The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09

much Is required. She must teach deport-
ment, good manners-that is, the manners
most approved In her charges social set.
She must protect her charge from the
colloquialisms and diction current In the
servants hall. 49,. !.
Naturally, II at the most formative period
children are left solely to the society q
be servantlike. The wealthiest parents
have been among the first to find this out,
and often the discovery has come with
a pang OF modification in the presence
OF strangers, before whom the youngster
Is expected to showlto good advantage.
So, naturally the supply Of nursery gov
ernesses by no means meets the applica-
tons for them registered on the books Of
the social requirements agencies. :.
explained the bookkeeper at one agency,
fare. English Canadians. / have succeeded
In placing many Of these In New York fam
lilies this fall. The Canadian woman, as a
rule, has a soft, pleasant voice, good PRO
matter how much schooling girl may
have, unless she has the manners and speech
OF a gentlewoman she will not be success
as a nursery governess In houses OF the
rich. where good deal more Is asked OF her
than to teach child his letters.
"A rich woman came yesterday for q
nursery governess for her four-year-old
boy. The governess must be a very super
ior person, indeed she said, because she
must take almost entire charge OF the boy
with a younger child under the care OF
nurse
..The duties OF a nursery governess''
echoed the agency bookkeeper. We'll, she
must take most of her meals with her charge
and train him in table manners; she must
take him out with her, devise schemes for
his pleasure rs well as his instruction, and
to some extent look after his wardrobe.
The duties are more or less exacting, but
not disagreeable, her position being far
above that OF a nurse, no matter how de-
voted the nurse may be.
Many well born young women who
have failed to find places as teachers are
taking up the work and some prefer 1t to
.teaching in the public schools. The pay
is good-board lodging and $50 or $35 q
month. In fact nursery governess with
tact and good Judgment may command
a higher salary than that.
The variety of nursery governess we
used to send out was expected to do little
Of learning from books; She was seldom
asked to begin her work until child was
at least years old and her wages were
only about $50 a month Nowadays chill
dren Of 8 often have a nursery gov
erness who, to all intents and purposes, is
expected to assume the duties which used
to fall to the share of mother. What 10
more, she must be up in the new methods
Of teaching.
"Yes, it does sound as II sort Of paragon
girl who has studied the kindergarten
system gets on very well at the work; and
IL she Is fond of children her charge often
proves a delight to her and she boon to
him by saving him from overindulcence.
Il have a case of this sort in mind now.
The boy was years old, and for healths
sake he spent good part Of every day with
his governess out of doors. just as soon
as the mother found out that, the pair were
going to get on we'll together and that
she told the latter that she could spend
all the money she wanted to please her
charge. buy him anything he wanted and
take him to matipees or to entertainments
OF any sort that were likely to amuse him.
1t was mighty lucky thing that that boy
his own mother. who, left to herself, would
have ruined him in short time by over
indulgence.
a patron to whom I sent Canadian
other day to thank me. She is a very fash
ionable woman, with houseful Of servants,
including two or three nurses for as many
children. but never minute herself to
spend with her chilren.
Since the governesS came she told
me- my little girl. who used to be a per-
feet vixen and was always having q battle
royal with her nurse, has developed the
sweetest manners you ever saw. l had
her down in the drawing room the other
afternoon, and she, charmed my visitors
with hsr pretty little ways.
What is better yet tie governess Is
really practical. The other day. when, I
dreaded the job Of finding out from the
nurses Just what clothes the children would
need for the autumn and winter, in walked
the governess with a slip of paper in her
hand and asked if could spare her minute.
When ! found out what she had done 1
could have Rugged her. There in black
and white was list OF Just how many avail
able garments both children had to begin
the autumn with, which, OF course, was all
l needed to tell me how many new pieces l
must buy Yes. could and would trust
her to buy the children's clothes too, only
she picks out such plain coats and dresses,
"Since that young woman went to that
place her wages have been raised from
$50 to s35 month without asking. which
shows how much her services are valued.
"Oh. there is splendid chance for young
women of refinement to make comfortable
living and something more in these DAYS
If they will only At themselves for the duties
of nursery governess.