The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-29
The Lady and Her Cook.

The story related in another column by
the perplexed mistress OF quiet household
describes an actual domestic experience
which is probably not at al novel.
This lady had had in her service for two
weeks young woman cook. who had
conducted herself so well that she was
allowed last Sunday as holiday. In
stead Of improving the privilege sensibly.
the cook drank to excess and returned in
the early evening In condition Of boisterous
intoxication. Her mistress was both terri
fled and astonished, for she had never dealt
with q drunken woman before. and she had
believed that she had secured treasure
in the servant. Being kind and conscien-
hous woman. she was unwilling to send the
wretched creature to police station.
and therefore assumed the distressing
task Of taking care Of her herself.
As consequence. the lady lost her
nights sleep and was completely un.
nerved by her fright: but the cook came
down in the morning wholly sober. and car
ried herself as II nothing extraordinary had
happened. When her mis- tress dismissed
her at once. expressing surprise and sor-
row at her conduct. the cook replied coolly
that she had right to do as she pleased on
her Sunday out.
The lady therefore asks us whether her
self-sacritice for this ungrateful and shame
less servant was not wasted utterly. and
whether she would not have done better II
she had sent for policeman to take her to
station house. Undoubtedly. II the cooks
offence deserved the punishment Of dis
missal from her place. it deserved also the
punishment which would have been inflicted
by the law. 1t is probable. too, that she
would have recovered from her drunken
ness In the cell OF police station as well
as In her chamber in this lady's house.
The confinement and the fine which
she might have had to pay would have
served. perhaps. as an effective warning
against the repetition Of such indulgence.
She would have learned that she could not
use her leisure to get violently drunk with
out subjecting herself to an expensive and
disgraceful punishment: while her mere
dismissal from her place caused her no
further trouble than hunt for service else
where; and II she succeeded In getting into
this lady's employment in spite Of her
weakness for drink. she was not unlikely to
get into another household.
Yet the disgrace OF arrest and imprison-
ment might have given the young woman
a downward impulse. from the possibility
OF which 1t was dictate Of humanity to
make an effort to save her The self-sacri-
flce OF her conscientious mistress In her be-
half was therefore not wasteful expendi-
ture. 1t was reasonable and creditable.
The only doubt Is whether the lady
went far enough In her humane task.
II she felt it her duty to protect her servant
against the consequences OF her folly by
nursing her through the night, why did
she not continue her forbearance in the
morning2 II she had not sent her away SO
percmptorily. but had allowed her another
trial. warning her against o repetition OF
the offeuce. might she not have rescued
decent woman from degradation and
saved for herself an accomplished cook
The woman's excessive indulgence In drink
and not frequent or periodical practice.
The worst feature OF the case undoubtedlyis
the hardihood with which the servant de-
Tended her conduct. as II there was nothing
shameful or reprehensible In 1t. That sug-
gests that she may be a hopeless case. and
cook addicted to drink is always an I'M
trustworthy aad dangerous servant In q
family. She is likely TO yield to her
weakness when her services are most
needed and her culinary abilities most Sc
verely taxed. But perhaps II this mistress
had been more forbearing. the cook would
have behaved differently. Her audacity may
have been due wholly to her dismissal.
II she had not been turned away SO sharply.
she might have been humble In her morti-
fcation. II she had not manifested such
repentance in her subsequent conduct. 1t
would have been demonstrated that only
the law is competent TO deal with her. She