HOW ONE MISTRESS MANAGES HER HOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 37

HOW ONE MISTRESS MANAGES HER HOUSE.

Dear Aliob,— l have read moit of the letters published in your page concerning the troubles of general housework and those that are paid to do it. There are both bad mistresses and servants and good mistresses and servants, but it must be acknowledged that some mistresses leave method out. of their household arrangements altogether. Perhaps were I to explain how my present mistress manages it would help some of the ladles who have to put up with that thoroughly detestable though indispensable kltohen commodity the general servant. It is a simple method, satisfactory alike to mistress and servant, and I can assure you I would not wish for a better mistress than my present one. When she engaged me I was given to understand that I was to wear a cap in the afternoon and, washing day excepted, to be tidied before lunch afc 1 p.m. I get all my orders for the day at 9 o'clock in the morning, and if we are going to have an afternoon tea, ladies' lunch or evening visitors, I am always told a few days beforehand, so that I ran arrange my work accordingly. When receiving my orders In the morning I accompany my mistress to the cupboards and mea^i safe, so that there Is no misunderstanding as to what we are going to have for dinner or lunch. We have no rules fixed up in the kitchen, but I have laxy work arranged for each day in the week. There is never any scrubbing going on at night, for the simple reason that I know It has to' be done before 13 in the morning, and if any mistress requested me to clean a room out after 11 p.m., unless I knew it ought to have been done before and I had neglected doing it, well, I should give her to underr stand that I did not olean floors at that time of night, neither for her nor anyone else. I have served In England as well as in New Zealand, and I say from experience that if a servant will only do her duty and put up with what cannot be avoided (for in every household a «Irt is sure to find something that is not exaotly to her taste), and the mistreEies would combine more method, along with their management fchlngo would work more smoothly, there would be fewer changes, and not so much talk of a servant girls' union. What we want is more unionism between mistress and servant, and when we get that we can dispense with all thoughts of a servant girls' union.— Tours, &c, • 0. E. B. InvercargiH. ANOTHER SERVANT HAB A WORD TO SAY. Dbab Amos,—" Materfamilias " tells us how well she managed at Home, and then later tells us that her Home style has been quite successful in the colony, and that she has had servants very much attached to her. I must say if they were, the affection has not been very lasting. Then Bhe denies that domastio service Is despised, for at Hbmeabigh-olass upper servant is far above a barmaid or shop girl. Now, what are we to make out of that? Who was writing anything about Home servants, high or low ? and where in this statement does she prove what she says ? We will leave it as it Is for her to answer, Colonial ladfes, she is sorry to say, are not able to teaoh their aervaptp bepausp they have not been at Home to see bow It Is done. She dops not give them credit for having any natural intelligence, but seems to imagine that Home experience is necessary to qualify a lady to successfully guide a household. The absurdity of this view bears its refutation on' its face, and need? no pointing out.— Yours, &c,

[I have been compelled to hold qver one or two letters till next issue, and must again request that all personal allusions be sfcriotly omitted. The publication of these letters is for the purpose of enabling the dlsoussiQn of a system— not theaotiODa of jiertons. —Aliob.