Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-18
WORKING AT SERVANTS JOB
Girl Writer Tells Her Experience
Gained as n FiPst-Classa-:
Waitress. naJ 1uC~sS

-Four days had passed before, my hands
were sufficiently healed and my spirits
heartened TO go on with what L now called
my career" says Anne Forsyth, who tells
her experiences in Seven Times a Servant
In The Dedileator for October, The fact
that / went on at all was due not to any
splendid purpose, but to plain stubborn
ness OF character. And must say, too,
there was certain excitement in getting
into my old clothes again and starting off
for another adventure. Disbursement
concerning my literary ambitions had
passed. l could smile at the mood which
had enabled me to assume the role OF a
servant; but l was really interested now.
had begun to study life from a vantage
ground that promised to increase my
knowledge of human nature in a way that
would be of value in the far-off day when
might write a novel. SO l went away
from my boardlng-place with good stock
of courage.
Although l had gained confidence by ex-
perience at my first place, l felt a GER
tain amount of stage fright as 1 walked up
Broadway in search of the address which
had been given TO me at the employment
agency. l found the humber emblaEoned on
gigantic apartment building. Five men in
uniform blocked my way through the front
hall, each pointing silently to a sign which
read, Servants Entrance at the Rear"
Thus recalled to humble station, l made
for the basement, feeling eertal that some
one of the few persons l knew in the city
would catch me en- route.
| I asked for Mrs. Major. forgetting my
assumed English accent in the fright that
| had seized me. My hands shook so that
| / had to keep them In my muff-dear
faded, respectable muff!-and my voice took
| on a miserable tone My legs fairly gave
way beneath me when the cook returned
asking me to step this way" l was a
woebegone creature as l followed her
through the swinging door into the gor-
geousness of the dining room. But the
sight Of that room, all in blue velvet and
silver embroidery-its vulgarity-was reas-
surfing for the conyersatipn. ahead,
| Through a series of curtained doorways
cook led the way. TO the parlor, where she
left me in front of the "mssus." saw
the lady but vaguely at first, as the light
was heavily shaded When In a good-na-
tured voice she said, sit down, please"
settled into a rose colored satin chair, and
noted the details of her dress and person
with interest. Her hair, slightly blond
was done with wave and artificial plffs al
each side to give her a youthful look HeI
gown was a combination OF pink muslin
and lace which trailed as she walked
shooting out a froth OF lace about heI
feet, Down in the front were a thousand
hooks. l. who have knelt struggling with
them while she yawned and made eve.
at herself in the glass, have reason to b,
sure OF the number.
But as ! sat I'm the parlor being cate
chised and trying to keep my character II
mind, l did not know that was to max
the acquaintance of each separate hook
My name, Hannah Johnson: nationality
English. Was l trained servant? Yes
Did make salads? Oh yes. all kinds Q
salads, The service was easy. my ne,
mistress assured me There were three 1
family, my. brother-in-law and US" Their
would be little company. the. members il
the household were out great deal an
required almost no servants. / must an
swer the door and the telephone; / eouI
have every other evening out, every Thurs
day afternoon and every Sunday. She kne,
would like the place
OF course there was no great packing I
delay me. but there was a pompadour I
buy and TO get In place over my hig
I forehead. for l had grown panic stricken
: at the idea Of removing NV hat The en-
tire afternoon I passed In front OF a moi
; ror drawing my hair back to give INV ear
: prominence. dry soap-suds on my face {
: make red. shiny skin and brushing m
= eyebrows carefully forward. Not until
had seen the result OF this labor was ] q
all treasured. In my black maids dres