UNDRESSING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 93, 13 January 1908, Page 3

UNDRESSING.

: Sometimes,-when father's-out of ■ town, 1 At. bedtimo mother -brings mv.gown, Anfl. says-to me:— . •>. ; jTho hreplacn is '.varm- and bright, lou may undress down hero to-mgnt Where, I can see." So than I sit upon tho floor, ' . And. mother closes every door, , :..'V'ihen.in. her/chair She rook's and watches mo undress, . . And I go'juit as slow. I guess ' , She ddesn't carp. - •' And then l sUiid up rainy gown, And watch tho flfc'meß g6 up and down As'; ta.ll'as.'irie! ButsOonl dilution mother's lap. And list-en totho fire snap, ;So coini'r'bly. Then mother ropks an(l cuddles mo Clobo in her arms,vWhero I can see . _ • Tlie coals sliinb red. },Jon't feel sleepy, but some way, ' Wneii I wako up, tlidn it's next day, And I'm jn bed ! , 31ay; Kelly .in the "Century.". POPULARISING DOMESTIC SERVICE ,;ln the "Young Woman". ; Mrs. Creighton writes an outspoken articlo on Mistresses and .servants.- She, reminds up that, froiri the servants'points of view, scarcity-"of servants is riot a bad thing; and that thero Beyer was a mistresses' golden age, and certainly; though she does not say so, never a servants ,

■ lu . s l )lt = , 0 f the /advantages qf domestic »er too, which Mrs.-Creighton does not question, thero is tho undoubted growing dislike to it to bo ■recollected. When, however, wo think-of tho advantages,.we are apt to remember only the life", of a good servimt in a good place,, and to. .ignore tho standpoint of .tho fourteen-year-old. girl, just leaving school..and wishing to enter service, to whom It probably, almost certainly, means ."froin'g as a general in a ;small place, having sbveral babies to look after, and all. the rough, unpleasant work of the house, to do which her mistress uocs not do herself." Truly not an aHtiring prospect to anvone. Or, Bujippsing uur-fquHeon-year-old has better-oft' Jrinnds/wlio.prociiro her apposition as undernousemaid or-scullery-maicf in a big house, ■ho must still learn, under, upper servants, who may havo very trying tempers, and who may solnahly put all, tlio', hard work on her. if tho .hard beginning is got over; BCT; Pf#ecb;.'d?. trying.- mistresses, uncongenial fellow-Borvants, and "no lifts of 1 " ; a /'.6'r - work'is dbrio^ -. as,, did Miss-' 1,1 September "Niiioteen*h ; Sl U F'- ■- rt g am -- .its popularitydoihestic seroee must have its status 'raised,a real profession, .liko nursing, for lnstanco. ; ,1s 'it; a less honourable, duty,'.to serve well people,than;sick?" asked an old B lf ra £->' ' cotirso we all know of servants' Part:;ofthfc family, ao.to ipeak. 'K°W9. shall bo my people." "But," ,'t-hb..,writ6r, with perfect justice, "Wb oannot-exwet or even wish to mnko general "t?,.°, f • 'hose servants who completely inorgo their existcnco in tho family of those they servo. For most servants business will always :be business; but the fact redomestic service will always b'o a inost ' lipiiburablo profession.' Remember _th'at a servant is human is. in main point:— rl 'les about visitors jours pf going out- will' neither make ii servant happy nor keep,her out of mischief. fr;L?" IS wi • to havo as many trends-■arid..interests ;and to go oiit as much • Ihore can ,be no more foolish rnlo tliftn that which commonly prevails of lothjig a .-'Ecryatit havo a .'regular; 'afternoon ;djy onco a month.'. A servant;; has her .definite work to do; when that work i i3,.done ;,her tinio, should bo her own, aprt .sljo should bo .encouraged to go out eyery , day. •. Servants who; are left freo-.to arrange, those- things- themselves will always help ojie .another. and see that tho nccessary work lir the houso is done whilst tliey are ? u !j,'. v .-f" o :D'istress? s-only legitiinato.'denmnd .is,;that tno work should bo done and done well;. Everyone who has,a,hobby of his'otfn is -tho'happier, for its,possession,'and there is no. reason_ why servants should not have the joy o; bavin"; hobbies-of their own." ■ • Work well done, in -fact, followed by lei-sure-well used; .Those acquainted with colonial servants might not be so sure as Mrs. Creighton ;is that' .'"it is tho selfish', etfadting mistress who,makes bad servants." y A'profession .presupposes training, and tho Domestic J'.conoiily Schools aro doing much to prodnco a tnier view of -the "domestic ...

I'oi* small households of one or two serrani'S the training in tlio Domestic Economy Schoolswill bo invaluable, ( 'and wo trust that thelcieal. education authorities will not'bo so short-sighted as to' griidgty monev for tho siipport of such . schools; seeing how much they will '. do'"Mr-the'comfort and' well-being "f 'tho oommnnity.""' •