The representative., 1900-04-05
ENGAGES A COOK
DOBLEY SHOWS HOW TO DEAL WITH
THE SERVANT QUESTION.
Like Most Men, He Had Theories ON
the Matter-He Pays. Visit to an
Intelligence Office and Has an In
terestfng Half HOur-HOw His
Theories Worked.

Mrs. Dobley gazed helplessly over the
chaf1ng dish at her husband. They were
breakfasting quite informally, owing to the
tact that the cook had been discharged the
preceding afternoon at Mr.. DObley's re-
quest. For my part" said Mrs. Dobley.
Il always believe in,swaiting until one has
secured another girl. It is a dreary thing
to have to breakfast on scrambled eggs and
rolls and coffee with nothing better In sight
for week.
what nonsense" Said Mr.. Dobley. .tYou
can put an advertisement in the paper and
have a hundred and one cooks to choose
from in the morning.
That's just the troubled" said his wife.
'If they only wouldn't come in schools like
whales and porpoises it wouldn't be SO
dreadful! They come dozen at time.
and begin to ask questions until you don't
quite know if they are hiring you, or you
are engaging them. You see, I've been
through it, and you haven't. After all,
Belinda wasn't so bad"
"Now look here, Honora. You had to
admit that she never had anything on
time!"
''She was late occasionally
''She broke dishes''
eyes; she did destroy some of the china
and glass;"
'She lost silver and ruined the table
linen in the laundry I'm quoting your own
words, Honora.''
"Oh, yes; she was little careless"
"She not only generously sampled the
decanters ON the sideboard, but she IN
sisted on filling them up with water when
she had imbibed most of the original con-
tents
"Oh, all cool drinks. You can't expect
impossibilities."
s'she fought with the butchers boys, and
all the different tradesmen until the re-
fused to serve u.s..
Belinda had quick temper"
I'VE had agreed to put up with all these
trifling Irregularities, but when she reached
a point that she felt it her right to stand
at the head OF the kitchen stairs armed
with a chopping knife and rolling pin
threatening the other servants and daring
me to disarm her, why, l considered 1t was
about time to call halt"
ITO call a policeman, you mean, sug-
gested Mrs. Dobley 'I don't see why you
made such a dreadful time over 1t. The
Idea of having a patrol wagon come up
to our door"
II have yet to see the day." said Mr..
Dobley, when l would lay my hand upon
a woman, no matter what her station In
life might be. / regard Belinda, from what
have heard of her, as being too fiery and
untamed for domestic use. Personally,
wouldn't know her If / saw her; but I
cannot see in selecting these people why
you do not go more by facial characteristics
and study up Lombroso-look at their ears,
and their foreheads, and take their measure,
as it were"
Cooks all look exactly alike. They are
all large, aggressive, patronizing and i'm
pertinent. They ask all sorts of ques-
tions, and they snap one up like dragons.
II they are questioned at all. confess
I am afraid of them
"Oh, this servant girl question. This
servant girl question" exclaimed Mr.. Dob
ley. eff only they had men to deal with.
The trouble with all you women is that you
begin by being too conciliatory. You should
be naughty and domineering. That's the
only sort of thing that goes with that par
ticular species. 1t cows them at once.
1t is like tanning a wild beast by looking
it firmly in the eye"
well, should never look wild beast
in the eye, or even a mouse. I'd run!'
confessed Mrs. Dobley. and that's the way
feel about cooks"
"You should bring auto-hypnotism into
play" said Dobley. Its very simple
Make up your mind to control thsm. Then
you have 'em!" M
II don't understand those things" said