The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-23

upperS OF narrow strips or black ana
white kid.
French Lingerie.
Petticoats fit very smoothly and
the very newest have little fuIness
just at the back, row-or, rather,
three or four rows-of fine gathers. or
two or three inverted box-pleats, which
do not in any way interfere with the
sheathlike effect, and yet permit enough
fulness being added to hold the skirt
out little from the figure-a most de-
sirable addition in these days of many
exaggeratedly tight-fitting dress skirts,
says a writer in Harper's Bazaar These
petticoats open at the side, are circular
in shape. and have one or more houn l,s
or one deep fiounce with many ruffies
1t is the fad of the moment to nave
different silk hounces that can be put
toned on to the upper part OF some one
silk skirt, and in this way it is possible
to keep the fresh, dainty appearance
that is so requisite ito being Well Dress
ed and so difficult to attain with the
length of most of the dress skirts.
The Maid of All Work.
The work required of trained maids
nowadays is much more elaborate 1nan
it used to be, although many aids TO
labor not invented in olden days are
now used.
one cannot but realize that comforts
are much more dwelt on than formerly
and that we think necessary a lar more
luxurious style of living.
The house of the young married wo-
man, for instance, is more elaborately
furnished. and there are pictures. china,
flowers and plants to be attended to
and looked after
The food eaten now is perhaps not
more abundant, but it is most certainly
prepare. Far more company. to use
the old-fashioned expression, is kept:
Late dinners are common, and not
luncheons in addition, with coffee after
l.@+I Of Tan
kinds of dainty sandwiches and not
cakes. Flowers, tastefully arranged
must be set on every table and, though
it is true that the care of these is gen
orally in the hands of the mistress, all
such things add to the work of the
maid. How. with all these additions.
can the necessary and regular work be
as carefully and thoroughly hnlsned
and by the same number of hands as
formerly?
Why do we not live more simply?
Dress. for mistress, children and maids,
is now doubly as expensive and three
times as elaborate as 1T used to be- We
may get some enjoyment out of this
complex housekeeping and extravagant
dressing. but what real good do we get
from it2
The majority of people dislike doing
work that they are conscious of doing
imperfectly- Is it not common to hear
some such remark as this: "Oh, ask
so-and-so. He Cor she) always does
that kind of thing so well. He's sure
to enjoy helping you. It's quite in his
line
Do we not also find that if a maid
is asked to do some particular piece of
work in which she is really proficient,
such as fine laundry work, specially
dainty cooking or delicate stitching, the
girl will cheerfully undertake it even
if it entails a little extra labor and
that she enjoys it more than her reg
ular duties2
This upholds the theory that if only a
more efficient training could be pro-
cured for girls entering service and
those girls induced to take up that
training in the right spirit, regarding
it in the light of a profession, we
should hear less about the dislike so
many women now have of going into
service. But do not minimize the diff
culties of the position.
In the first place, one must continue
to preach the doctrine that it is alb
surd to regard domestic service as in
any way inferior to other trained work
Such social distinctions as exist will
assert themselves apart from the ques-
ton of work or occupation, being the
outcome of birth. nature and intellect,
and the woman who enters domestic
service can and assuredly will take up
that position to which she is socially
entitled.
There is no doubt but that the low
regard for this work as a means of
livelihood has in times past been large
ly responsible for the small number of
girls willing to undertake it.
Mothers who have themselves been in
service naturally and rightfully wish to