THE ENTICINC MISTRESS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 161, 1 April 1908, Page 3

THE ENTICINC MISTRESS

. One of -the minor?'but by no means insignificant tragedies of domestic life for a householder is to have a satisfactory cook or :a deft parlourmaid coaxed away'by a friend who has taken a treacherous advantage, of. a visiting■ frioridsllip to.rob one of. a, ,treasure:lt is an offence which ladies' never forget even if they forgive, and; it certainly requires, something .like Spartan heroism to conceal ,the .wound and smile at tho offender.- r ßut it seems that the. offence .may noli bo ,merely one against conventional etiquette or unwritten laws, but thatiin certain.circumstances the law .can be successfully-, appealed, t0.,. In a case 'heard at Exeter County Court yesterday (says the "Westminster,. Gazette""of recent',,date) one householder ./brought ,an action' against another' for ''"enticing ■ away", a domestic servant.' According to the evidence the enticer induced the. girl to leave her place at once on the promise, to. : mako;gppd..a ..month's wages ;if .sho had to "forfeit, it,for leavirig, without the usual term- of notice.' The judge; held that the servant had broken her contract, and that( the defendant had "harboured" her "during-the .breach," and he gave judgment for .the'plaintiff. Wo do not know, whether this is a precedent- in -domestic servant ; law, but the:'decision- 1 is a ( thoroughly. . equitable onoj and the more widely. it is known the better. -' ' ■. \