DOTTINGS OF A DEMOISELLE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 15, 17 June 1874, Page 3

DOTTINGS OF A DEMOISELLE.

To the Editor of the Globe. Dear Sib, —In my last I think I pledged myself to be serious. Ah ! you don’t know what that is to me, but I’ll try and keep ray promise. My sister (by the hye whatever made your compositors call her Betty, its Kitty, Sir. I hope that’s large enough) has just been in ray room to tell me in great grief that our cook has just given warning. Won’t papa be cross, that’s all. He was only saying at dinner last night how well she suited his taste. I’ve a good mind to go and attempt to propitiate her by giving her one of my bonnets. I think I could manage to stick a different flower in, so that mama wouldn’t know. Don’t you see it’s all mama’s fault the cook is going. She went out last Sunday in a dress just like Kitty’s, and mama told her about it, and Mrs Cook just turned round and ordered her out of the kitchen. Now, of course, I don’t say cook had any right to order my respected maternal out, but I do think people make themselves very ridioulous by attempting to control servants’ dress. Why, every one is supposed to come to these colonies to better themselves, at least servants and tradespeople are supposed to do so, and I think most other people. Well, then, why should we interfere with a matter that really does no harm, and is getting even beyond control in England. Why need you care, my dear lady, if your housemaid makes your bed and opens the door in gold earings or not 7 Surely, you of aristocratic Canterbury, perchance off springs of pilgrims too, need not fear comparison with her, and that is what I am afraid the question verges into. I don’t really think you’d make so much fuss about Mary Anne cutting her hair in front, or wearing this, that, or t’other, if she did’nt look nice. You ladies are all very much alike in this. If any of your sex is pretty or attractive in any way, down you swoop ; but if she is ugly or mediocre or—well anything that does not challenge competition with your fair self—then be she a lady or a menial she is by you termed—indeed a nice creature. But it wont do. “ Let servants alone so long as they do their work,” is my maxim ; and when I’m married (an event which I’m afraid is far off) it shall still be so. And another thing ; although I’m plain myself, I shall always secure if I can pretty servants jabout me. I love pretty faces (don’t you Mr Editor 7) and if a woman is not goodlooking it doesn’t make her a bit better to run down all those unfortunates who happen to be so. Lots of women are afraid, if they have a young and pretty domestic, that their husbands may fall in love with her. What nonsense that is? You can’t box pretty women up, and if they—the husbands — dont meet them at home they may elsewhere. Besides if ladies would would only think for a moment what a poor compliment they pay themselves, and that other charms than beauty often rule the longest. As far as I’m concerned, if any man ever cares for me, it will not indeed be for my face. I used to think I could sing, but our housemaid quickly dispelled that illusion by coming into the drawing-room one morning when Kitty and I were practising and telling me in areally civil manner that I had not dwelt Jong enough on G, and had in fact slurred the whole concern. She then gave usher idea of the song while Kitty sat down trying in vain to curb her indignation, and I, well, I think T profited by the lesson, for Jemima informed us before she left the tbe room that she’d been drilled at home in a! Tonic Sol Fa Establishment, and I felt at once that I’d better, as my brother Tom says, “ Shut up.” Now really, I don’t see that any thing like this need make women so miserable as it does. What can it matter 7 I’m sure mama fumes over this sort of thing : until she looks old enough to be my grandmama ; and Kitty—— Ah 1 well, I pity her , servants, or rather I pity her when she gets married. What a diciplinarian she’ll be—if she can.. Now, this is private. She told me the other day that if I ever kept a house I should only be in name its mistress, because I should make myself too easy with servants, and allow them to take such liberties ; such liberties being that Jemima asked me who made my last new dress (which fits me to perfection), and I told her Mra Butler, and she said, “ When I get my next month’s wage’s I’ll get one like it, miss.” Now a word on the other side of this momentous question. I think that if girls would only try to please, and settle down with that idea, they would then really fulfil their original intention of bettering themselves. Most of tbe girls who come out here and engage as servants have to be really taught everything. Some have been in factories, some in workshops, very few knowing the duties of a general servant; and, tempted by the wages, they take 'places, and as a rule give very little satisfaction. Of course there are exceptions, and you may secure professed servants, but these nearly all get married very soon. It is the principal of the “ dear Gazelle who always marries the market gardener.” These that I wish to speak of are the first-mentioned. Some will not even be taught, but tell you they did not come out to work hard. What do they mean 7 I know lots of ladies who ask this question daily. Of course, in the question of minor comforts places are not so good as at home; such as the rooms girls are given, or the kitchens, often very badly fitted up even in rich houses; but then look at the other side, The wages are so very different, which fact stands first. And then the food. Why I was told by a friend lately from home that girls there had six and seven shillings a week, board wages Well, considering meat is from lOd to Is 4d per lb there, I don’t think a girl could live as she would live in the colonies. When this same lady told her friends tnat we gave our servants meat every meal they scarcely would credit it, and yet I have seen girls get as dainty about their food who no doubt had never seen such profusion in any house at home. There are many other faults that spoil and really ruin a good servant. Why will they sometimes leave a good home, because perhaps they cannot get out to go to the theatre or a concert? Fancy the feelings of a mistress at home if a

servant came and asked to go to a theatre. In England girls are engaged by the year or quarter, and have stated times to go out, but on no other occasion, nor do they expect it. The arrangement seems fully understood. But here, although you may make any arrangement on engaging a girl, to the effect that she may go out certain times, yet she’ll think nothing of asking to go at any other time she feels inclined, and, indeed, she will give you notice to leave ever such a good home fur even this one reason. Some don’t like the place because you dine late, others because you want breakfast too early. In fact, if I gave you half the reasons I have heard for servants leaving, you would scarcely believe me, and lots of these same are nice steady girls, and would make good servants, but they get spoilt here by the difference in wages, Sac. Nine-tenths of these new-comers know nothing, and commence work for £25 and £3O yearly, and most mistresses would only be too glad to teach the r e girls anything if they, on their part, would be taught. But here, no matter how kind you may be to a girl, it is no good. For a small thing she will leave you, and throw herself out of place. lam taking each side according to ray own observation, and I think in most cases if mistress and servant would only give and take more easily, that lots of these troubles could be soon obviated. But I will again say this, that girls are too fond in the colonies of throwing up a comfortable home for a very simple grievance. I believe they would never think of doing such a thing in England. We out here are nearer our servants than they are at home. There, lam positive, they are regarded in many cases as mere machines more than anything else. At least I mean they are paid to do work, and they have to do it or go. Here things are reversed. A girl can be taught the work she engages herself as competent to do, if she likes, and the mistress is only too glad to hare a respectable, quiet girl : thinking very little of her incompetency if she is willing to learn. Well, Mr Editor, I fancy I’ve been matter of fact enough in this to suit any one, but its been a dreadful trial to yours sincerely, Dolly Yaedbn.