The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-20


around. Now / acknowledge one great
virtue in your society nowadays. 1t is
that it has become the fashion to do
all sorts of kind things for the poor. =
# hope 1t is more than fashion,
Fashion is not a bad thing. as a
matter of fact, when we can be
troubled and it is quite convenient; we
all like to do kind things-that is my
experience of the world-for the poor
1t is a far more difficult thing, you
know. to be kind to those who are not
the poor"
Beneath the name of her business
card were the words, emergency As
sistant." She came out of the West.
She goes back to Chicago next week.
Possibly Chicago has more need of
emergency assistants than New York
1t may be that under another name
this same vocation flourishes in New
York, but at least that business card
was impressive and awakened a de-
sire to see such a preserver of human
life and reason.
She was a small woman, says the
New York Sun, but, after all, size
isn't prime factor in dealing with
the average emergency Wasn't Ma
pOlCOu uuOD6u liI6 l1lllle 0OTDOEdlG "A
hasty study of the emergency assist
ant from Chicago inspired a convic-
ton that If she had been present at
the battle of Marengo she would have
given Napoleon a holiday and have
run the affair herself
Moreover, as soon as the affair was
over she would have removed the de-
bris and scrubbed up the battle-ground.
She couldn't have endured a mess In
cidentally, her soldiers would have
adored her because of the kindly hu-
NOR in her keen eyes.
Its a pudding of my own inven-
ton" she said. smiling; and, after a
quotation from Lewis Carroll, the
steel-trap energy in her face and fig
ure seemed less alarming.
"Other women are doing the same
thing" she went on, but not just in
my way, and I doubt whether they
are making as much money as 1 am.
You see there are plenty of visiting
housekeepers.
You have some splendidly compe-
tent ones right here in New York.
They will take charge of anything in
the domestic line, provide servants or
work people to do anything, but that's
quite a different matter, much more
ambitious and pretentious undertake
ing than mine.
II would never have the capital or
courage to attempt such a responsible
and far-reaching business. 1 am just
what / call myself. l don't pretend
to keep a staff of helpers. though /
will go out and find servants for an
employer and l know how to find good
ones.
Several years ago / was left in
position that necessitated my making
raonaU HAD M apapfqIfv M train
ing for self-support. l was a gentle
woman with common sense and good
judgment.
II knew good deal about house.
keeping and its problems, as every
conscientious woman who has had a
home of her own does, but l was not
willing to take regular employment in
domestic service. At first / tried TO
find a place as companion or secre-
tary but sch places were scarce and
/ hadn't the training for them.
In the meantime. / helped several
of my acquaintance through times of
domestic storm and stress, and, though
/ hated 1t, allowed them to pay me.
A wealthy woman who knew of me
through a family connection was call
ed to sick husband in Southern Cal
ifornia. She had small children and
no one save the ordinary nurses to
leave them with.
ut occurred to her that I might be
willing to take charge of the house
and family and she sent for me in a
great rush. l went and stayed for
three weeks. They paid me royalty.
I'm a case of that sort the relief
from anxiety and the assurance that
one has employed a thoroughly re-
sponsible and conscientious person is
worth A great deal to the employer.
1T was while l had charge of that
home that / thought of makong emerg-
ency work my profession, and the
more / thought of it, the more the
plan opened out and the more posi-
bilities it presented. / talked the
scheme over with a number of wo-
men who could he depended upon to
give me employment and tell others
about me.
They all agreed that there was
need &C such service and that they,
personally would be glad TO know of
soma one tc whom they could turn
in any domestic complication. So
had nay cards engraved and sent Out
several hundred of them with notes ex-
planning just what hoped to do. A
good many of my friends distributed
cards for me, adding their personal in
dorsement.
IL put my pride In my pocket and
was willing to help with anything from
tiding a woman through a sudden loss
of servants to experimenting house
cleaning or running a wedding or
course there are always caterers to be
found, but unless one employs the best,
pays a big sum, and goes in for an
elaborate affair, the caterer doesn't al
ways fill the requirement.
Ordinary entertainment needs what
I've heard servants call the lady
touch. A woman Of refinement and
good breeding knows how to do things
in fashion that is quite distinct from
the ordinary caterers methods.
"She understands china and linen,
too. She has a knack with flowers. She
knows exactly how to make a room
all that is comfortable for an unex-
peeted guest.
'Oh, the number of times I've been
called in by despairing housewives
when relatives or friends had swooped
down upon them unheralded, at time
when the house was in confusion and
servants were i'll or niissingi Again
end again I've known a servant to
pick up her things and leave without
an hours warning because of unex-
pected visitors or sudden illness in the
family.
IT'S a mighty relief to have some
one step in and run things smoothly
Until the rnenage Is Strengthened out. I