New-York tribune., 1900-05-23
MISTRESS AND MAID.
WHAT BEFELL A WOMAN WHO STARTED
OUT TO SETTLE THE Do
MESTIC PROBLEM

by a sign in golden letters the front window
of a small store in the vicinity Avenue c. Last
week it closed its doors
1t rather cosey place than usually
becomes involved in the tragedies and comedies of
domestic life There were house plants in the
window. against a background of spring green
drapery, and within. the rugs on the floor the
pictures the walls, The lamp on the table the
o'clock tea service in the corner. the Japanese
screen, the easy chairs, the writing and other
articles of furniture all contributed to the at
mosphere of a reception coupled with busi-
enterprise
The agency was started by the wife of a resident
OF flatbush. The object of her starting in busi-
ness was partly to find a lucrative employment
for a young relative and also to trv her
mana at the solution of the great servant prob
lem The reasons for abandoning the business
were first, because it not profitable: again be-
cause maids were impossible and mistresses more
so. and lastly, because the combination threatened
the gentle apostle of philanthropy and reform with
nervous prostration.
In an interview with a Tribune reporter yester-
day she said:
q. l thought I would like be the power behind
@ Ine throne on which sits the great domestic octo-
pus. thrusting out first and then another
20 20 grasp and destroy the home; have had plenty
to conclude that perhaps the fault was my own
, TOT long time have employed foreign help, Sc
oT+hs Gort glr Immediately on her arrival in this
P9Is II H. possible and proceeding TO lend her
taught me that as a system it is not readily i'm
proved upon consider the Swedish girls by far
yariably honest and willing and then too they are
sir I9Ts ana nave an earnest desire to learn The
!Inlhg !a except more money She doesn't know
6hst 6na i9 Point gFows daily shorter however Some
Ihen We shall have TO part.
WHERE THE MIsTREssEs ARE AT FAULT
ars5rT, Mh2t haze AYE learned from the employment
M my mind that 1t has changed my entire view of
classes Of women-the ladies' and the ho9senaS {T9
" " WnereYer go among women this idea pursues me.
- - auapCs 1tser TO every gathering. When I am in
me cable car the women opposite me are either
attire bv anV aa an@ IL is not question of
PROVED Pro ed to me that there are many housemaids in
admirably into the ladies' class or so of Hee9 fbe
1 anTG rar more gentility than the mistresses who
was IN business long enough to discover that
ar6 Iaillng thg schoo1 Tor servants such
men near agtated is not SO necessary
women women Know but vaguely about the practical de
through so often being eceiyyed in @ W GtsceTnien{
spent good deal OF time the office usually be-
hlnd the screen, where, unseen I could both see
I was frequently fearful Of coniecturing as 70
ti wnesher @ me applicant was mistress maid.
I'm lines waiting FOR the voice or speech TO determine
@ one tact The young woman in charge offended
20 be seated taking her for hashily dressed cook
The greatest difficulty in the employment agency
was tne scarcity OF girls, there has been a rush
OF girls to the Paris Exposition. I was frequently
expected to materialize girls from the empty air
. Ior a two dollar fee When could not do this my
Ironted by an enraged woman, who demanded her
All, it takes a brave woman to meet the REQUIRE
1a1st e!tS OF OF an agent Tor mistress and maid. She
have submitted TO the bunting of her finer feel
ings. Then, too. how much tact she must havel
Fancy girls returning TO the office from the SER
vice OF rich woman with the complaint that they
any food left after the family had finished eating
key. Fancy poor iaundress connpIaninr tSat She she
Then arter that tbe it T ereaG ana Tea luncheon
f robe re- neip IL never would do to tell per the cause
QUESTION OF REFERENCE
Qpe serious Go at IN INVOLVING the socaed
not Conscientious in giving girl t1ia referenee In
London a girl knows the value OF reference, II
she has no reference she has character,
therefore no one will employ her In this country
there is no such personal obligation resting the
housemaid. Unless she is dishonest the intention
ally kind hearted mistress gives her reference.
Even when the cook is incorporate the mistress
frequently sends her out impose on some other
good cook and honest Now tbis Is one inss+a1ce ~
IN which the mistress is self-relegated TO the
another in this respect servants viii continue be
no home and no desire to make
Then there are women who will employ maid
has left her reference at home. and that she will
the mean ltf tine liG @ re b she bs s4ss & out ne ma mao IN
mistress forgets all about the reference. Il is but
the cloven foot and that means a change Of
servants Some women always changing
employ them. There are certain requirements
which as a matter OF principle should be strictly
observed and n written reference truthful and sin
cere Is one. This is duty women n
other
The wages Of servants is another point in which
women are not loyal TO another. The woman
whom money is object will pay any price 10 a
maid who relieve her worry and care. This
is most disorganizing principle and helps make
housemaids the unstable, restless class thev are
THIS kind Of an employer is responsible for the
taDlShed by housemaidS.
WHY THE PLACE" WOULD NOT DO
I have felt amused hearing girl bargain
about her duties. She would appear to be willing
TO do everything required by employer. She
would wash, iron. cook clean windows ap-
paFeht4y tne agreement was made when quite un-
accountably she would object to sweeping the front
piazza. The front piazza settled it. The place
wouldn't do
Another amusing incident in an employment bu-
reau day Is the man OF the house who
like a domestic antagonist in search Of ad-
versary. He new at the business but ne mas
ga thered up the duty laid down by his despairing
Wife, and he is determined II the business
is as bad she represents il TO be he strides
in and asks, with hpe ring OF in his voice
though the agency were responsible Have YOU
any ladies for general housework?'
Such a this a portIy female repre-
sentative of Erin in the office day. She was
such high appreciation that she proceeded to in
tervew him. and he found himself making con-
amount of washing ard company, until she finally
asked about the room she TO occupy She
that the servants apartment contained private
bath. a piano. brass bed, hair mattress box
spring and as he got thus far in enumeratng the
luxuries she interrupted him.
But have yez iIher bed?" she inquired
He confessed to the absence of a feather bed
and she told him the place wouldn't do So she
came out ahead, after all
C01nOfo G.