New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-29
HOME AND SOCIETY.
LADY .ABERDEEN'S IDEAS.

anne 10 the country full OF faith and enthusiasm
a, the reforms she meant to work in the household
-,sngements of the colonists. But these coons's
~, stiff-necked people. inherlting much English
s,,nacv and conservatism and they have de-
v,ed TO accept these reforms. Stories current IN
s.nada Indicate very strained relations between
e,,asu Hall and certain social magnates. some OF
,ssse stories may have been manufactured many
ga doubtless exaggerated; but tho fact remains
,,s, they obtain credence
7, Is SAID that hotels. as we'll as private mousse
las have declined TO entertain Lady Aberdeen
:, account of her interference with domestic
.rv.ca IN the interest OF reform. one Story fe'a'es
nat Lady Aberdeen invited TO dine al tie nome
=, leader of society in Montreal The maids IN
.rAoncs were dressed in neat suits of black
',s,-e with dainty white caps. In passing INTO
~. dlning-room Lady Aberdeen glanced at THESE
fumes with disappearing eyes. When one OF
..asa maids served her, she said indicating 'he
AN. MY poor child. you still wear that un-
s.rna,e badge OF servtude. Pray take on
,a do not put II on again while you serve me
The maid at once compiled; but the mistress OF '''e
,s. caught sight Of her capless head. and oecKon-
,rg her demanded the cause. The girl SAID she
-, ,aken of the cap by request of Lady Aberdeen.
Tho mistress told her 10 put II on at once ana
the girl obeyed 1t is said that after dinner Lazy
aberdeen discaimed any intention OF interference,
,a that her hostess politely but firmly explained
IA, IN her own house she had always been ana
would cohNiINe " oS '''N
servants. MI
Another story Is to the effect that couple wei
Known in Ottawa society were invited to dine al
p,saau Hall The absence of the husband from the
.,,v caused his wife to decline. Lady Aperdeeh
can, an invitation for her to dine zen famille'
and on her arrival explained: This IS haouo fiai
,,b, when we all dine with the servants in their
sr,rq-roor. Lord Aberdeen will take you In TO
sn,er and the butler will take me-" Thereupon
.ha visitor begged to decline the honor. she had
M, understood that the invitation to dine with Inc
family included the servants.
4, a meeting for the discussion Of domestic service
reform Lady Aberdeen is reported to have said:
81 hay. been informed that there are people In
Canada who do not keep more than three servants;
and more than that. that there are actually houses
IN which only two servants are employed! lhlhk
Of the labor imposed on the unfortunate t"o'
4 voice was heard from the body OF the nall; Il
actually keep only one" Another exclaimed: i
DO my work. Think Of the LABOR imposed
on me- There are about forty servants at Rideau'
A number were sent back because there was not
sufficient accommodation for them
one Of the ladies present at the meeting mem
stoned stated that she made any engagements
Without consulting her servants to see II her en-
cagemcnts would conflict with theirs
No ono doubts the consciousness, sincerity
and klndhcartedness of Lady Aberdeen. but many
of the mis,resses of households object to her
methods and are inclined resent dctaton regard
ing their domestic affairs from one who mas not
had sufficient experience in colonial household
conditions to advise understandingy concerning
them.
You have been wildly extravagant in your head
gear this year, 1t to me-" said one OF her
friends 10 a fashionable girl who appeared 10 nave
new ha; TO wear with every gown.
..Nv dear" exclaimed the other. Il have made
wonderful discovery One OF Nine. LIS former
workwomen has hit upon new idea that Is per-
fec; eodsend TO those Of whose purses are inaue
qua.e 10 cur needs. She comes to the house LOOKS
over all your old scraps collects all your old mats
trimmings etc. and with few extra shapes and
ac,assories turns them out altogether different. in
the latest fashion and good new at 90 cents 10
a dollar for the hat"
This is a new industry which bids fair to be a
very popular one for almost every woman IN soeie-
~ must necessarily collect great deal OF eNoeieh'
material which is good to be thrown away
and which she does not know how 10 use out
which under the deft fingers Of a skiful mods'e
nav be used over again with charming results
IN fact I find my 'madeovers my most pecoiiiihe
hats" concluded mademoiselle, after accounting lor
the numerous confections. and generally IKE
them better than when they were new
t,,.er men are taking I'D this industry one OF the
most successful OF these perpatetic miliners being
q man who lives out Of town. and who has all ne
can do during his periodical visits here IN reiiah"s
the hats Of fashionable customers
The fashion OF the moment is the English nursery
governess The great consideration is her English
accent This has far outstrpped the language Vi
France. TIE English governess is the most se"So,e
innovation that has yet prevailed In iashohao-e
education, for she brings with her heF Ei.e"
IDEAS on the subjects of lessons, sweeues' u'ei-
elons scrubbings clothes. spankings and waiting
ones self. ,,.
One ~ these gaunt English women. who looks
as II she had Just stepped out of caricature'
had charge, this SUMNER of three Boston chuieii
az one of the watering places. The chiidren had
been at the same place last year when they were
the terror of the region The lessons this year
went on with the regularity OF the schoolroom'
The exercises and the walks were as pnnctuai as
the clock The governess brought her charges 10
the table and they ate what she prescribed III they
revotod they were carried forth ana duly spahked'
while their beautiful mother composeoly ATE her
dinner The most pleasing thing was to see thern
carry the pitchers Of water for their own ser"o-
blngs. ard taught 10 walt on themselves
Tho English goyerness brings with her her Eng
rsh ,d.as Of health Here she is vastly superior
to the French and German governesses, who 90 not
always realize the saving grace OF water ana eN-
erose American children Of the leisure class are
solendldly eroomod little animals. THIS 49, OF
course ACCOMPANIED by much unnecessary LUXURY.
For this the English governess furnishes the cor
recuye.
In England the children's apartment IS not on-y
separate, In location. but has It's own star o,
servants IS governed by Its own laws ana IN al
things is Independent OF the main establishment
occupied by the elders OF the family Inc wet
nurse Is as elsewhere law unto hersei' ENeei'
Tho Cza, of Prussia or some Eastern potentate. she
has no rival in her abs0utism. But her reign Is
inevitably curtalled by the sproutng OF the ihiah'
teeth When a child leaves the nurses arms II
entef, into a world OF law and discipline Inc
soc.a, duties OF a woman Of position in England
are obligatory and absorbing Her maternal uu"eN
are necessarily transferred TO another. This is a
mar, of tho established constitution OF things which
finds no paraLel with us. Accordingly. substitute
is provided II is the nursery governess sac Is d
woman Of gentle manners II with limited educa-
ton This is her profession. She has passed from
family to family All her antecedents are N"o"'''
She has a professional pedigree which Is open 10
lnsoecfion so carefully chosen is the governess OF
this mime realm.
The nursery goverress has no mental ohices 10