Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], May 15, 1910, Image 47

About Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
THE TRAINING OF MAID SERVANTS
AN IMPORTANT ITEM
IN THE
FASHIONABLE
EDUCATION
# 'A ' PAGE |
@^>|k for mfy&?
MISS E S '*^jjm^
, , Wtt' ■ .
WITH the young giris of to-day
rests the opportunity of solving
the servant question of the very
near future, and the sooner
the daughter of the household
realizes this responsibility the
better. Unquestionably the great* secret
nt the root of this perplexing prob
lem lies in the attitude of the mistresses
quite as much as with the ignorance of
the servant girls.
Until very recently the women in this
country have been basing their hopes on
trying to found a servant class like that
in England, where the idea of class dis
tinction has for centuries ruled so strong
ly that the relation between mistress and
maid is perfectly understood on both sides.
There birth aud wealth, too, are insur
mountable barriers to the uneducated, and
a certain respect and reverence for the
gentry is literally born in the poorer
classes. Here all is different —the young
Irish or Swedish girl comes to America
with the idea implanted in her soul that
from the day she lands no one is to be
her superior; that she, surely, is on the
same footing with all these Americans
who, so sho understands it, came over
like herself to this new country to make
their fortunes. To those who have suc
ceeded she can aflord no real respect,
for, of course, she too will bo rich and
have her own servants in a few years.
And this is the attitude of the Irish
house servant. There are no titles here,
hence no ladies or mistresses in this coun
try, for, to the uneducated, a title bears
SOCIAL AMENITIES FOR
THE SCHOOL GIRL
SN excellent resolution, and one which
incidentally it would be wise to make
over again every time of failure, would
be to never 1 say about any one anything
ivhich could not be equally well said to that
person's facn. And even then it is well
to be guarded in the remarks that can be
made even to the dearest, most uuder-|
standing friend.
Apart from the unkimlncss in saying
nf another something that would be bound
to hurt should it be said instead about
one's self, there is no trait so bound to
[ret the speaker into trouble as the habit
of making ill-natured or even. thought
less remarks. There are too many care
less talkers In this world, and the chances
me strong that what is said will be re
peated to the person of whom it was told
—nor will it gain anything in tenderness
through the repetition. Should the girl
ivho made the original remark be so for
lunate as to have the person of whom j
the thing was said come to her for an
explanation, even then it will bo hard to]
jive a softer meaning and to heal the I
urcach—and no one in the world can I
ilTord to lose a friend.
Of course, one is bound to dislike si.iuc
natures and to like others, to find certain
traits even iv a dear friend unpleasing,
not to admire the actions and bearing of
ill with whom one comes in contact. A
;irl must naturally have her own opin
ous, but it is neither wise nor charitable
;o share these ideas with the outside
ivorld.
There is a wide difference, however, be
;weeu discussing with an intimate friend
ivfio has already proved herself trust
worthy some mutual acquaintance, and|
Miking of tins same acquaintance to a|
arge gathering, or even to one who is not
i sufficiently Old or intimate friend to be
lonored with such confidence, for the only
sxcuse which makes the disenssiun or
mrsh criticism of another pardonable is
[hat of real intima.. veen the speak
ers, and even then fairness must be keptj
n mind.
But there is another trait to be guarded
igainst and fought against even morel
than that of careless talking and criti-i
-ism, and that is the repeating of cou-j
rersation, remarks or criticisms. The 1,
>riginal remark may have been harmless |
.■noiigh, nnd was in all probability so iu-j
tended; but when repeated with only aj
<light change of emphasis how different,
liow much more crue!, it sounds!
But worst of all, most despicable of all,
is the one who will repeat directly to the;
person of whom it was said a cutting or|
unkind remark. A girl who can do this,
must be strangely lacking in human sym
liatliy, must be totally without the milk
it human kindness, yet it is astonishing!
