The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-04-25
HOT SPRINGS SOUTH DAKOTA, FRIDAY, APRIL Is, 1890.
TEACH YOUR SERVANTS.

lIACH SOUK SEkYANI'S.l
.-a.ss al
They Need to Learn Many Things
y to Make Things Pleasant.
Pleasurcs Of Housekeeping May No
Greatly Enhanced II tho Work Is Dono
Neatly, systematically and FIcononl- .
ically-Some Valuable Hints.
Some things may be- taught ones scrv.
ants about dining-room service which every
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 tho setting of the table
can make frugal meal u success Teach
them to lay the creases of the table-cloth
straight; "a wavy line up and down the
lcngth OF table is u constant vexation.
Teach them to use extreme care in making
tue 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 die, that all
tho distances are evenly proportional, and
that all the articles are placed so as to be
as little Us may be in any ones way, while
us near rs possible to every ones hand.
Just above the forks u small salt-cellar and
peppcr-castor Cayenne also, il liked)
should be put for each person, as well as
the individual buttcr-platc. Every knife
and fork should lie with precision upon the
cloth. One cover carclessly put on ruiEs
the effect of the whole table. :.
Teach them to cut the breasl the right size
for soup, and to be exact about the thinness
of each slice, as we'll 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 sdcboard and tho
side tables as in the table itself; that much
of the charm of II wcll-scrved meal depends
on what is placed on these pieces of furni-
turc. Extra dishes and table utensils, veg
ctablcs 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 go 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 the
kitchen. A dish should no more be allowed
to remain III 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
table-cloth clean, how to dip small spots in o
bowl Of boiling water and then set the bowl
itself on the table, the cloth spread out over
this slight elevation to dry, which it should
be by the time the work in the butler's pam
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 a hard one
to learn, enforce it by cxactng payment for
broken things 1t is Il adisagrecable task to
set ones self, but often is the only means to
an end. Teach them that the silver (the
small silver in daily usc) must be counted
after dinner every night, without fail. fla
spoon or o fork is distracted occasionally it.
serves as test. Teach them to unlcarn a
habit which they have probably been taught,
to lay all the forks and knives ut each cover
which will be used during the meal. 1t is
far better to supply them as they are needed
from the side table. Some persons dislike
extremely to see such an array of implc-
ments of war before them.
Teach them the need of keeping watch
full eye on every person, so as to supply
their needs without the necessity OF beng
told, to keep the glasscs filled, the butter
replcnishcd q knife and fork always at
hand, II spoon ready, etc. In spite of the
many demands OH them, n we'll trained serv-
ant will always do this. Teach them that
to offer one dish without its accessories is u
capital crime, as coffee without sugar, or
small fruit without cream and sugar, etc
Teach them to step about the room and
| round the table as il they were shod in vel
| vet: in fact. see that theydo wear felt shoes
! in the Gining-room. Teach them the neccs-
| sity of extreme neatness about their per-
sonal appearance. If you can afford to cul-
! ploy good servants see that they have a
hnf1,
them understand that finger-n;lils can and
must be kept clean. Teach them the suta-
bility of clothes, and do not permit them to
! go about the house in your half -soiled iinerv.
Remember the case of the young house.
keeper who, having a new bodice made to a
certain dlnncr-gown, gave the old one 10 her
parlor maid, and, wearing the dress on the
| occasion of @ dinner, was crushed on be-
holding the maid come in to serve ut table
got up in the old bodice of her mistress
gown, long lace ruffies in the sleeves, and
all. Teach them that every thing about the
dining-room must be kept immaculate.
Teach them to go to the left of persons at
table in serving, but to the right with wines.
Teach them theinestimable value of silence,
both of look and voice.
Teach them that the highest value in
servants Is their willingness to obligc
that reply to the effect that "such thing
is not my work. will not bc permitted a
second time, and that whatever you desire
each one to do must be done without
dclnur Teach them the value Of your
smile or your frown, and that you always
remember that they are human, but arc
paid 10 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 if one falls i'll or has
an accident. ..>..lw
Remember that one's servants and
service reflect ones success at housekeep
ing, and that there is no reason why serv
ants should be poor housckcepers either
Patience, unlimited, unfailing patience, il
needed at tirst-for the first month-rc
pcatcd and again repeated, in instruction.
plain and distinct. by that time, if yo,
have shown that unlimited, uufailing pa
ticnce, and q servant has not graspcd youl
ideas, or most Of them, further struggling
is useless. You would better commenc,
anew with some one else, until person i,
found who shows adaptability and quick
ness Of understanding A good servant ii
such treasure, housekeeping such q Joy
when the wheels of the machinery are wei
oiled, that housekecpers should be willing
to devote more time to training their scrv
ants, SO that in the end that freedom from
anxiety is constant that all know SO wei
how to appreciate.
Topics for Curtain Lectures.
Consult with your wife.