The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-22
MAIDS NOT EASILY SUITED.
The Plain Tale of One Woman Who
 UnsueoessfuIIy Sought Help.
lle phIladelnhIa Recnrd

From the Philadelphia Record.
 Read here the plain tale of the actual experience of a Philadelphia houselxeeper who advertised for a maid, wages S5, three in family, reference required.
 Applicant No. 1 arrived at in the morning She was a young American, ap- parently not very strong. Her chin was the square bulldog type and her eyes were close together, turning inward, giy- ing to her face not very sympathetic or amiable expression.
 Have you reference2" asked the house. keeper.
 No. worked two years ago in a fam fly that moved to New York"
 Can you cook?'
 Oh, yes" said the girl But you have children around here, haven't you?"
 les, one little boy of four, but he goes to Kindergarten in the morning and does not interfere with your work"
 "Oh," said the maid, rising hastily, q couldn't work where there's children"
 No. arrived about II o'clock. Observe, please, that they did not come in bunohes) She wore a light wig and spot ted veil that covered wrinkles uncount- able. Her skin was like crumpled parch- menet and her teeth false. An old maid, with her cloth gloves posed In a manner ludI pIopHeSleu precision.
 Have you reference?"
 Well, no num-" she hesitated. T don't approve of references. Ye see, I don't like folks to know nothing of what I'm a'doing. Work ye know, Is no disgrace, but I like me life private. Then that's asking for work is often as good as them that's got 1t to give"
 What about your last place? I can not take in a stranger without knowing anything tO her charaptprf
 Well, mum, houseworlx hasn't gone well with me Where I was last she and I had a little difference and l wouldn't like to send you to her. l went out on a Sunday and didn't get back till Mon day night. I had @ little business to transact When I got back she had gone and advertised for another girl
 The housekeeper took her address and she departed, saying spathetcally, Well, I guess I'll never hear from ye, will l?'
 The third ring at the door brought a middle aged woman minus front teeth a thing, of course a housekeeper is not supposed to object to- She was tall and thin. with i'll health written all over her. This one was determined to make a wise selection and calmly inspected the house and mistress in detail. The eonVer- sation proceeded smoothly, and writ ten reference of two years standing from a lady who had gone to Europe was offered as guarantee. rms applcant was a one-time cook in a wealthy menage, who had fallen and broken her arm, which accident had rendered her so ner- vous that she could not work with other servants. 'If she could find a place in a small family where she could be let alone" she said, "she could work all right"
 That Is the kind of maid need joy fully exclaimed the houselSeeper. 'I do lit erary work and must have some one who can take the responsibility of doing the days duties without supervislon.'
 "Oh!"--and the consternatlon of that Oh cannot be wrltten-"you are one of them. are you? l once was maid for one of them.'
 The question was settled "Theres no use taking a place you don't think you'd like I Can generally tell whether 1t would suit me or not" was the parting thrust as she said good-by.