MAIDS AND MISTRESSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1938, Page 4

MAIDS AND MISTRESSES

LIKES AND DISLIKES. A lady representative of a Sydney newspaper below gives her impressions, gained as the result of extensive inquiries in regard to the problem of the likes and dislikes of mistresses and maids as applied to each other. What Mistresses Admire. Mistresses not only love girls who practise some of the following virtues, but take great pride in them. The neat girl, who is scrupulously clean both in her person and her work. When she meets callers at the door, she sets the tone of the household. The sweet-tempered girl who has the sense to pass over the occasional crossness of a mistress. Hei’ cheery “good morning” is like a tonic. The girl who is courteous, decent, and to the point with all callers. The frank girl. The blessing she brings with her are not to be numbered. The efficient girl who can plan her work and save her own energy. It is the inefficient girl who complains of household “slavery.” The intelligent girl. She takes an interest in something more than commonplaces, and a mistress can talk to her without condescension. The calm girl. Nervy mistresses who prepare for parties as if they were school examinations are saved by the calm domestic. The girl who sings at her work. (Surprising but an opinion from several mistresses). The girl with a sense of economy in the use of cooking ingredients. The girl who does not try the powder or dresses of her mistress in her absence. What They Deplore. Housewives say tney tnrow their hands up in despair if they have to work with girls of the following types: The girl who has her uniform grubby within half an hour. The girl who scamps her work, flicks a duster as if it were a handkerchief, and sweeps round obstacles without moving them. Who is not cleanly in her person, has dirty fingernails, straggling hair, and is generally unkempt. The girl who entertains the butcher or the grocer at the back door with loud and long conversations. Who gossips with the washerwoman or the gardener and holds up their work.

The girl who adopts a resentful attitude when occasionally asked to assist in an emergency job that is not usually part of her duties. The pretty girl who wins the admiration of husbands and then becomes brazen to mistresses on the strength of it. The girl who is physically awkward, who blunders or stamps through the house.

The deceitful girl who makes endless excuses for her faults and will not help to correct them.

That awful dnd cunning girl who develops tears, headaches, or a weak heart that threatens to send her to bed whenever she is taken to task.

The fawning girl who is too humble to win respect. They like but have no time to waste on the girl who is willing to tackle everything, but has not wit enough to master thoroughly even the smallest

of jobs. . The humourless girl. ' Those unfortunate girls who have had unhappy love affairs. They are tyrannical, snappish, and never companionable. The too-competent girl, who can do everything so thoroughly that she finally takes command of the house, and mistresses are afraid to cross her will. What the Maids Like. Housemaids say they love these mistresses: The mistress who is thoughtful enough to express appreciation of anything they do particularly well. Who similarly points out'a fault with moderation and encouragement. The mistress who trusts her domestic. She does not continually inspect work. The woman who sets duties at the beginning of the day and then says “no more” is most loved of all. The mistress who respects the “dayoff,” and sees to it that her servant is allowed away as soon as possible. Who is not above allowing an extra night off to go to pictures or a dance. The mistress who, if she wishes a maid to adopt new work or methods, will say, “Would you mind doing this or that?” A bullying tone is always resented. That mistress who makes all duties clear to a new domestic within the first week or two, and does not come out with a "new list a month later. The mistress who takes an accidental breakage or mishap decently.

The mistress who does not mind occasional visits from a domestic’s friends. Who, in particular, does not resent her having a boy friend. The mistress who so thoroughly welcomes a domestic into the family circle that she can share the fire in winter time.

Who provides decent living quarters for the maid, and does not expect hello provide her own soap, shoe polish, towels, etc. Who provides uniforms.

The mistress who remembers that parties are hard work by giving a little extra pay for some of these occasions.

Who secs that guests or family members come punctually to meals. Who is considerate when the maid is ill.