Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-08-24
A WELL-eRooMED MAID.
Che lie a Delight to Have Around
You.

The clean. trim looking. well hammered
maid Is the sign visible of a well ordered
household. Nothing gives such an unre-
fined air TO a house as a slovenly, unkempt
girl to answer the door bell or wait on ia
bic. Visitors, especially strangers, are.
not u~nreasonably. apt to TINA the cali
Der of the mistress by the manners and
appearance OF her domestics-rerhaps on
the general principle that like consorts
| with like.
While it may be presumed that every
self-respecting girl likes to keep her per-
son clean, II Is a fact that comparatively
few mistresses afford their servant proper
facilities for doing so. The small wash
basin in the bed room is entirely made
Quate. A tub at least once a week is a
physical necessity for health as well as
for comfort, and the mistress who has
the welfare of her household AZ Eeart will
take the trouble TO see that ner maids do
not neglect this duty, which is quite as
important as the washing OF dishes and
the scrubbing of corners, since wherever
there is dirt there Is a luI king place for
disease germs.
In most modern houses and apartments
where there Is no bath tub exclusively for
the servants use, there is a very good
substitute for one IN the new style station
airy washtub, which Is fitted with a re-
movable partitioa. But should this con-
venient accessory be lacking. there is no
real reason why the maid should not be
permitted to use the family bath tub, pro-
vided afterward she scrub II thoroughly
with a hard brush. some good kitchen soap
and plenty OF hot water. In extending this
privilege, however, 1t should be stipulated
that the hair be washed elsewhere. A big
dishpan-reserved especially for the pur-
~pose-placed in the kitchen sink will an
swer very well for this operation, which
should be performed at least once In two
weeks. If the mistress insists that the
maid wear a cap while sweeping or dust.
ing 1t will be easy to keep the hair In gooC
condition.
Cleanliness of clothing is no less impor'
tant than cleanliness of person. A CIR
who does homework, with Its attendan'
penalties OF dust, heat and perspiration
needs TO change her undergarments a
least twice a week In summer. The mis-
tress should request her to do this, anC
should see that the soiled clothing is laun,
dered each week. 1t Is quite possible &c
breach the subject In a tactful way with
out injuring the girls feelings OF self-re'
speCt. She Will not resent the surveillance
II she be made to understand that II /:
prompted by concern for her persona
affairs.
In all well appointed households the
maid wears a uniform of some light col
ored material, such as blue or pink In the
morning and invariably black after 4 In
the afternoon. A white linen turnover col,
lar, a tie of narrow ribbon and a neat
apron OF white lawn OF cambria finishes
both Of these costumes. A capacious over
all apron of Bingham, made with a bill
large enough to cover the bust, should be
worn while engaged in cleaning or kitchen
work, this to be slipped off when there !:
a m to the parlor or the door.
Whether there be one or more maids IN
the house, IL is the one who opens the
door and waits at table who wears the
most fetching aprons. Dotted Swiss or the
new embroidered b~atiste-which is quite al
transparent as the Swiss-is used for max
ing the smartest OF these accessories, the
trimming consisting of ruffies and bre'
telles edged with narrow lace or fine EN-
broidery. Less frivolous and more ser
viceable aprons are those made of lawn OF
nainsook with wide hemstitched hens anC
shoulder straps trimmed with hemstitchet
ruffeS.