The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-08-03
TOLD BY A LADY'S MAID.
THE STORY OF THE LIFE AND Du-
TIES THAT FALL TO HER LOT.

TIES THAT FALL TO HER LOT.
Few American Girls Want the Position.
The French Girls Have Almost a Mo-
nopoly-With n Propensity to Gossip
They Arc Discreet and Silent.
Generally among the crowds of eager, OK.
cited, well 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 tho 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
wealtheSt countrywomen. They are, in fact,
ladies' maids, servants, if you will, and in
nearly every case Of any other nationality
but American. How is thisl" | 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 we'll enough" they replied, "but
one is obliged to wear cap and apron and bo
constantly at another's beck and call, so VIC
prefer factory life and freedom"
WHAT THE FRENCH MAID SAYS.
Let us see just what tho maid will say for
herself and sound her opinions on the sub
ject. y little brown eyed Frcnchwoman,
who had lived many years in the United
States, was proud and delighted to give her
ideas OH 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 rs maid and
kept it for five years Some people think it
an easy occupation, and rather contemptibe
on that account; but let a thoroughly expert.
enced woman try and see how signally she
will fail
Those thousand little personal wants must
be remembered and nll satisfied with degree
of deft skill that only comes by practice.
One must he Mt least II clever lairdresscr. sew
neatly and rapidly, have taste in the arrange
mcnt of costumes, and at times she will he
called upon to both read and writo for her
mistress. She is busy from ono day to an
other with merely mcndinS lace, laying fine
dariis III SIR stockings, catching up or letting
out seams, ms my ladys plump proportions
wax and "anc putting toilets away in linen,
and bringing out others with the innumer;,ble
accessories OF gloves, fan, slippers, wrap, etc
Then there Is one talent think indispcns-
able, and 1t not natural, should by all means
be cultlvatcd-that is tho gift of good tenn
per BE clatty if you like, it will interest
the lady as she is having her hair briskly
brushed and her nails manicurc,l, but there
are times when ones good humor will he ;lw
tully strained, 1t Is 50 III every profession,
ana ours Is not an exception. But the qllcs.
tion of mistress and maid has been SO fire.
qucntly and carefully discussed in fiction,
and either the one the OF her held i'm I; ,lis;,.
grccable light, that it is IL pleasure to rcfute
all this false testimony
THEY GOSSIP A LITTLE.
As | tell you, lived five years with Mrs
L., and although there We're ups and downs.
my life was pleasant and comfortable The
house being that of rich woman, shared
III its luX,lrics, and could hold myself bit
above even the butler. My room on the ton
iloor was carpctcl, curtainctl and warmed 10y
gas stove, and much of tho day spent
working for myself lived on tho choicest
fare, was given many of my clothes and so
managed to save nearly every cent of my
wages s'20 n month
Yes, met other ladies' maids in the dress
ing rooms ut large balls and receptions, and
we French women were naturally friendly
We would criticise tho ladies' gowns, and,
| must say did IL deal of honest gossip. You
know how great II temptation it is to rake
over the Goals Of other folks, social, domcs.
tic and financial failures and successes. But
we are very clannisli, and do battle for our
employers when any outsider begins even to
cast disparaSins glances. You would be SUI.
prsed u the discreet silence of many of these
maids, for, with u born propensity to gossip.
they will hold many family secrets that time
and again have been carclcssly discussed be.
fore them. Would any maid tako upon her.
self tho task of publishing her memoirs or
adventures, as MIR Jeens Yellowplush once
did, warrant she could unfold as Interesting
II tale
Now. for my part, should think Ameri,
can girls of thrift and judgment would do
far better in this business than tho unsati.;,
factory pegginS away at factory work
With the fine opportunities to save her sal
ary, she will at tho end of two or thrce years
have accumulated enough money to be indc
pendent and set up for herself i'll n small
way There are many Of the leading mo
dlstcs, millincrs and hairdressers in London,
New York and Paris who got their early
training as maids, and now arc Mt tho head
Of prosperous houses Then the positions
of maid AMI mistress arc reversed, and it is
often Nine. So and So who drives up in her
brousham and requests an audience Of her
ex bonne to plead longer time on the milli
ncr's bill that has grown out of all proportion
to her income. York Star.