A PAGE
FOR
MISSES
close relation to royalty and savors at
once of command and reverence. It is
just this attitude which no generation nf
women here hus yet been quite able to
grasp, and it now remains with the young
wives of the next five or ten years to
show bow, with their education and all
their advantages and opportunities, they
can cope with the strange personality and
the perverted viewpoint of the house ser
vnnt.
TO commence with, n girl must realize
that this little maid or waitress or
this cross old cook is but a very nor
mal human being, ever ready to appreci
ate kindness, but quick to resent nn im
position. And then, through perfect poise
and gentleness, a kindly, not ill tempered,
pointing out of errors, an evident desire to
help the girl in her work by showing care
fully just how it shonld best be done, n
lady born aud bred will unconsciously in
spire respect in the heart of the untutored
immigrant and with it a desire to do the
work to (he best of her ability. Never,
never should a girl lose her temper in the
presence of one not her social equal. Not
only does she put.herself on a plane with
the other, but because of her training,
the influences for good with which she has
always been surrounded, and her educa
tion, she immediately sinks far below the
level of one who is quick to anger only
because she has never been shown that
there is any reason for self-control.
To train a servant it is necessary to
know thoroughly each branch of house
work, and to this end there are in many
cities schools where real domestic science
how many, many close friendships have
been broken up by the repetition through
a third person of some careless remark
made half in jest.
There's only one way of overcoming the
habit of either saying the unkind thing
or repeating an uu-Christian criticism of
another! ami that is by stopping always
to think before speaking. "How would I
feel were that said of me? Would it not
hurt to know that any one had thought
that of me?"
Of course the truly Christian character
would neither make an unkind speech nor
repeat one. One means, therefore, of
Climbing a runs higher on the ladder is
by conquering these two tendencies,
which, strange to say, are to be found in
greater or le»i form in every girl in ex
istence. Once mastered, it will be found
astonishing how popularity will increase
and how others will come with confi
dences, for the girl who does not repeat is
naturally going to he trusted with inti
macies and trusts which could not be gen
erally told; nor is there any surer or
happier proof of friendship than to be
confided' in at all times.
THE GLOVE BOX.
TO keep white gloves iv nice order
each pair should have marked in
with indelible ink a definite number.
If each glove is identified iv this way
when bought it will be astonishing how
seldom there will be five right hand glovea
taming up for three left, and so on. Un
questionably white gloves do get lost and
mixed at the cleaner's, and in a large
family the same thing is bound to happen
at home also, but if wheu every pair of
gloves has marked in it corresponding
numbers with the wearer's initials they
can then be straightened out with no
litticulty every time they are returned
from the cleaning establishment.
White gloves must still be worn for all
:lress occasions, and as it is seldom
possible to wear them more than once
without cleaning, it is necessary to be
supplied with numberless pairs. In order
that the soiled gloves shall not accumulate
in overwhelming numbers they should be
collected "on a different day each week
Mid sent to be cleaned, just as other white
garments are laundered regularly. If
this is done fewer gloves can be kept in
use at once and there will never be a
time when at the last moment it will be
discovered that there are no clean gloves
to wear.
It is a good plan, however, to keep al
ways in the house a bottle of uou-tlamuble
(loaning lluid in case a clean pair of
evening gloves is suddenly needed and
all are soiled.
The difference between a naturally neat
girl and one who finds it difficult to keep
her possessions in order is nowhere so
Bvident hh in her glove boj. How at
tractive il looks to see neat piles of long
and short gloves, each pair tied carefully
together with its piece of pretty pink or
blue ribbon. How woefully unattractive,
on the other hand, in a large box or
drawer into which are thrown in hopeless
confusion all the gloves together, to be
scrambled through ruthlessly whenever a
pair is needed.
Los Angeles Sunday Herald
is taught. Surely sucli a con<je is every
bit as important as a knowledge of any
of the ologies or the dead languages.
