New-York tribune., 1909-03-07
COUNTRY PROBLEM
Lack Of Seruants Makes Suburban
Life Difficult.

With the approach Of the season that means re-
moval to the country place, the question OF proper
servants agates society. for no matter where the
property In question may be located, the same diff
cuItes abide. and yearly becoming more seri-
Gus. Whittier the well trained maids and buffers
70 during the months, when their earnings
90 not afford them trips abroad or tour at home
will remain mystery but for six months or
more many invaluable Mary or "Trimnlins Is
completely lost to sight.
For two or three months prior to the customary
time for departure the country, unrest prevails
throughout the household, and faults develop in
perfect treasures" that reveal their minds un-
easiness They grow tardy III response to bells
they catter the luncheon dishes. the silver is not
kept as bright a formerly, and dust may be dis
covered out-of-the-way nooEs- Nor are snliies
prevalent they go about their duties Instead
they wear that ndescribable expression that COM
bines sullenness. insolence and a certain amount
of pftyng disapproval and contempt for the m
fortunate owner of acres in the country One by
one they give notice" Sometimes by pleading and
the promise of special outings one or two may be
inveigled into taking the very momentous step OF
'trvinC it, for while. but it is much better policy
70 let the whole lot go as they please. and spend
the days just before their fight at various ntell
gence offices picking ont such makeshtftS as banker
for green fields against the attractions of the VaUde
VILE stage trolley riding.
Newport. Narragansett. New London, Southamp-
ton and Bar Harbor almost the only summer
places upon which the servants Of the present day
have placed their ban. From all the inland re-
sorts, Including Bernardsville. LenoX. Tuxedo ana
many If the middle Long Island places. there is a
weekly vail from the mstresses. and muttered
.cUss words from the husha Ids another gone
away IS recorded, and a trip to the city becomes
necessary The pest laid plans for house parties
are prone to fail because of the cooks leaving ana
to be without this talented individual in the re
moteness of the mountains seashore means the
greatest possible discomfort to all in the house.
Natives are hard TO procure even for the minor
details OF work and country cook is an at1lctioh
10 be endured philosophcally may be by those
who have not natural taste for the fatted CALI
unskimmed soup. overdone rcasts, vegetables IN
seasoned even as to salt: fish fried 10 crisp and
each and all served If for the hungriest oI proa-
gals in huge quantities that completely take
away at sight the appetite This home cooking
too makes high the doctors bill but what can nc
done7 Even the new arrivals found to be shy
about plunge into the country life. They develop
home sickness TO such degree that week. or AT
most month. their fitting. and az the start
though quite unframed. they demand high wages
and are firm their rights They ere PROB
ably the most expensive experiment, too. that can
be tried. Proper dresses. aprons etc. have to be
supplied for they arrive with woollen skirts heavy
shoes gay hat and lace waists, and their lack OF
training breakage In the pantry and many
meals ruined in the cooking.
These are only a few of the vicisstudes Of the
woman whose husband has seen ht to buy farm
(for that IS what all the largest holdings have been
under former ownership, and, no matter how re
modelled. such only do the city servants
recognize Il. When II to finding out the
reasons OF the mountaineer's clam digger s
daughters for entering the service Of the sum
mer people" many weird tales viii be told and
superstitons discovered which in these enlightened
times seem almost incredible. With every farm
bought, there is accompanying legend In the
vicinity of which the owner VIII not hear
for months or years 10 come bat all the natives
know and recall It with bated breath when the
new people arrive, that the haunt" which may
| have been almost forgotten. becomes once more
a poteut influence. Another thing that prevents
.lase girls from going out work except with
their own kind, IS that they resent bitterly being
| treated as Interiors and included with the other
| employees of the place. with their place IN the
kitchen or servants hall for meals, for fercely do
| they crv out 10 come the masters table, both
/ men and women. This extreme last phase Is the
| stumbling block happiness in New England
/ New Jersey and in upstate New York.