CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT OF SERVANTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1628, 13 May 1903, Page 26

CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT OF SERVANTS

When you have secured a, good servant, do not be backward about raising her wages, without being asked to do so. If a girl does her duty and stays with you, she is worth more wages at th© end of 12 or 18 months than she was when she first came, and she ought to hav|e it. A very vexed question between servants and mistresses is that of “followers.” I have heard ladies talk as if the height of moral depravity consisted in a girl having a beau. My good lady ! —happy wife and happy mother—did any one ever venture to make love to you? And did you not find it on the whole rather enjoyable? Think of that time, and do not be too hard upon your servant, .who is only following your own most excellent example. So much for what your servant has a right to expect from you. In return, you have certain work for her to do. Take care that this work is done properly and regularly; and if anything is missed or slipped, no matter how small, speak about it at once. No exeat-

-mistake can be made than to let fault pass and say-nothing about_it, hoping things will be better next time. A right-minded girl likes to feel that a firm hand guides the domestic reins, blamed, good work will as surely be appre-qsated and commended. And, again, never allow yourself tot argue with a servant. A -lady who does that loses her standing at once. Let yonr wishes he reasonable, speak to her quietly and firmly, and there let the matter end.