ADVICE TO LADIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5248, 18 January 1878, Page 3

ADVICE TO LADIES.

My fair friends, never scold servants. Instruct, reprove, admonish, as much as may be necessary ; give warning, or, if need be, turn the worthies out of the house, but never descend to scolding or to the use of rude or harsh language ; for there is in truth somer.hing very undignified in the practice. There are no doubt plenty of bad servants, hut there are more bad masters and mistresses iu proportion, and for this very evident reason, that it is theobjectandinterest of servants to please their masters ; whereas the latter are independent of tlie former, aud. need take no trouble about the matter ; and as there is effort on one side and none on the other,' the result will naturally he oh the side of those who make at least a fair attempt. Besides, bad masters often make bad servants, when the servants cannot well influence the conduct of the masters. And even the humble individual who writes these lines cani assure the reader that he has known grief, shame, sorrow, and affliction fall l upon- poor servants, particularly female servants, owing t > tlie undeserved harshness. with which they had been treated by ladies, who could be all smiles and blaudne-s tolpersons of high degree. You do n t know, my pretty dears, how much a foolish fit of-passion may ultimately give you to answer for. If people could only see the undignified figure theymake when in a towering rage, the chances are that they would contrive to beep their temper rather more within bounds. We may excuse anger, and even passion perhaps,' where the name, fame, or character of friends or relations are assailed ; but'to fly into a fury about broken plates or overdone mutton, is to show a want of mental composure, that few would like to have described in its proper light and called by its proper name. Recollect that servants are made of the same clay, and may' possess feelings—kind, generous, and just feelings too —-as well as their superiors ; and is it not casting a stain upon ourselves to rail, with ignoble language, at those who are m -de in the same high image of which it is our best boast on earth to bear the faintest impress ? Let us, hear no more of scolding servants, therefore : if you will scold, my dear lady fair, scold your husband ; and, if lie is a sensible man, lie will pat your cheek, give you a kiss, aud laugh at you for your pains.