The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-17
AS THE DAYS PASS.
BY FRANCES JAY.

al over tie ACAScf NoAiNol mn
mother declared when telling how her
boys were making money and incl
dentally Kidding the premises Of flies. It
certainly seems good way TO keep the /
boys busy these idle vacation times. but
some folk would prefer a less strenuous
method
We hear Sc much Of the dreadful things
that viii happen II the ny wipes his
feet on the end Of ones nose that any
method Of determination seems legiti-
mate. There must be hundreds Of miles
Of wire screening in town, but Il does not
check the evil, and certainly lessons the
amount OF air in a room. There IS moth
ing more likely 10 lead to domestic ex-
element than unguarded fy-paper. for
Job himself would probably have lost his
reputation had he lain his weary head
on piece festconed over the back OF
HIS fayorite chair; so fy-killing by swat
ting has probably something to recon-
mend IT,
! 1 cannot forget the lust OF battle that
stirred my young blood when with a
whalebone. given me by a cabin maid.
I attacked. and with great SUCCESS. the
files which made themselves at home in
an old packet boat in which I was travel
/ ing Game growing scarce under my
successful tactics. carried the chase 10
the deck. and IN my eagerness TO get
a particularly lively ny did not notice
( TIL the warning cry OF low bridge rang
out how near ! was to having my body
derapitated. l got a tumble from this
sudden discovery, and lost my precious
weapon overheard. Going 10 mother for
comfort on both counts. I received only #
for the external wound. for when I
moaned for the loss OF my amusement
her reply was. I am surprised at my
bloodthirsty little girl. How can you
grow into a gentlewoman II you Ike 70
take life?"
! In Senator's family there was re-
Gently a difference IN viewpoint between
the young sons Of the establishment that
! threatened 10 cause house to be divided
[ against Itself, as far as the nursery WAS
concerned Like many a fine old resi-
dence in our city. this one is The home
Of many mice, and one OF the boys is
official mouse catcher, al the rate Of five
cents per mouse. Little brother came
from school with a shining badge. the
sign OF a very pretty society which IS
teaching children TO be merclful 10 ami
mails. With ali the zeal OF a convert.
he quietly made the rounds OF the care
fully set traps and sprung every one OF
them. and Il required all the mothers
diplomacy 20 straighten out the situa-
ton.
A young wife was gleefully telling a
good joke" on her husband. He had
been discovered in the act OF putting
crumbs OF bread into the wire cage where
flies. imprisoned from the day before, hal
eaten all the bait Asked what on earth
he was doing. he replied that the maid
has forgotten TO kill the flies. but tha.
is no reason why they should be tortured
by hunger while waiting a sealding. is
it," He must be a dear 70 haze about
ones home, for II is certain that
the bravest are the tenderest and the
gentle, as rule, are the true o. heart
Since the call from down East" for
1000 maids. the servant question has
been cleverly and exhaustively discussed
in many editorials; special writers have
solved the problem" and philosophers
have tried 70 point out that all are ser
wants in a greater or less degree. All
these wise people might be right from
their standpoint. but tour Of inspection
Of the damp and gloomy quarters in the
old residences here. reserved for the use
OF the help. and the tiny ktchenettes and
sleeping quarters. almost always without
any outlook but a blank wall. that are
considered plenty good enough for the ser
wants. in the modern apartments. may
give one an inkling OF some reasons
why domestic service Is not more sought
A housewife hardly realizes how de-
pressing the servants quarters can be.
for her visits are not more than visits
she can escape 10 the living rooms or 90
down town. but most Of the servants day,
and sometimes much OF her night, is In
environment rather less cheering than a
workhouss. But even If a servant does
not mind surroundings. there is another
point that was brought out clearly in a
fragment Of talk between two women that
puts the whole matter in a nutshell. The
speaker looked the capable cook TO the
life. and one could imagine what a
treasure she could be in a gentleman s
kitchen. "'CoSe I don't get as good
wages as IL was in service, but when
Use done my work. I really is done. 70
Mistresses who thoughtlessly call on
their maids as long as they are within
calling distance. remember it is this
lack OF time to be all ones own that
makes domestic service so undesirable.
When the shop girl finishes her Ions
hours, what Is left Of the day and night
is her own, TO spend as she wishes. The
Office worker is probably more severely
taxed. mentally and even physically, in
one day than servant is in a week. but
when she leaves her building she can
take Up her outside life and do with It
as duty or pleasure dictates. But the
servept in the house. save for her after
noon out, which is sometimes very
grudgingly given. and an occasional Sun
day afternoon. has no time sacred.
Another bit Of conversation on the
breeze showed still different side Of
the disadvantage OF service. The speaker
this time was man. and it was prob
ably hot-weather discussion. He was
very ordinary looking colored man OF
the laboring class rather than the cler-
icaI. and all he was heard 10 say was.
I don't mind the weather: just MI Up
the tub with cold water. and after my
work is done jumps into IT,"