach them that every thing about the
cy-Pn I.A
Teach them to go to the left of persons at
table in serving, but to the right with wines
Teach them theiuestimabe value of silence
both Of look and voice.
Teach them that the hie hes, va,ue in
servants Is their willingness to obliee:
that reply to the effect that "such thing
Is not my work. will not be permitted
second time, and that whatever you desire
each one to do must be done without
demur Teach them the value of your
smile or your frown, and that you always
remember that they are human, but are
PAID TO attend upon your word. Teach them
TO be able, IN case Of necessity, to do each
others work well and to relieve you of any
anxiety and trouble II one falls i'll or has
an accident. :,
Remember that ones servants and
service reflect ones success at housekeep-
ing, and That there 10 NO reason wbv serv
ants should be poor housekeepers either.
Patience, unlimited, unfaiIing patience, il
needed at first-for the first month-re-
peated and again repeated, in instructions
plain and distinct. BY that time, IL You
have shown that unlimited, uufaiiing pa
tfence, and servant has not grasped your
ideas, or most Of them, further struggling
is useless. You would better commence
anew with some one else, until person Is
found who shows adaptability and quick
ness OF understanding. A good servant Is
such treasure, housekeeping such q joy.
when the wheels of the machinery are we'll
oiled, that housekeepers should be willing
to devote more time TO training their sery-
ants, so that in the end that freedom from
anxiety Is constant that all know so well
how TO appreciate.
Topics for Curtain Lectures
Consult with your wife. =
Better use, on a rainy cay, n:ind and pen