The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-03
NEED OF CONVENIENCES
FOR ONES SERVANTS

Il would go to housekeeping" said
young and pretty woman recently, IF
| was not afraid Of the servant problem,
but when 1 hear experienced housekeep-
ers complaining constantly about the in
ability of servants. [ find that apart
ments' are not so bad after all.
Every now and then a woman will be
heard to make similar remark, but
at a luncheon recently a bright woman
said that women as a rule were indiffer-
ent to the comfort of their servants,
and therein lay much of the discomfort
that untitled them for work.
II was glad to see" she said, "a
recent suggestion that Birmingham wom-
en- should consider seriously that of pro-
vidng decent bathing facilities for their
| servants.
There are not more than six bath
rooms for servants in Birmingham and
yet we have modern homes and every
convenience that can be thought of for
ourselves.
The servants are certainly put TO it.
and yet we expect them 10 look clean
and attractive. l think that one phase of
the servant problem could be solved in
our own homes, if we included conven-
lent and proper bathing facilities for our
servants"
Along this line of suggestion the cor
rect attire for servants particularly
! maids and nurses was discussed. An ex-
change gives the following suggestions
for women who desire their servants to
be expressive of well managed house
hold:
| Women who keep up smart estaDlsh-
ments prefer that their corps of women
servants wear white. White pique is the
standard material for the winter regalia,
while the heavier material may be re-
placed by simple muslins, also white for
the hot weather There is something
! very pleasing in seeing trained servants
thus CARRIED. But such a uniform is a
luxury, for unless the gowns are spotless
it were better to have black. 1t necessi-
t tates larger laundry bills than some wo-
men care to be responsible fer. With the
white gowns are worn deep collars and
cuffs stiff like those of trained nurse.
The little cap may vary in shape from a
plain bit of friled muslin to a daintier,
dressier affair, according to the grade of
the servant.
For a nursemaid the very smartest
gowning Is a dove gray. A very simple
gown of gray blue nuns yelling or some
similar material, a white cap with long
streamers of soft, dlmy yelling, reaching
quite below the waist, and for out-of-door
wear, when a wrap Is necessary, a deep
circular cape. On the street the apron
is seldom worn, but in the house it is not
only permissible but essential.
Nothing could be prettier or more ap-
propriate for nurses wear than such
costume just described. 1t is simple, mod
est and has the advantage of not being
quite so common However such radical
costuming for servants is not practicable
for the average woman, and while the
smartest households adopt them, plain
black is best for general purposes. Black
alpaca is perhaps the best wearing mate
rial for servants dresses. Ii is neat
economical and has the great advantage
of shedding dust. A maid neatly CARRIED
in black, with white accessories will al
ways be dressed in good taste
Chambermaids wear white apron, with
shoulder straps, with their simply made
black dress. A small fiat cap usually ac-
companies the costume, but sometimes a
black bow is worn instead
For the waitress an apron with shoulder
straps is always worn, and it may be
either plain or fancy, as the wearer or the
| housekeeper directs In the matter of caps
| there is a choice, for, besides the fiat
diamond-shaped, huted-edged ones, there
are big bows which are exceedingly chic.
Made of muslin they are pinned on the
head, much after the fashion in which
young girls wear their hair ribbons now.
They may be said to be perhaps a trihe
more unusual than the caps.
Far more latitude is allowed in the garb
OF lady's maid, and she can wear black
silk if she likes. Black alpaca, however,
is pretty generally worn, and always
looks neat Pretty dainty aprons are sub
stituted for the long. shoulders
affairs. These are made with a bib more
often than not but in any event this
article of wearing apparel is exceedingly
fancy and dressy
Deep collars and cuffs of muslin add
to the daintlness of this costume, and
bit of flutted friled lace with black velvet
run in takes the place of the more prosaic
cap. Altogether the lady's maid can get
herself up with propriety in just as chic
a manned as possible and still not offend
| good taste