The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-09

morning, but you can make them
want to come home to dinner. My
family understand that. l expect
them to treat me at dinner as they
would any other hostess.
Liberty for Servants.
VI. You will at once say. "But
your servants must rebel against serv-
ing four or five breakfasts" Never.
Because / allow them in their own
domain the same liberty demand in
mine. Their duty is to keep the
house swept and busted; but it is
not their duty to do it always on
Wednesday morning ateleyen o'clock
l don't know when they sweep. |
don't want to know. | won't know.
And they are entitled to their own
recreations, ga day OUT" but | do
not care which day, nor do l mind if
occasionally they go out two after
moons. The work must be done, |
must not be interrupted in my own
pursuits; one of them must always be
on hand to answer the bell and be
ready for any service; otherwise they
arrange their work and their pleasure
to suit themselves.
VII. l do not attempt to 'direct"
my servants. | assume and acknow-
ledge that they know more than do
in their departments. 1t is astonish
ing what good service you will re-
ceive if you expect your servant to
serve and not merely to obey. 1t is
the customary law of supply and de-
mand. Expect and you will receive.
Keep telling them how to do things
and they will never learn; Aatter
them by letting them do things, and
the pride and dignity that they will
develop in answering your expecta-
tions instead of your commands will
astonish you. In my own house l
go so far as not to order the meals; [
require written record each day of
what they have ordered, to be sure
that the bills are not exorbitant. [
expect my cook to do the marketing
within certain pecuniary limits, and
she prefers the additional care, and
delights in giving me nice surprises
and never exceeds the amount per-
mitted. Exceptional servants? High
wages? Trained service? Not at all.
pay my servants only what you pay
yours. They have trained themselves
under the stimulus of my "Of course
you know how to prepare so and so"
1t is only that am an exceptional
mistress. The one thing clearly un-
derstood in our household is that in
an emergency | am not to be relied
upon.
The Care of Children,
VIII. l am not what is called
"a devoted mother" | do not keep
doing for my children until they have
no resources without me. If l am
not there, they take cheerfully what
is there, and when l do come, exclaim
delightedly, 30 there's mamma"
which find much prettier as tribute
than to have them whining while l
am gone, 80 where's mammal do
not believe in "children's hour"
to which everything must yield, and
which makes them wretched when
other things cannot yield. | spend
many more hours than one with them,
or rather they with me; but never
any fixed, particular hour. I do not
sacrifice" myself; if have head
ache, do not tell them it is no mat
ter, and let them go on with noisy
play. l remember that Johnny will
hereafter treat his wife as l permit
him to treat me, and for the sake
of that future wife | require him to be
considerate, without holding it as sell
fishness because for the moment l
am the one to be considered.
Not Being Overwise.
TX. Nor do make it point to be
always "wise." Once in while let
affection get the better of common
sense. My children go to bed early;
but once, when l had impressed on
Johnny that although all the rest of
us were going to the theater, he would
have to wait for Saturday afternoon,
| relented at the last moment, and
asked if he thought he could learn
his lessons in time during the after
noon. "Oh, that's all right, mamma"
he answered, condescendingly, 81
learned my lessons yesterday; for |
thought should probably go when
the time camel" How glad was
that he felt sure | was not always a
sensible" motherl How good it was
for him to feel that | loved him we'll
enough to let him be foolish
X. Nor do l struggle over-much to
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