Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-04
Useful
Hints
Giving Recommendation
Characters for Scruants Is Interest
ing Problem.
by VI. b.

Not many days since a woman re-
ccived n letter from another asking Tor
information as To whether or not the
maid, who was leaving the recipient
of the letter, was honest. clean ana
+ obliging. AS a matter OF fact. the
woman possessed all these quaiihca-
tons, but was addicted TO drinking
alcohol
AT times her manner was absolutely
Infamous. although she had nevc! oes;
known to neglect her duties The cues
tion arises: WAS the referee juStlneu
in withholding from the prospective
employer the woman's weakness
If the new place is one where the
mistress is ever vig!lant IN looking
after her home, the failing might not
prove stumbling block, but i'll any
circumstances it would he best for
The fresh employer 20 know. because
then she could be on her guard in case
OF accidents. II, or the other hand.
the girl is required IN q household
where there are young children. OF
where certain responsibilities devolve
upon her then. TO say nothing about
her iondness for drink would Ne abb
solute!y criminal.
Fear Family skeletons.
Perhaps the possibility Of having 20
give a girl reference Is one az the
strongest objections TO letting her into
the secrets o: the home know many
nltstresses who have sent their former
servants TO & new mistress with the
character OF al angel. largely because
they were afraid II they did no; DO
so the girl might reveal some Of the
family secrets II sheer spite.
True, woman vii! often speak bet
tee OF d girl than She deserves. FOR fear
a true Character would prevent her
some points ~ view this : eXcusabl
and comueHGa Die, buzz x Is doing 4
great injustice 20 the new mistress.
still, should be particularly careful
before making mountains OF; O: mole
hills, and transforming 4 human weak
best intention in the world IL IS difficult:
TO eliminate personal prejudice be-
tween mistress and maid.
She's the most annoying girl I've
ever had Il doesn't matter how Ne
are rushed or what extra work mas -
be done. Mary Will go on in her own
method!cal way, cleaning every crcv!cs
and corner" is what l heard one lady
say of a certain girl who. after g while
transferred her service TO another o:
my friends who had an entirely differ
ent temperament This is what she
said of Mary:
4 Different View.
THE girls perfect treasure. No
matter what ! tell her to do | know
ii is done thoroughly. If the children
my husband, or even myself went on
our Bonded knees for something,
don't think She would leave the work
she was doing until il was completed
That's the kind OF maid ] like"
This. to me. Is conclusive proof of
the wisdom OF giving a fairly detailed
character. II would prevent much
chopping and changing. which goes far
'.tnNards running the regulations OF mis-
tresses and maids.
Tell me of her failings. They will
not prejudice me against her: but If
they arc such as can bear with pa :
thence | Will try 20 guard against
them That is what Il wise mistress
VIII say in asking for recommends
lion, and the woman who doesn't an
swcr truthfully should be punished by
the law.
II was only a few months back that
certain woman gave tho cir! who was
leaving her an almost perfect recon
mendation. Yet she knew quite well
that the girl was not what might be
termed strictly honest She had been
found taking food home This. how
ever the former mistress hai over
looked, she was essentially human.
The girl tried the same thing on in her
new place, and was prosecuted and sea:
10 prison. The uew mistress wes hard
er In her tutgv.r,