The new home cook book

The best way to select, and the surest way to secure, honest and faithful servants, is a matter which has always perplexed housekeepers, and seems to be a growing trouble. It must be remembered, however, that poor work is as often the fault of the mistress as of the maid. It is more common, of late years, than formerly, for young people to assume the cares and responsibilities of a home, when totally incompetent to superintend and secure the correct performance of domestic duties, and still less prepared to perform these duties themselves. To increase the perplexities of this class, they are met by like inefficiency on the part of many of those whom they employ. To mothers, chiefly, we must look for a more perfect system by which to secure more efficient service. If mothers could be made to see the importance of training their daughters to be conscientious, systematic housekeepers, as well as to excel in the less practical parts of an education, full one-half of our troubles would be mastered. This would be more effective in training good servants than anything which could be devised. Let our daughters be taught that, as none are " fit to command until they have learned how to obey," so none are prepared to assume the care of a household or charge of servants until they are able, not only to arrange the work, and superintend its performance, but also able themselves to do all they would delegate to others. In cases where several servants are employed, each one should have her appropriate work assigned, but with the full understanding that, if needed, she is to be called upon for work outside that which she considers her own. For this reason it is desirable that each one should have been early taught to be at home in all parts of household labor. No judicious housekeeper will be inclined to call a girl from her own regular work, unless there be real necessity for so doing. She will or should study the comfort of her servants, and exact from them no extra labor but such as under pressing circumstances they will see she is herself willing and capable of doing. If the mistress of the house shows herself ignorant of any of the duties belonging thereto, she has no reason to look for or expect satisfactory service from those in her employ. A firm, but kind, government, judicious rules, requiring implicit obedience, give larger promise of faithful and prompt work, and far more respectful service than an ignorant but exacting housekeeper can ever expect to find. While demanding prompt attention to the work to be done, those employed should receive such kindness and watchful care for their interest and comfort as employers would wish their children to have if similarly situated. Make their rooms as pleasant and comfortable as is possible. If the arrangements of the house will permit, see that those who have the hot and dirty work to do have the means for daily or frequent baths, which is as much for the employer's comfort as for theirs. Ample time should be allowed them for keeping their clothes in order. These things should be urged upon them for their own sakes ; but if not attended to, should be required for the sake of their employers, and to secure the comfort of the family.