Training the Tittle Maid

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 25

Training the Tittle Maid

A well-planned day means a well-ordered household, and from that comes the most important thing of all —domestic peace. It is obvious that breakfast is the main consideration for the maid in tlie early morning. Therefore, let her do the dining-room first and lay the breakfast as soon as she has called those who need it. With regard to laying tlie breakfast in the one-maid household, it does make all the difference if practically everything that is required is put back on a tray after it is washed up. It is then ready ”to carry straight into the dining-room next morning. Admittedly a tray does take up rather a lot of room in,a tiny pantry, but there is often a shelf which can be spared for this very useful time-saver. A methodical worker should find time to sweep and. if possible, whiten the front doorstep, and to go over the hall.-if it is linoleum, with a polishing mop, or if it is carpet, with a carpetsweeper, while the breakfast is cooking. After breakfast has been cleared away and washed up, and the kitchen and scullery done, the next job should be the stairs, for they must be done early in case anyone should call during the morning. Naturally, the mistress of the house will give a helping hand in all but the tiniest of houses or flats. Teach the maid to do the bathroom last of the upstairs work, for one so often wants to wash out a few pairs of stockings or some gloves, and newly-cleaned taps are bound to get splashed if the bathroom has been done first. With one morning a week given up to extra cleaning and turning-out of rooms, and one morning to washing such things as are washed at home, arm still, another to ironing, the house should run on oiled wheels. It is quite easy to arrange a midday meal on such days that will hardly need any cooking. On the other days the housework should be done by

about half-past eleven, leaving plenty of time for cooking and for miscellaneous jubs. A maid expects at least half an hour to dress herself and tidy her room before or after lunch, depending on whether or not she is expected to serve that meal in her afternoon dress. The mistress should see that she has this time, otherwise it is impossible for her to take duejiride in her room and bar appearance. It should also be explained to her that frequent baths are desirable. Young maids are sometimes sent out to service by careless mothers without sufficient charfges of underclothes. It is really a duty, though not a very pleasant one, to Inquire into this matter. There is no doubt that it makes for domestic peace to allow as much outing for exercise as possible. After tea there is probably little to do until it is time to cook the evening meal. It is then that the wise mistress allows her maid to go for a walk or sends her on some little shopping message. It is rather hard to be young and have to stop in a small and probably hot kitchen all day when the weather is lovely outside. After all she is human even If she is a little maid-of-all-work, and if she is allowed a few extra hours to her own devices, other than what is due to her, she will work all the better for it. For if she is satisfied with herself and her lot, she will be all the more anxious to satisfy her mistress bystudying her little pet whims and fancies. So that the sum total of the arrangements of the household is domestic peace. , .