ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 37

ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

There bids fair to be a wordy war over "The Toilers of the Household," another letter being received this week from another mistress, who takes objection to "Materfamilias," and argues that her system could not work very well, seeing that she had had 10 general servants in five years, while " Jeannie " has also something to say on the question. As I said last week, now that the topic has been started, it is better to hear all round the subject than to take a onesided view of the matter. I was very much amused an evening or two ago, returning from town in a tram. A gentleman sat opposite reading a Witness. Presently he began to chuckle, and said, "Go it ; I'll back the winner I " and handing the paper to another gentleman he continued, "Read those letters on the servant girl question. It is not often that ladies argue their point in a newspaper, but when they do they do it well." After a few moments' conversation I again caught his remarks. " I should like to be satisfied in my own mind who is to blame — servants or mistresses, — but I know that the everlasting nuisance of them is the bane of one's existence. Like Micawber, I live in hopes of "something turning up" that will do away with the necessary evil;" and the reply came slowly and distinctly : "In short, the ladies' slcevfS." I joined in the laugh that this smart rejoinder elicited from several, but still could not see that the ( ladies of the household must of a necessity perform all the menial offices of a household, as the only means of ensuring the comfort of its inmates. There must be some secret — some oil to apply to the machinery to make it run smoothly. It seems to mo that intelligence and temperament have a great deal to do with it, for one method applied to one , girl will bring forth good results, while exactly the same method adopted in another case will fail. Let me give you a little instance, not a superstitious case, but a fact. A lady whom I know became some years ago greatly interested in a nice looking girl, about 13, who had been unable to attend school, for the reason that she was fatherless, and her mother was compelled to work, leaving young children in this girl's charge. The lady to whom I refer offered to give Maggie two hours' tuition every afternoon, and bought her books and a slate, and all she required. The lessons started forthwith, much to the delight of Maggie, who proved an apt scholar. One day some few weeks later on the lady was strolling in her garden, and seeing a girl with a very dirty face leaning over the gate said, " Eun away ; you must not stop there " ; but the girl looked wistful, and said, " You are learniny Maggie ; 1 wish you would learn me." After some conversation it was decided that Lucy was to join Maggie, which she did the next afternoon, her face clean for the occasion, and her hair plastered with a very strong-smelling hair grease. Side by side these two girls were taught. The same lessons of honour and rectitude were held forth to both. They were both instructed to cook, and many other little bits of knowledge were imparted to them that their poorer homes made it impossible to learn there. In the course of time Lucy was taken into her instructress' home from 9 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening to assist in the housework. Her duties were very light, always allowing her to pursue her little studies in the afternoon. Forjthis shejreceived 5s a week, besides three good hot meals and many little presents and indulgences. She was tidy and clever, and all seemed right until her mistress began to lose things— little trinkets and odd coins, and other little valuables. The girl would help to look for these things, and shed tears when they could not be found. One day, very reluctantly, the mistress 1 suspicion was aroused, and she watched Maggie. Three times during the day she went outside and put something under the back door step. The third time she was followed, aud the lady who had befriended her diew forth a shilling, three coppers, and a small gold cross. This was disheartening, but anxious to believe that her course of action had not been a mistaken one, and that human nature is very like an unwilling pamp, yielding more readily its waters when a little water is poured in, she sent Maggie away, and took Lucy in her place, and followed exactly the same course of treatment — neitherlocking drawers norcupboards. The resulu in this case was entirely different. The girl was all that a mistress could expect from one ordinary mortal, and continued to be a good, industrious girl. For a thorough test there is nothing like a little freedom, which can be used well, or abused, according to the disposition of that one to whom ifc is accorded, if fathers want to see what their growing sons arc made of, nothing will decide it sooner than giving them a latch key. A clever governess, one who understands human nature, one morning detecting a spirit of rebellion among her pupils, rang the bell and said, "Young ladies, I perceive you are reluctant to do my will to'-flay. I never command, I only desire. As my wishes to-rlay, I am sorry to see, are irksome to you, you have the whole day to please yourselves in." Astonishment was the first sensation, and then the school grow uproarious with delight; but the effect of. the

