The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-30
THE SKELETON AT THE FEAST.
One of the Eyer-Present Torments of FASH
iOnAble Life.

A maid used to be considered
luxury. Now she is the torment of the
fashionable woman's life. Ii she is
English her manners are very good for
while-she does her duty and is well
behaved But six months in this en-
lightened country and her quiet man.
ners become insolent; she can't dress
you without referring to the Duchesses
and Countesses upon whom she has
waited before; she scorns your table
and reads your letters, and knows
exactly how much money You have In
your pocket-book. If you should OBJ
iect 10 any of her weaknesses and sum-
mon up courage enough to discharge
her, you had better have her trunks
examined before she leaves, and you
will be wise if you tell your husband all
about her, for the chances are that,
pretending to know something about
YOU. she will attempt a little scheme of
blackmail Immediately after she has
left.
If she is French she stays just long
enough to get acquainted with Ameri-
can habits, and then she leaves you in
a hurry either to marry the cook and
open small restaurant, or to go into
the hairdressing business. The Irish
or Scotch maids are usually honest
usually impertinent, usually know
little, but are as faithful as dogs, SO
that because of their virtues you for
give them the rest. There are women
in New York who do not dare to dis
charge maids-who live in deadly ter
ror of what they are going to do next;
who have been foolish enough to let
them find out something's it may be a
little something, that they do not want
either mother or husband to know
and so the maid levies tribute, gets
frocks that have only been worn once,
has her wages paid to her in advance,
and is worse than any skeleton at
feast. because she is with you nearly all
the time. Not long ago at smart
luncheon served by a gorgeous butler
and three foOt-men, woman said:
20, dear, think | shall go crazy if
they put it in a paragraph about me-"
The reference was made to a personal
paper The hostess looked silence at
her guest, and after the servants had
left the room said: my dear. why liz
servants? You evidently do not know
tnc EUSllSu Ouc< M DullcI 10 ptIltCt-
" capable of writing you letter de-
manding certain sum of money or
threatening just such a paragraph as
goa dread. The English servant has
no more idea of honor than a cannibal,
and not as much, for cannibal eats
YOU out and out. and does not make
life horrible by spinning out the agony"
When it was thought what an easy
life good maid has it seems strange
that more women, by learning to be
s. attic. do not apply for such po-
sii =. She is seldom asked to eat
VITA the rest of the households; she has
much time to 60 out, and her work is
always easily done and not dirty. A
good maid is far beyond rubies when
it comes to question of value to her
mistress, and rather than stand all day
long behind counter, get small wages
and poor food to eat, and no time to
call my own except when l was so
tired | could not enjoy it. l would
study the art of dressing people, saving
them steps, of doing their hair, of keep
inc their wardrobes in order-ln short,
of being perfect treasure of maid,
and perfect treasure of maid can
get 500 month, a pleasant room,
great deal of time to herself. and a
number of presents. The perfect maid,
like the perfect woman, is hard to find.
N. Y. Sun.