The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-14
BY THEIR MAIDS
BY Polly Penn.

ct would as soon hang an advertis-
ing chrome in my hall or drape my
windows with, red bunting as have my
front door opened by loud-voiced, i'll
hammered maid, - said one positive
|, Extremeg Well, perhaps. But there
is no. denying, that a clever observer
as to the conduct Of the entire house
hold the instant her eyes light on the
Individual whose business it is to open
the door.
, If "Buttons is a frowsy little boy,
with dirty hands and greasy coat,
borne down by an overwhelming dis.
play of tawdry, ill-kept gilt, it is safe
to surmise that here lives a lady who
assumes to be more than she is. She
cares more for cheap display than for
sound self-respeet., You are not disap,,
with .gaudy furnishings, huddled to-
gether with no regard for harmony or
fitness. 4. That s the house where the
rugs are yellow, the walls pale blue,
the furniture green and the hangings
red. '>'.>:s - :.
Did you ever stand at the door Of a
dwelling Of whose inhabitants you
had ]. heard much and when it
opened find yourself confronted by a
soiled apron, a tangled, dusty head Of
99n!lkeImIpt.hair, and leering grin? And
the house fall fifty degrees before you
ever saw hers And were you surprised
to be-" ushered into an untidy room,
smelling of bread and butter, where
every rug was awry, hats tossed on the
| chairs, apple cores and little piles of
last night g cigar ashes on the tables,
and a. delicate layer of last week s
dust over everything? And WASH It it
in keeping with all this that the lady
ence in old, rundown slippers, murmur-
ing apologies for her negligee-but not
for the grease spots glaring down its
front, nor for the safety pins forcing
! the sleeve and the armhole into I'M
! willing contiguity9 s"'[ ~ < ~
| !. Membership in a dozen clubs will
| never restore that woman to your first
dream of confidence and esteem. -:
Surely the pert, discourteous attend.
ant, too, is a tell-tale Of domestic
routine. A mistress with any thought
for the comfort of others would never
retain in her service the man or maid
who CURLY bangs: the hall door in
your face, consigning you icily to the
vestibule until he or she shall Ego and
=. What an aroma Of dignity and real
elegance pervades the establishment
whose doors are opened by courtlv
servant, grown old in the family IS
service and whose respectful, good
manners imply that he has not lived
with them SO many years in vain. Be-
tore ne ushers you into3@t the hall or
reception. room you are perfectly well
aware what evidences Of culture. re.
fnement and riches well employed
await you within. All are. reflected
| in this, old serving man, this actual
gentleman in livery. with his immov-
able. gravity, his considerate attention
and his digni6ed, yet not destinations
| Importance, as if he we'll knew that
his was a family whose dignity and
graces of character were able to reach
even, to the street door.
Then that modest, uuiet-voiced
| maid, in another home-did she not
truly represent the characteristics of
her mistress, as you later found her
Her snowy cap and apron indicated a
neat, sympathetic method Of housekeep-
ing. Her respectful Difference repre-
sented a careful mistress. Her rosy.
contented face certainly implied con.
| siderate treatment. Every one Of these
things proved to be true when YOU
knew that home better. /;
Often the dominant tone Of the en-
tire household is revealed to you thru
an unconscious servant before you even
cross the doorsill. 4~" Il ~ =
- Happy that mistress who is enough
of gentlewoman to- have a gentle
woman as servitor. q