Evening journal., 1900-02-21
AMERICAN HousEKEEPERs.
Their Merits and Shortcomings From
q FOREIGN Point Of View


III YOU want 70 know why we have
no first class professional housekeepers
in this country" volunteered the inn
porter Of an English specimen, 'it Is
because the American woman is too
proud and far too Independent 20 allow
an employee 20 manage her home. That
Is also the reason why VIC with the
best ordered. most luxurious homes In
the world. suffer from criminally
wastcful domestic management and the
worst service OF any highly civilized
people. In France or England, where
half as much money IS spent where
there Is twice the work for the servants
TO do and a third OF the convenience
here put at their disposal, the FASH
ionable country or city house A. con-
Quoted with a noiseless regularity that
nils the American visitor with nothing
short of Management In houses where
the incomes are by no means large "a
corps OF finished servants win be
found. that only millionaires over here
can afford
"Just so long as the American wom-
an a. head OF a modest household she
IS the most all around capable hnuse-
Keeper IN the world; she can face stif-
fer odds and rout them more utterly
than any French or English woman
living. We are the only women in the
world who. when deserted M a critical
moment can cook q meal and yet fit
az the head of the table. while that
same meal Is hping served. IN "a fetch
ing froclS carrying on a conversation ne
though nothing had happened ltiis "a
charming faculty. but when she Is
put at the head Of corps Of twenty
servants and great country house her
system fails.
"A big. fashionable household IS just
like a big ship, it's got 20 have cap
tain TO direct IT'S course and an ems
rinecr to run the machinery. ana la the
foreign countries they realize and pro-
vide for this In France Il IL usually
maitre d'hotel who shoulders the do
nestle burden. He has worked un in
the service and his word As law tn the
servants. He hires and dismisses them
plans their work. sees thnt q rs done
and he guarantees to keep the men and
maids well fed on n stated allowance.
Z The mistress gives him n fixed sum
every month and on this he caters for
the servants table that is by no means
fuppllcd from the larder that feeds the
& family Every servant Is entitled 10
| the scraps he or she leaves and has his
cor her own plate. knife, fork, spoon,
&C.. and when a meal "a over these are
washed and ~ away by their owners
Az their special cupboaris scraps are
pn important stem 90 the thrifty
1 French domestic.
In England there a. a woman who
does this. and every handsome English
house g. bust with special house.
keepers quarters. SITTING room and
bedroom. Some American houses arc
now being provided with theee spe Gal
two rooms
My housekeeper r. ~ the tylita
sort. She IS about forty. plump pleas.
ing and settled widow who entered
service az siXtccu as a scullery maid
and has worked Mp. She o. addresrot
by the household aa Mrs Brown. am,
every. afternoon her tea Is served .n hen
sitting room az 4 o'clock by maid
She drinks tea and cats her dinner
alone. later. wearing a plain black sin
gown, a muslin wreath cap and a small
lawn apron. Every servant IN th
house, with the exception OF the butler
Is under her direct control. and fol do
good or evil that every servant dee
she Is responsible.
'She accepts my directions with
humility no decayed gentlewomai
would show, and with a respectfulnes
no confidential lady's maid ever feels
She gets $50 n month and an allowance
for paying the servants wages ant
catering 90 their table, and she &c
who sees that no waste goes on In m!
house"