The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
CHAPERON TO "A AC q DIOR MAID
rRIALseOF A HOUSEKEEPER IN
"a COUNTRY HOUSE.
Went I'd the Long Island Wdons for Rest
and Came Back With shattered, Nerves
--Afservant who stood on Etiquette
Al Very Mysterious Burglar Scare.

" A livery Mysterious Burglar Scare
"Yes, 4 am back in the city again and
am glad OF It, My country house Is closed
for tho winter and I expect to spend tho
next siS months trying to get my nerves
into thor normal condition again. =,
The Woman who gave voice to the fore
going remarks looked anything but nerv-
GUS wreck Her face was tanned and She
was tho picture of health. Nevertheless
abe sank back in the cushioned chair in her
city home with sigh OF relief and the look
OF a person who was telling the truth
Her vonan visitor looked amused
But i thought you liked the country
and the seashore,' said the caller inquir-
Il doS said the woman with the nerves,
Il like both so much that / never tire OF
either. The city has no! fascination for
me. Give me the country and the seashore
and ! am content"
-Thenwhy are you so glad to get back to
town." demanded the friend, curiously.
Servants Servants!" exclaimed the
weary one THAT is the chief and only
reason The servant problem Is an easy
one In the city compared to what 1t Is in the
country. That is the trouble with my
nerves..
.Yes, dear, but we all have similar trou-
bles," said the visitor.
"Huh,n retorted the woman with the
shattered nerves. Il have had my share
of such annoyances in the city, but let me
tell you they are nothing compared to the
trouble you run against In the country
How would you relish being obliged to act
rs a chaperon all summer to your negro
maidH"
The visitors sense of the ludicrous was
touched, and she laughed. When she COM
posed herself she begged her friend to tell
her the story.
We'll, you know what delightful home
have on Long Island, began the other
woman. Il don't think there is prettier
spot on the whole island than the one my
house occupies.
1T is built in the woods on Peoonic Bay,
and it ia an ideal place, for you get the woods
and the seashore too. Some folks might
think 1t lonely there, but ] don't, 1t Is
60 restful and quiet. oh, if l could only
live there always without having the SER
want girl problem to wrestle with!
.This was to be my fl stsummer there, and
Participated having the most pleasant sum-
mer of my life. When l began to prepare
to no away early in May the first snag
struck was the everlasting servant girl
problem.
'The two girls had in the city just suited
me, and thought that by offering them an
increase in wages they would willingly &C
company me to my summer home. What
a shock received when they shifted at my
offer and said they couldn't think of going
10 ptx- Gra D1ilne from the
city. So began to haunt the employment
offices. i,..
Il spent nearly an entire week in lodging
In and out of agencies. In that hrnR
interviewed nearly one hundred 9Th who
wanted work, but who didn't want it bad
enough to spend the summer in Peconic.
Some demanded maps Of the surrounding
country and plans Of my house, Al balkso
when told them my house was in the woods,
some distance from my nearest neighbor.
Il pointed out the beauties OF the place
and laid great str, IS on the bathing rowing
and sailing. DO you think that the aG-
vantages Of the place offset what those
women were pleased 10 call its diSad-
vantages? Not much they didn't :
at Was the same With white and bhck
helm. / almost despairetk Of even getting
one girl when ran across Blanche.
-Blanche is colored, OF, the chocolate
varietN She did not care very much about
leaving the city. but she wasi1 the th5ocss
OF a matrimonial taagloa a;ld while waiting
for q divorce from her lhuSba I'd she wa
willing TO live in the country to Keep out
Of his way. She is good looking and in
tellectuhlly above tie, run OF hegro Eelp.
/ might mention in passing that Blacche
knows bhe is good locking and above her
kind.
aShe agreed to work for ne when l prom,
ised TO pay her double the wage she could
earn id the city. She was W do general
Homework, Including washing and iror J. G.
The heavier work agreed should be done
by SOME one else. mad IN n ind for this
Job young white MAJ who had worked
Tor me ia Peconic.
and Blapehe became a member, of our
household She was neat and polite and
did her work 30 we'll that began TO think
had drawn a prize after all, 10 help her
I hired the white man had'in fEtla when
I enge ged her
.It was Their received my frat jar with
nv maid She seemed to have an intense
dislike for white men and she vented all
her LII will on M jack Of all WORK. ~"
He had to he piacated and the only way
could do it was to raj u his wages. 1t was
absolutely necessary to keep, mir, for he
was the only nan in The house.
two weeks went by and everything
went smoothly except an occasions al rumr Us
In the kitchen. Blanche certainly knew
her business and l never had Letter
Il began to thinl, the girl might be getting
lonely and wished that some of her own
race would visit her. My wish was granted
sooner than | expected. Three colored
girls who worked some distance away called
a few days later to pay their respects to
Il discovered them standing outside the
kitchen door, ratter uncomfortable looking,
&c seemed to me. In the kitchen 1 found
Blanche working as II her life depended
Blanche. said to her, there are three
Young women outside who have come to
visit you .f
a'fo visit me, madam she replied.
why, don't eI pect visitors
Would you believe me- that girl walked
10 the door and stared at those three other
girls as IL she had never before laid eyes
on one OF her. kind. She never gave them
a word Of greeting She walked 4aek, with
her head in the air, and resumed her work.
She took my breath away when she said
to me: .,,,.t,....i e.. -.
for don't know them
aImarched right out to the strangers and
asked them IL they had not come to visit
my girl They giggled and told me they
had. Then asked each Of the three her
sWhon rot THAR ar,,ee md In oae 6yad