Mistress and Maid.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 13, 27 March 1912, Page 62

Mistress and Maid.

HOW TO SOLVE THE DOMESTIC PROBLEM. A PLEA FOR EACH. The servant question has to ail appearatree reached a very serious crisis, even in the United Kingdom, and great difficulty is frequently experienced by mistresses in obtaining suitable maids, A writer in “Chambers’ Journal” puts two sides of the question to the magazine's readers. (1) THE MISTRESS: A PLEA FOR THE MAID. There are times when it will be very necessary to censure and show disapprobation of disagreeable conduct, and to point out faults and failings; but it must be remembered that this should always be done in love. A wise mistress will take into account all the circumstances of the case, and, whilst knowing it to be her duty to administer a reprimand, she will also seize the opportunity to instil the lesson of obedience into the mind of the girl. To make it a habit of casting the eyes around in order to find some little thing out of place, or to be continually seeking grounds for censure on every possible occasion, is not conducive to happiness.

If a servant finds that she is frequently found fault with when striving to do well, she will become soured, her disposition will become hardened, and eventually she will relinquish all efforts to please, and become utterly heedless O 1 reproof, simply because she will anticiplate blame as a matter of course. W bile in all cases real evil must be strongly resisted,' there are doubtless many cases of trifling faults it may be expedient to overlook. Girls will sometimes be thoughtless and inadvertent without any real intention of doing wrong, and wise judgment will be required in deciding what may be overlooked. Sometimes a. maid makes a

most determined effort to please her mistress and merit a smile or kind word, and often the most bitter tears are shed because her feelings and efforts are not sufficiently sympathised with. This lack oj interest and sympathy often leads to careless and disobedience.

(2) THE MAlri. .n PLEA FOR THE MISTRESS.

To the maid we would say: Method and punctuality are indispensable to prosperity. The importance of working on a fixed plan cannot be too strongly enforced.

It is easy to see that work done in a haphazard fashion, without order or method, will only result in worry and discontent. Tasks that appear formidable will begin to disappear when they have been well arranged and systematically attacked.

Always begin by planning work so that time, strength, and labour may be saved. Slovliness of habit in work and person has been the ruin of many a promising girl, and has meant for her a miserable existence instead of a bright, happy life..

If servants started their work with a fixed resolve that whatever was required to be done should be done to the best of their knowledge and power, then their anomalous position as “one of the maids” would be changed, and they would be rated at their true value, and would become trusted helps and friends of the family. When the work is felt to be hard and little progress appears to be made, servants are apt to be discouraged, and, without due consideration, contemplate a speedy change. This is not good. And they should beware of the disastrous habit of wandering from one situation to another in the hope of getting “.x better place and more wages.” "A rolling stone gathers no moss.” When occasion to leave ans go elsewhere does arise, it is wise never to carry away information regarding the master ami mistress. If they cannot be spoken about kindly, then a discreet silence should be observed. Gossip should never be repeated. It is almost impossible to get, or give, a true impression. Exaggeration slips in, and false judgments are formed, and as a result many have been made to suffer needlessly. “Never to be idle” is a good maxim. When hands are not usefully employed, then attention should be given to the cultivation of the mind. The amount of work that can be done in spare moments is surprising; if we could count our wasted moments we should be filled with wonder anfl regret. Then the habit of cheerfulness on the part of the servant will be appreciated in the home.