punishment (as it was) was curious to watch. Some of the girls made off to the grounds and stayed there all day, while otheis, selfreproachful and ashamed, quietly sat down , and worked harder than they had ever done before, and when the unheard self-imposed tasks were over gathered a lovely bouquet of flowers and sent it, studded with tiny threecornered notes of contrition, to their wise friend. It would be easy afterwards for her to see to whom to grant a little liberty. And servant girls are just the same flesh and blood as any other human creatures, neither better nor worse. But if there is to be a rule, I quite agree with a writer in a contemporary, who the other day satd, referring to the tyranny of some unionists, " Let it rather be the tyranny of intelligence than of ignorance." But it does not follow that all the intelligence is on the mistresses side, for judging from several of the letters received it is very evident we have some well educated servant girls in our midst. A just master, who honourably pays a man a good wage, has a perfect right to make a just demand, and, while " Britons never, never shall be slaves," "England expects every man to do his duty." I will here insert a letter which I have received on another subject : — Dkab Alice,— A letter just received from the good Doctor Barnardo has suggested the happy thought of writing to you, I believe in your warm sympathy with all Buffering, and feel oure that Doctor Barnardo's dosporate struggle to relieve tho misery of the homeless poor children of London is certain to enlist it. It may be urged that "we have poverty in our midst." Yes, but what a difference there is between ours and that pictured in the Stepney Home pamphlets 1 lam sure it is the earnest wish of all that our beautiful, favoured land may never know tha d9pth of the widespread crime creating poverty of London, Your young lady readers whose kind hearts are ready to help in a good cause will, I trust, recognise this truly needful one ; and get up concerts and other means of raising funds to assist it, But I ana trespassing on your valuable space, and your able pen can do what I could never hope to accomplish.— Yours, &0,, A Welxwisher. This letter pleads, I think, for itself. Yet many find it easier to weep over " Jo," in the theatre, than to send the cost of a dress circle ticket to the living waif. " Mary " inquires if the wearing of corsets does harm. So much has been written upon the subject that ib is worn threadbare. A question generally implies a doubt, and although many girls and women disfigure themselves with tight lacing, still in their own minds they must be assured that it is both a disfigurement and injurious to the health. Not many go the length of the lady whose dress •was such a tight fit that her dressmaker would not allow her to dine before going to the ball, and when fche wearer remonstrated that she was starving, allowed five oysters, but on no account the sixth ; but judging from some .of the "dainty, dainty waists," a good, honest meal would mean agony, for, as the vulgar but sensible old lady asked her granddaughter who was too tightly laced, " Where do your ♦ internals ' go when you aresqueezed in like that?" But health being only a matter of the most trifling importance to young ladie? compared with looks, the point to dwell upon is the deformity. A perfect figure has not a small waist ; and to admit that a small waist is an " improvement " is to admit that the Great Artist blundered in His masterpiece— a perfect female form. It stands to reason then, unless Nature is left to model, unassisted by aids to modern fashion, a woman's form is more or less marred. It is a cruelty and a shame to put growing girls into cases of whalebone. If the back is taught to lean for support upon any such superfluities the muscles grow weak through disnse ; but if a girl is allowed to grow, assisted with plenty of good food and exercise, she will become stronger and stronger without corsets. On Thursday night the musical soiree given by Signor Squarise and Herr A. Barmeyer was attended by a large and fashionable audience. Signor Squarise is of course no stranger to us, and we expected a repetition I of the musical feast he has before treated us to, but Herr Barmeyer was a revelation on the pianoforte. His playing was simply wonderful, and coupled with a very pleasant manner he won upon the critical audience immediately. If I were to write for an hour I could not do justice to these high class musicians, and everyone believer they will obtain more than a fair share of patronage from the musical public. Mrs Williams' song, " Fru'hlingsnacht " did not suit her so well as others I have heard her sing, but Mr Smith seemed inspired in his song " Maid of Athens." 2 have often heard him sing well, bub on this occasion he surpassed himself, and the audience recalled him. Among those present I noticed Mrs W. Towsey in black silk and claret plush opera cloak ; Miss Towsey, white opera cloak ; Madame Joubert, black and gold Indian opera cloak; Miss Joubert, pretty opera cloak of blue ; Mrs Muir, cardinal opera cloak trimmed with ermine ; Mrs Theomin, brown plush opera cloak; Mrs Hart, brown plush opera cloak; Mrs Israel, black dress and pretty cardinal plush opera cloak; Miss Williams, Miss Mary Williams, Miss Gibson, Miss Sievwright, Miss Eeynolds, Miss Fraser, Mrs Henry Mackenzie, Mrs Pullan, Mrs Dymock, Mrs and Miss Sise, Mrs Maunsell, Mips Maunsell (wearing a pretty red frock), Miss Alexander, Mrs and Miss A. Mackerras, Miss Larnach,' Mrs Holmes, Mrs Robert Turnbull, Misses Oargill, Mrs John Roberts and Miss Roberts, Miss Macassey, Lady Stout, (in a bine silk opera cloak trimmed with swansdown), Mrs GeorgeM'Lean, Miss Daisy Ross, and Miss Marshall. The following night the concert in aid of the Balaclava heroes was held, bufc as there are so many letters this week I have not space to enter into details of it; suffice ib to say that it was in every way a success.