The Washington herald., 1911-01-01
TACT ALONE NEEDED TO SOLVE
THE SERVANT PROBLEM OF TODAY

There are subjects which never grow
stale such as the cure Of the baby, the
proper menu for an informal dinner, and
the way to manage servants. 1t is gen.
orally conceded that the third PROPOSE
| ton is the most difficult. The perfect
| mistress, like the wholly satisfactory
servant, Is a rara avis. The relation of
the mistress and servant calls for mucn
grace on both sides. The mistress
should have infinite tact: so should the
servant, else there is friction. unless. in
deed, the mistress takes the position OF
not caring what her servant is or what
she does as long she fulills the duties
for which she is hired.
In Harper's Bazar there is an article
On "Our Servants" in which the writer
gives her own experience. She had no
! bedroom suitable for the maid except the
| spare room" This was very well, but
during the wear seven persons visited the
family. Each time the maid rearranged
the room for the guest, removing all her
uersonal possessions, and sleeping for the
time in another room over the Kitchen.
Thu. il seems, the maid did with cheer-
fuIness. and remained in the place until
she was married. The mistress, when
her husband is out for an evening, asks
the maid to bring her book and sewing to
the living room and spend the evening
with her. She also. after time oy max
ing the same arrangements that the
Young woman lodging in the city avails
herself of, to turn her bedroom into the
semblance Of a parlor. so that she may Mt
ly receive any caller there. made over the
maids bedroom into sittlng-room that
was neat and pretty and suitable to ask
her friend and her friends brother 10
spend the evening in.
Evidently this mistress and maid suited
each other. and both must nave oeen
superior. Such a course Is generally i'm
possible.
women's Gift to New York.
Two royal gifts from women are the
Forest Hills sardens-an outgrowth OF
the Russell Sage foundations-and the
Gift of Mrs Hartman, which inspired
the people of New York State to preserve
the romantic landscape on the Hudson
and in-the Highlands. to be always
known as the Hartman Park. in honor
of her presentation Of lands belonging
to her, that the people might enjoy them.
Forest Hills gardens Is to De garden
city. like those established In some Tor
tunate English towns. 1t Is to be at
Forest Hills station, near Jamaica. Long
Island. and is intended to bring pleasure
and comfort to people Of moderate In
comes who in the city must perforce live
In cramped and ugly fats; while IN For.
est Hills gardens the same money VIII
give them q one or two story house with
q greensward. trees. and room to
breathe.
There II no sentimentality connected
with thi| plan. 1t is. as Robert w de
Forest, the vice chairman, says OF It:
..Forest Hills gardens Is business IN
vestment Of the Russell Sage Foundation.
II viii be conducted on strictly business
principles, for fair profit. Houses Will
be built, sold. and rented. Lots will be
sold under protective restrictions intend
ed to insure to their owners and to ad-
jacent owners the residential advantages
Of the notghborhood. In its business pur-
pose Forest, Hills gardens does not dtner
materially from other Long Island real
estate enterprises.
II n not Q charity. It VIII not %
managed - q charity. Whoever deals
with 4, whether - tenant o. purchaser.
VIII b expectsd TO pay fair value for
ovef5th1hg received. 3
6o much tlse better. tire eelf-respecting
e3tinon doaD mt wish charity. but u he
CO lmNoroon, . cha1ce TO broatho c3san
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