The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10
RULERS In THESUBURBS
hITCHEN MfSTREssEs VINO GOYERy
the HOUsEHOLD.
Della and Her succe.sor.-The Plant of a
Writer Who Knows-1he Reign of the
Mag 20 her Monarchs.

Dut these suDurbanS snatch even from
its extremity q sort OF comfort. II seems
impossible that the problem OF domestic
service should present itself in graver
gdise, so that master and mistress feel
that they have demonstrated the posi-
bility Of living in reasonable happiness
under seemingly desperate conditions.
They have incidentally acquired a good
deal of information that is likely at one
time or another 10 be useful.
The master OF the house has applied to
the affairs Of the kitchen for convenience
Of reference, the dynastic system of no
menclature Della, who came first, was
the only one of her name, so In her case
the ordinal was omitted. Della had
been chambermaid in a club, and after
three days in the suburbs, she complain
cd OF missing the geniality and excitement
OF her late place. She called a cab.
therefore, and made off without giving
notice. She was followed Immediately by
Abby, a placid mulatto whose reign was
one Of the longest recorded in these an
nails. Abbys smiling face is still re-
called with pleasure. Being past mid
die life she preferred her own way to
that Of her young mistress, and the
latter now contemplates with self-aston-
ishment in the light of subsequent hui
Mutations. the hardihood with which she
combatted some of Abby's preconceiv-
ed notions.
II ere have been dozen crises since
when Abby might have returned upon
her own terms and ruled a docile house
hold. The first premonition OF another
change was Abbys appearance late one
night with q most respectable colored
peri on at her heels Him she presented
as her husband. The man OF the house
let him In and then cynically intimated
to the mistress a doubt touching the
regularity of Abbys marital relations
The mistress wonders now that she should
have Entertained for a moment the
squeamish thought Of turning the pair
into the night Abby's subsequent con-
duct sufficiently indicated her from these
unjust suspicious. Only a husband
could have endured the henpecking which
fell to the lot OF that unhappy colored
man. From the moment Of his appear
ance In the kitchen, the suaye and bland
Abby was transformed into the shrill-
est Of shrews, and every moment OF his
stay was coupled with one domestic SER
vice or another. performed to the tune
Of a constant hectoring comment from
his wife. Abby soon after gave notice.
having been pursuaded by her husband
TO join him In setting up home Of their
own.
After Abby, came short reigns marked
by varying degrees Of inaptitude, and
then Anna took the vacant throne. She
was a brown-eyed Dane an ideal SER
want at every point. She began, how
ever by giving notice, and declared that
she must 20 at the end Of her week, but
she was persuaded TO stay while the
mistress made a six weeks wise 10 the
mountains. Annals perfection developed
no flaw during that time, but her mind
was unchanged when the mistress re-
turned. and Anna departed with no sign
OF regret on her part though master
and mistress almost groveled before her
i'm their effort 10 stay her flight. Several
short-termed successors came. one was
Maggie /. She alone since Abby. desired
to stay. That was her sole pleasing
distinction. save, indeed, her impurturba-
bic good nature. She knew naught and
seemed incapable of learning, but her
dog-like affection was well nigh irressti-
bic. Even after she had learned that
she must 20. she announced her intention
To- return as soon as she had acquired
the skill necessary to please the mistress,
and she cheerfully lent her aid in hunt
ing up her own successor. The latter
came i'm the person Of Maggie H., bust
ling gossip, with a husband not In eyl-
depce. and a wel-grown son, who did
chores. The reign Of Maggie ii. lasted
about six weeks, and was terminated TO-
ward midnight by a sudden deposition
i'm which the master Of the house took an
active part. Maggie III. followed,
kindly. energetic woman, with a face
that bore out her reputation OF fondness
for drink She returned repentant ana
with a headache after an unauthorized
leave TO find her place filled by Lizzie,
an overdressed colored woman, VINO en-
tertained much company, and finally de-
parted because the family did not suit.
BY this time the mistress, woman OF
hospitable disposition, had learned mat
she could entertain guests win circuit
and comfort only when the cook possess-
ed some rudimentary knowledge Of her
art. so that the appearance OF a comDe-
tent cook was followed by bewildering
round OF Inequalities. This in turn, re-
acted upon the cook, and resulted in her
giving notice when about hair the social
round had been made.
Bridget followed Lizzie. she was near
" six feet tall and her weight could not
have been less than two hundred pouhuS.
A friend who came 10 Vouch TOT hei'
stood Bridget in rather shdH rom
and said. "She haint so big when she
Got her small clos on" AT when tribute
bridget smiled and courtesied. Bridget
INC costume. a skirt and blouse waist.
Rut she was elephantine even in these
Rridgets good nature was as aboundlhs
as her flesh and she shared with Mag
ole I the distinction or desiring 10 stay
Memory. reason and Few other seeming,
lv essential qualities had been oulltteu
from Bridgets mental makeup, and Bfld-
get did nothing well, but her sood nature
was irresistible Then she loved the
ha
vas about i've per cent OF Bridgets. IL
was Bridgets habit 70 pause before that
mite of humanity and say many times
.sDia thev lack we the day.? did they
lack the baby the dayY' DID tney 1acA
the roor baby?" The master and mis-
trsss we're weak-minded enough TO see
something humorous in Bridget pretehse
that they had been brutal enough 70 iaek
that tiny bit OF tenderness. BroFets
denosition was plotted the very week
OF her advent but she was lliu s'o..
arch. and she cheertuiiy WVhhseu ~
80, until her successor should nave Deeh
ct, enthroned. This process occu-
Md many weeks, and was A''eiucu
with the coming and going or many can
a,sa,ss whose names have oeen Tor
-attar After each inept creature mao
80 cent away the man OF the mousse
,nae<lv pleaded for Bridget reteii'io'i'
n,,, aach time some untoward outcome
- pr5dget's mental deficiency brought
obo,,t a hasty withdrawal OF the plea.
ag pri6est'T successor u: length was ElVira
aa,Ie faced and capable Swetc VINO
,nviIlireJy and staid only a week
Caroliue another Swede, foho"eo hei
"a staid but two days, when Eivlra'
a ~ho had rot found place to her taste,
'o.sa,ted 10 return. She was received
Viii omen arms. and on her own terms.