New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-02
A PARTNERSHIP AFFAIR

The domestic problem IN its entirety, far from
being question of the Ideal servant, is solely
question Of the ideal mistress. for only with such
can there be an ideal home In the hands OF 4
skful and patient mistress the immigrant.
taken right from the ship. becomes a. useful mem
Der OF society. and In this old world of there
is higher mission than helping others to help
themselves. But let the same immigrant go TO a
mistress incapable OF teaching her. and she soon
joins the army of incompetents. who usually
'out of places
Not long ago a housokeeper In F. took a servant
who had been over year in her last place, at
salary OF So month The girl had qlaliTca-
tons. either cook laundress and nothing
recommend her except a good disposition After a
weeks trial. the mistress said Mary, II you wish
to stay with me can teach you to cook. but first
shall teach you TO save!" Mary stared in amaze
ment. Il never lived anywhere" she said. where
they had to save!' Qier last mistress had very
care how much was ordered; we just telephoned
for everything-twas all charged on the book. any
The telephone BRIGHTLY called Heavens latest and
most expensive gift to mani and the passbook are
tbe nome Most AmeTca an 'e xbn
would laugh Mt poor Dora Copperfeld's ignorance
carry out her principle when it comes to market
Of mutton for yf the Sunday dinner David asked
No. but the butcher would know how to sell 1t.
the triumphant answer. 1t seems pity-aye.
for American husbands are far and away the most
wise IN the matter OF credit.
II might suggest q remedy. Il would be that
every husband take his wife into partnership, for
things practical as well as spiritual to the
realize that all women like Becky Sharp in one
particular spendthrifts that they in running
up bills they all stngy with ready money
Stories humorous and pathetic, stories bordering
rich men. and. on the other hand. OF the extrava-
Hance OF women who abused their husbands credit
until the were driven TO failure-or worse!
But there has seldom been a case where the wife
has proved other than faithful to her trust when
she allowed settled income for household
and personal expenses. The friend I know the
ordered her servant IDEAL but the house bills
always bugbear her husband, bon vvant, had
a habit OF always speaking of bills at the table.
ana bill after another would be tossed across
the table. with the remark
do you Green & Co. all that for butterT'
or. How did you ever run up such bill at the
market7' In short, in that house il a
of "a stalled OK and strife herewith" The mis-
herbs with peace. Taking an account Of stock
hand she managed 10 keep her table going for a
few days-then she asked her husband for IS. and
kept the household going for several days longer.
OF course, the table not to It's usual mark,
and the longed-for inquiry came at last:
Aren't running things a pretty low
eure?' Yes" very cheerfully but you can't think
what relief ii is. not to mind when see you put
SfHlqir%. hand IN your pocket kho" !" can't be a
He was a sensible man. and he and she took
counsel together that very day, with the result
that the of ton the table has been
any evidence Of economy in the style of living.
A woman of rare intuition. whose profession
takes her into the very heart of family life says
she always tell by the atmosphere OF home
whether the wife has the handling of money or
Is running up billsi In the home where the wife
has az allowance there is no deceit. no hiding Of