Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1899-08-25
PRIZE SUGGESTIONS
THE TWO LETTERS BELOW SELECT.
ED FROM MANAGING HELP"

Contest Conducted by New York JOurnai
and Trlzes Awarded Mrs. Mary r. Lam.
bert, of AiIston, Mass. and Mary Ford
Of New York.
l am a servant girl and these are my
views: | think every servant should
have two evenings and every other
Sunday afternoon and evening out.
This gives her IA chance to see her
friends without their coming to the
house where she works. | think she
should be allowed to have company
when 1t is her Sunday in. II her girl
friends come II Is very well to see them
in the Kitchen, but II her sweetheart
calls she should no doubt much prefer
to see him alone. If there is no sit.
ting room for the servants they ought
to he allowed to see their friends I'm the
dining room if it is in the basement
and they do not interfere with the
| household arrangements. But there
must be Il limit TO the girls company.
She must not expect to have her friends
call too often. | think servant
should have an afternoon off once a
month or so to do her shopping, rs it is
late when her work is finished and II
she needs anything she has to get il
! at the nearest little store, where they
! charge much more than they do in the
| big stores down town. A girl should
| have certain amount Of work to do
| every day, and If she does ii up quick
/ ly aud well she should not be made 10
| put in the time thus saved in helping
/ others of the servants who have liu-
| gcrcd around trusting to some such
/ luck to get their portion Of work done.
| That makes a girl feel that no matter
| how hard she tries she is never
through. on the other hand, If one
/ girl is not able to do her work the 9th
| ers should do all they can to help her.
| mistress should never encourage her
| servants to carry tales to her about
each other, and the help should never
| speak unkindlv of their mistress, as
these seeming trifes lead to more
changes atlona the servants than any
amount of hard work. I have always
found thsa when I look out for the in
terpSts Of my us, strcsS she always looks
ont for mine. \ pleasant word from
a mists sss Does no harm and it makes
n girl feel that she is not IA mere ma
chine, she goes about her work with
light herat-Mary Ford.
In referring to the servant question
: il IN tst bs remembered that poor work
is as often the fault of the mistress as
of the maid. In cases where several
servants were employed each one
should have her appropriate work as
/ signed. but with the full understand
ing that II needed she is called upon
for work outside that which she con
,r. ror own. II the mistress Of the
house shows herself ignorant of any of
the duties belonging thereto, she has
no reason 10 look for or expect salts
factory service from those in her en-
ploy. A firm but Kind government, iu-
} dicious rules, requiring implicit obedi-
! pnCr give larger promise OF talthlul
and prompt work and far more res
pectful service than an ignorant but
eNaCtng hOusekeepcr can ever expect
10 find. While demanding prompt at
tention to the work to bee done, those
employed should receive such kindness
and watchful care for their interests
and comfort aS employers would wish
their children to have If similarly Situ-
ated. Make their rooms as pleasant
4 and comfortable as possible. If the
4 ! arrangements OF the house will permit.
see that those who have the hot ana
dirty work to do have the means for
daily or frequent baths, which is ms
much for the employers comfort aS fOl
theirs. Ample time should be allowed
them for keeping their clothes i'm order
In making a contract with u girl for
any position In the family the mistress
of the house should very carefully oN-
plain the rules by which she regulates
the time and labOrs Of those she EN-
ployS. Give every privilege that can
be allowed consistently with the du-
ties to he performed, and for the girls S
own best interests. one afternoon
and evening Of leisure each week is all
the time that can BE- spared convenient
rs the servant can have and attend
faithfully to her own sewing and Keep
her clothes in repair. All the other
evenings after the ordinary work is
over will be needed for this important
attention to her own garments. To al
low the servants more time would be
ant 10 lead to idle habits When two.
three or more girls are needed in one
n house. the question Of how much COM
pany they can be allowed at the house
is important. II one girl has the
| privilege Of allowing her friends to
call when they choose. the others will
expect the same privilege, and Justly.
This will cause confusion and disorder
IN their regular duties. 1t should he
: settled that visits cannot be permitted
ill after the days important work is
over. and that by 10 o'clock visitors
must leave. the kitchen and range be
put i'm order and the girls all in and
ready to retire to their needed rest.
Nor should a kitchen full of visitors be
: allowed at any time. nor the dining
room be used for their guests. ! do
not approve the policy which permits
the many visitors that naturally call
where there are two or three girls Ia
be invited or expected To bring their
meals with them on the contrary. IL
n should be distinctly forbidden. In en-,
v gaglng help be slow to decide. Seek
all the information possible. BE sure
l. Of substantial. reliable credentials ms
10 their worth and honesty; then, this
Il once settled. let them see that it is the
U wish Of their employer 10 trust them.
Locking up closets where the food is
or putting aside the best part Of the
food from the first table is a good
recipe for making crafty, dishonest
e servants Mary F. Lambert.
II The UrId. Provides Table Linen.
- II is an old and pretty custom for
the bride to provide her table and
household linen. Even II she brings
uothiug else TO the new home she must
bring the linen. The following outfit
is advised. Three pairs of sheets To
each bed similar In size three pillow
slips 20 each pillow. or five between
every two pillows Of the same size;
three soft and three rough towels 70
head. Of bath or Turkish towels you
should allow two a head. or If bath
sheets are used you should allow three
- between two people. from four tp SiS
tahleclOthcS with half dozen nap
kinS for each. three or four sidebOarl
= cloths. twelve dOilieS three or -four
rrav cloths and two or three = o'clock
ten cloths. three round towels for each
roller. three or f0vr kitchen rablpcl0rl-
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