Mrs. Seely's Cook Book: A Manual of French and American Cookery : with ..

The housekeeper has charge of the linen closet, and sees that the supply is inereased when necessary. It is she also in many houses who gives out the daily supply of linen, orders the flowers, and sees that they are properly arranged by the butler. In fact, the housekeeper often gives the butler a helping hand with the flowers, especially when no parlor maid is kept and the butler and second man bave charge of the parlors. The housekeeper orders ali coal, wood, etc., and in some houses she has entire charge of the wine closet, giving out daily to the butler the wines he requires, and handing to the mistress a weekly list of the contents of the wine closet. In the evening the housekeeper usually makes up the accounts and goes over the books of the different tradespeople, for she pays ali bills and sees that in items and as a whole they are correct. Duties of Lady's Maid A lady's maid shotdd be a well-mannered, respectable-look- ing young woman. She should be a tolerably good dressmaker and a good hairdresser. Her first moming duty is to dress ber mistress. About this it is impossible to givo directions, smce ladies differ much in their toìlet arrangements. The housemaid generally takes up the hot water for the mistress. Occasionally the mistress pre- fers to bave her own maid do so. The maid draws her mistress's bath, and after the latter has bathed and is dressed, the maid must examine her wardrobe, put away everything left about the room, and shake or iron out tumbled dresiès. She then sits in the sewing room, but must be in readiness to answer her mistress's beli, and to dress 12 MR8. 8BELT*8 COOK BOOK her f or a walk, drive, or ride, having everything ready and boote, gloves, etc, in perfect order. During the day, when not in actual attendance, she will bave to mend and probably to wash and iron fine lace, band- kercbiefe, etc. Very little instruction can be given on tbis point. Different mistresses bave different needs and make different demands upon maids. Brusbes ebould be wasbed in tepid water to wbicb a little ammonia is added, care being taken not to wet tbe back of tbe brusb. Tbe brìstles sbould be rinsed tborougbly and drìed, if possible, in tbe open air. Once a week tbe lady's maid will baye to send ber mistress's linen to tbe wasb. She sbould look over the clothes and mend everjrtbing that requires a stitch before sending it, making also two liste, one in a hook for the laundress and one in a hook to be kept at home. When the clothes return from the wash, tbe maid sbould compare them with the list, examine the marks to see that they bave not been changed, sew on any buttons, and set aside any badly waahed or ironed garments. For the dinner toilet she sbould bave everything prepared and at band. As soon as the toilet is made and her mistress has left the room, she sbould examine the dress just rerooved, brush it if it is a tweed, shake and wipe it if it is a silk or any light material. Silk dresses sbould be wìped with a soft piece of merino or very fine flannel. If anything needs mending, it should be done at once. Everything sbould be aired, cleaned, and put away — either f olded or hung in the wardrobe. The mistress's bedroom must be ready for her at the usuai hour of her retiring for the night. It is the maid's duty to undress her mistress, and remain in attendance until she is dismissed.