The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-05
downright. 1881

7 can perfectly SympathlZe with the
young girI who before she was wife
expressed her disgust at the women
who continually talked about their
servants. bat after her marriage when
she was in the midst of a discussion
Of this never ending subject and re-
minded by a friend Of her former re-
marks, said. Il wonder that they talk
about anything else" The business
man engaging a clerk pays him for
certain work and expects him to be
capable of doing that work He needs
n competent bookkeeper. Numbers ap-
pear TO apply for the situation. Each
tells Of his experience, his ability, and
offers his references. The business man
engages that one who seems to be most
competent most healthy and about
whom the best words are said by a
former employer, who gives a reasona-
bic excuse for having dismissed him
from his employ. That man expects
that in a few days his bookkeeper viii
have learned the special methods of the
establishment and be a competent
workman He knows that he would not
dare to pose as a first class bookkeeper
unless he was one He understands
that a business man does not write a
reference for an employee unless it is
deserved, and the employer would
think the world was coming to an end
if, at the end of the first day. the man
engaged to keep the books announced
that he did not know very much about
them, but that he was very good at
putting corks in cologne bottles.
TQrne . LaH go
comes to the mistress of a house. She
is anxious for a first class cook. The
cook appears, either in answer to an
advertisement. from an employment
agency or through some friend. She
presents her recommendation. It is
written evidently by a lady, and ac-
cording to it this woman has all the
virtues and is a perfectly competent
cook. Her first dinner is an absolute
failure. The meat is cooked to death,
while watery potatoes, greasy vegeta-
bles and heavy pastry constitute the
menu. The mistress signs. After din
ner she has a little talk with her new
employee. only to discover that where
she lived before she did not do the
cooking, Just helped around the
house" but she wanted to be a cook,
and Mrs. Montmorenci Brown was so
kind hearted that she gave me a recon-
mend as one" My friend, what right
has Mrs. Montmorenci Brown to tell an
absolute Untruth on paper? Yet this
untrUth Is not the worst that has come
To YOU or to me. brought by some one
desiring to literally live with US.
we'll known woman who would
have been Mortified. for she was espe-
Cially conspicuous in church work. at
being told that she was 4 sinner COM
mitted a crime Of the deepest dye
which she excused on the ground of
feeling sorry for the girl" To a wait
rcSs who had been caught stealing
money she gave a recommendation for
honesty. From the next household which
this girl entered she stole more than
money. She took magnificent silver.
wonderful jewels, fine pieces of bric-a-
brac, and handed them over to her
Swe the0rt to pawn. while she disap-
pe2red. When the detectives looked up
her references. which her mistress
should have done. they discovered that
this lady. knowing her to be a thief.
had Yet allowed her to so into other
homes As an honest girl. AS woman
TO a woman. as n housekeeper To a
EoUsekeeper. have the strength Of mind
10 give nothing but an honest recon- /
meEdation TO the servant who leaves
you or whom you discharge And new
cr fail to date your reference for a
girl who may he honest today may be
a thief next year, while she who NAV
have been sweet and pure and good
while with YOU may be depraved in six
months time.
Each OF as as we enter the little place !
that means home, whether it be a tiny
house or small fiat in some great city. /
Is overlooking with hope about the wo-
man who. while we employ her. will /
yet help make the house a home Each
Of us means TO be good to her. and each /
of us wants 70 make her happy. How
does she meet this desire on the part
Of the mistress? The average servant
regards the average mistress as her
natural enemy. Kindness she consid- /
ers as nothing more than her right. /
sympathy she suspects. and gratitude
Is something unknown To her. Oh. l .
know there have been faithful servants
and there are good servants. but once
In awhile the mistress has a right 10
speak, especially now. when the paDers /
and journals are overlooking with arti- /
Cles from the side of the enployeet .
You and l, who engage one Girl. ar
canse FOR her comfortable bedroom.
There is d chest in il which contains
q sufficient number Of sheets. pillow +
eases and towels especially dedicated to
this room. You allow your maid time
enough 10 put her room in order. and
you beg of her when she gets up TO
throw the bedclothes of the bed. open
the window and LET tha fresh sfr ~, 4