Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-08

pretended and practiced the interest Of the
golden rule. Let the housekseper who talks
girl question anslyss her own treatment and
management Of them md perhaps an idea Of
Improvement will suggest itself at some point
or other which would produce another and
| . happier result OF course some domestics,
many Of them. are rigible-hers ditarily
or naturally incompetent and perfectly in
oapsbls Of comprehending theory or prscti-
cafly understanding method, but the majority
are good or bad just - the mold IL made for
them by their employers.
LAws IN BEHALF or sHnvANrs-
Neither the Law nor we'll adjusted public
opinion regard the word servant a. derogatory
Ii IL equally applicable 70 the public officer,
the clerk In Q store, the shop girl, the laboring
man and household domestic All are protected
slika A maid servant is bound BY law TO do
her work well and her employer may discharge
her II she does not, but IL allowed to remain in
employment she must be paid the agreed rate
Of wages and the plea Of ineficiency will not
hold good. Among valid legal reasons for
abandoning her employer before the e1pira-
ton of the contract time are: Failure TO pro-
vide sufficient and wholesome food, or suitable
and comfortable lodgings; rendering
her life uncomfortable by improper
requiring her to 10 illegal or improper services;
overworking her; undue threatening her, or
anything, in fact, prejudicial to her safety,
health or morala Slight causes are not suffi-
Gent reasons for breaking an agreement on
ore sufficient or not the employe must leave
peaceably on being ordered to do so, and IL
full pay ID refused the courts will see that she
obtains what 10 justly due her at the employers
expense. The same Is true il she leaves for
sufficient reasons and payment in full il re-
fused.
WHAT IS IxPEcTED or EMPLoYERa
The employer il bound to see that the en-
ploye il not exposed TO any extraordinary dan
gers and that the implements and materials
given her to work with and the place she il to
work in are in o safe condition. II she is in
lured by reason OF . neglect Of any Of these
duties the employer Is liable. II an agreement
is made for certain sum Of course that fxes
the Item OF wages and that amount must be
paid IL the girl is competent, but il no agree
ment is entered into the girl can demand
fair price for such work as she performs or
the customary or usual price for such work at
the time and in the locality in which the work
10 done.
WORD ABOUT RIyERENcKa
1t 10 all well enough to require good refer
snces, and they often perform good service,
but the best Of help is often engaged without
references. As rule the differences between
mistress and maid are upon personal points,
and references are neither asked for nor given
With or without reference Q girl is catechised
a. to what she can and 10 willing to do, and
told what is expected to be done and what
wages are TO- be paid, and il ideas are con-
cordant An engagement is made. Reference
amounts to but little when . housekesper is
hard TO satisfy. A good many good girls have
the spirit all taken out Of them by the ''sweat
box" examination they have to undergo by the
exacting housekseper. without regard to ref
erences-their efficiency il crippled ct the very
outset. To be too sxacting is worse than being
too indulgent
half Of the letters Of credit, while seemingly
eulogistic, are non-committal and can be made
to read differently between lines. Some house.
keepers do not hesitate TO give letters which
are perfect gems Of references when the SER
want 10 considered perfectly worthless and un-
desirable from their standpoint Others give
good letters in the softness Of their hearts to
let the girls OF easily when, - q matter Of
fact, they could not get along smicably at all
A girls address and manner of defining her
abilities are good references and . trial with
good treatment for given time the best test
Of efficiency.