New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-10
Il USEFUL COMPANION.
Experience of a Reduced Gentle
scoman an "Palat;al MGnsiOn

when a woman comes 10 me looking hopefully
for position mothers helper or useful COM
pa MON - said a woman in charge OF industrial
exchange. II always feel like asking her. Can you
cook. wash and from Do you know how to make
and mend gowns Are you an expert stocking
darner? Do YOU like take poodle dogs out for
airing? Have you all kinds OF complexion
recipes your fingers ends?' DO YOU object to
hopping kitchen floors sitting ashes?' Can you
read aloud for hours stretch and What are
your qualifications a panist?' For l know
sooner later, she will find use for all these ac-
complishments. But of / don't Ike to
discourage the poor thing. and ] keep hoping
against hope that she may strike the ideal place
she Is looking for nothing mental is required
and where she VIII be treated one of the
family
Most Of the applicants who come here are gen
tlewomen suddenly thrown on their own resources
They have not single marketable accomplishment
They realize that their knowledge of music and
language is of the most elementary sort, and that
they could not hold their against fve-dolar
clerk in a department store regards rapid fgur-
ing. even II they could bring themselves to do work
outside of the shelter of the home. Therefore the
prospect of being housed under the same roof with
cultured and refined people and getting free board
and lodging and. in cases. slight compen-
satIon seems perfectly delightful.
They go away very enthusiastically. but some
times they are back before the of the week. and
some of the things they tell would surprise any
one but the clerk of a bureau like this.
We have patron who lives in handsome
house a few blocks from here. It's the kind the
She plenty of means, elegant furniture and fine
pictures. which she picked up in her European
travels. But she has the most rooted aversion to
paying either servants wages dressmakers bills
She claims to be quite disguised with the average
cook and laundress. and has had such unpleasant
experiences with modistes that she determined to
cut quite loose from all such vulgar Great
ures. and get along with nice. refined gentle
woman instead. she told me on her first visit
She went on to explain how she made game OF
DISTINGUISHING and how cleaning windows was
nothing but sport when done according to her
methods. As to sweeping and busting. they were
the most delightful of physical culture exercises
only Ist PTe Spt house myself
you know. But had no other place FOR eIersy-
a Week or more So sent her around. She came
back flushed with happy go se 9 living IN fT
nished rooms and eating off coarse china and sodea
piano. And l am to have the privilege of them all
In my leisure time do hope, III suit her' She
Two weeks later the rect eft Of the r Rey breath
walked into the ess sffy out Oh
away she painted .5s locked couldn't In IN Sr Ing
plato Closet when spoke about going She said aid
stay my month STt reaT doGdnt y
indeed I couldn't. Just see here. and she thrust
S Sea rugs 6efore and put blankets out
wash when kept house AS 20 SODA: never e. I,
does come a little cheaper than soap. And there
are lots of things for securing pots that aren't
half as hard on the hands as sand II gets IN
under your finger nails So. and she looked at me
in couical dismay.
" Well. you evidently did not find Mrs IS play
and games much fun. did you?" said.
Play? said the poor thing. with SOD IN ner
voice Heaven help me II | ever have TO WORK.
7 was on nv feet from early morning TIL late at
night And there wasn't much to eat, she ADDED.
with shamed face I am not greedy, indeed m
not hut there's no good In leaves when they We
been stepped two and three times and you DO
get so tired of Irish when you have IL every
day. I spent nearly all my money FOR crackers