New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-25

The French Mistress Has Trials That H.
American Housewife Knows Not Of

not only behind them tradition ~
cludes all sorts Of fav0rs, perou,.,,-
presents, but they are apparen,ly
eve OF having certain privileges a.s.
law. II the result Of this is that a ~
telllgent class OF women viii \. -
with household work employers win ss
ing 10 accept It.
The feature OF French hous4kss,,.
seems TO appeal mostly 70 Ame-,r,.
the comparative cheapness Of Fr.,.s :
wants and the idea that they Will do
than they are willing % DO in -
But II both ~ these questions are .x,-
there is less advantage on the s,aA
French household than appears q,
sight. Wages are lower there ,b.,
but they are higher than was the co.,
few years ago. and the scale seems -
rising one. cook gets from ~ "a
month, second maids from 80 10 e,
nursemaids about the same In -.
OF expert workers wages run bl9bs.
this: these are simple average syr.'
while. on the other hand. one can o,,.,
a second chambermaid or A Young o..
assist with children for & or g. 4 no..
These prices seem reasonable m -
cans. but they are augmented in 50 ~
different ways that n Is doubtful -
cost Of keeping servants j. not nor. a.
il is here. Each servant on Nex w.
Day expects. in addition 10 any n-...-.
that may be given 20 her. a q piece a.
sI Of
families this gift is repeated az E.r.
Guests tip all the servants. even ths 49,.
and even II the guest Is only ,ah,.
meal with the family Bread. ne a.,
cake ara made outside the house a.,
therefore cost more than they do In A.,
lea The family laundry is an expers,.
item. coming 10 much more than the x,,.,
OF a servant. II must be done outsd, "a,
house for tNo reasons, the French sery,.
knows nothing about laundry work 8.
is not expected 10 wash even her ~.
linen. and there are no conven.ence, (.
French apartments. or even in ros.-
houses. for laundry or any provisions >,
drying clothes. In fact. police regulsa',,
forbid the drying or exposing 0, elo,.s
at a window. or In a private balcony o.
any part OF the house or grounds Vhs,
they may be seen.
II the mistress does not provide u.
customary wine FOR the servants al.
she gives wine money which amouru
10 s. a month n head. Caps aprons, VIA
collars and cuffs are always furnished ,Y
the mistress. and, II any particular gr.-
OF gown for the maids is insisted o. ,.r
must be provided, az well a. livery 70. e
men servants.
The custom CT letting the cook or n,gsl
servant do the marketng dedlcis IN
her value a. an inside worker and si.s
probably a third % her wages. i Is 81
posed 70 be a poor place or tie mad L
inexperienced marketer when she czrng
make s. or s. a month On TINS way sc-s
OF this T. quite legitimate. Tie bgieesn
and greeu-grOcers all recognize the 81.
N the franc that -, the cent given 1zcf
10 the cook for every ~ cents she spsrN
II the mistress went 20 market herself q.
would not get the benefit az this -sse
unless she masQueraded with market ba:sg
and apron. for the tradespeople are &C,
as anxious a. the servants 90 hold ca .
the custom. In q sense it gives then
hold over the servant and the aEio-s
she spends.
This sum Is. OF course. computed ID d
housewife would be content n the serYzri
benefit stopped there As t-le maid tH
the food. in a certain sense she s a q.
ceman. and q. girl, perfectly ncneS .
every other way. Will argue that she : q
titled 70 any profits coming from cen
bargaining. The one-prire system rad
exists I'm any French market and q
French domestic who Is ar adept NJ osi
Ing down" argues that she should nAl
more ont Of her morning work ins1
less experienced woman Even tie mlsu'i
rarely speaks OF this as theit. lui ne
cuse Tor getting rid ot girl Dr. often "a
she spent TOO much.
The second maid or the nIrse has =
same hold over the laundry and cieAh-
bills Discarded clothes are given 70 !.
chambermaid and she gets q sooo IA
gratuities from dressmaker- ana 2.
liners who are interested Do 5eluAs :.
good will. Casual visitors VIII UP IL
who helps them on with a wrap OF GAS
Sab for them.
PETIT theft Is VERY common among ~,
servants, and II seems !mpossi9ie 20 49,
under present conditions. Tie d" l0i-ss
mistress to give a cir certllcalr -.
she leaves. and In this she may nol "a
Intimate that the girl is dishonest =. y; -. -.
she NAV not say anything tuat WolN y,
vent the girl from cettin- .nolnet -,
To keen out OF any trouble ce"ti. dtes q.
orally credit the bearer with an 80 =.
virtues and are not worth Oh" paper y,
are written on. Careful. holse"iFe, -. -.
tate 20 take a servant without q -.
interview with her late employer, y.l
many women have got INFO legal ".
from frank speaking AZ sIcn times re - y
has 10 infer more than b. really salu- ~
does not mean that one Is poWeriess e.
dishonesty. only that Il must be proven
French court OF Jaw before Do can oe =
10 the disadvantage Of the s,rt an'' -.
Among the good qualities ot the fls ~
domestic stand. first. intelligence aa-
desire 10 please. She doesn Hiihl "a :,
work II II IL pleasant work ana orhs' :,
IN contact with the family or gles's. =, -
likes guests partly because n j. hel h' y,
IN ike excitement and partly because y.
are profitable and In spite ot tne ,lsly' -
allowance of wine she j. a telnrerat. -.
The tipsy cook Is never one ~ tHe iea'-''
Of the French cartoon. ,.-,v
ETHELYN MIDDLEIO"