But apart frnm the science of cooking a
girl of ordinary intelligence should, know
Instinctively all that hns to do with the
running of a Lorne —that is. the detailed
work, such as the setting of a din
ner table, the keeping the place in order,
the correct and incorrect methods of
answering the door, &c. Remember
only. girls, that this servant has known
nothing at home, whereas all your lives
you have taken it as a matter of course
that things wore served to you at your
left at the dinner table; that silver
knives should be used for fish or fruit,
,tc.
MOKK and more are the American
Women finding it a good plan to get
for their maids, waitresses and for
all branches of upstairs work girls who
are but lately landed from abroad and,
■ifter satisfactory references in regard to
their character have been given by rela
tives already established in domestic ser
vice over here, of taking them into their
houses and training them from the very
start. In this way there is nothing to
be untaught, there is nothing to be re
lenrned by the servant, who otherwise
may have gone for her first place to a
large family of small means, where, as
maid of all work, her only requirement
was to get through her multitudinous
tasks as well as possible, with small at
tention given to the niceties of living.
Treat her kindly, then, but teach her
thoroughly. Never let her shirk, but do
not nag. Show her just how each de-
THE GIRL AND HER SPENDING MONEY
NO matter how small hor allowance
may bo. every girl who has her own
■pending money to eke out as best
she may for car fare, little dress aceeso
ries and an occasional box of canily or
soda will be far more content than if
she is forced to ask her parents for every
ten cent piece or quarter that shj may
require in the course of the day.
Many really generous fathers do not
realize the importance of their daughter's
feeling a certain freedom and indepen
dence where their spending money is con
cerned, while many girls do not realize
themselves how infinitely more satisfac
tory it would be to have their own money,
be it only 25 or 50 cents a week, to plan
out themselves and not have to ask for
each separate small desire.
Until a girl has her own little pittance
nhe can never hope to learn either economy
or generosity. When she is given the
money for each pair of gloves or hair rib
bon which she wants there is no opportu
nity of trying just how far n dollar or a
five dollar bill can be made to go.
if the allowance is very small, then
weekly payments are necessary, but as it
becomes larger and more must be bought
from it—hats, perhaps, or even all the
gowns—then a girl will learn more from
less frequent payments. Naturally every
thing must depend upon the income of the
family, but every girl should, when asking
that a regular allowance bu given her,
make it understood that she will spend
no more than is now allotted for her
clothes anfl everyday expenses. With care
a girl can often make the same amount of
money go much further whan she plans
each expenditure and economizes some
what in the trimming of her gown that
a. smart hat may be bought.
Apart from the independence and the
fact that she herself will feel the conse
quences of every extraraganue, it is really
a good thing for a girl to be accustomed
to the use of a check and the handling of
what money ,1s required for her own per
sonal needs. The training will* help her
in after life, whether she. marries a
rich man and has the responsibility
of large means, or becomes the helpmeet
of some man with whom the expenditure
of every dollar must be given thought. |
Even if she is to become a professional
woman or "b*helor girl" Bhe can scarce
ly commence too young in life to under
stand the value of money—how much it
can do for others and how much pleasure
it can bring to the owner if rightly and
carefully spent. The girl who is nat
urally reckless will soon learn economy
if her parents are sufficiently firm and
never make up an allowance, all of which
has been spent in half its appointed time.
What pleasure and what excellent train
ing, on the other baud, will a tixed allow
ance given to the naturally generous girl.
If possible an allowance should be
worked out in various stages. The little
girl receives her penny a week for candy
just as regularly as the grown up sister
finds her monthly or quarterly cheek
from which must come every living ex
pense except her actual bed and board—
her gowns, her theatre tickets, her trav
elling expense*. But in order to have at
tained to this lust stage before she man
ages the bills of the household the girl
has first to spend years on weekly al-
ii ii
nartment of her work should be carried
out. Tell her, in private, when she makes
mistakes and do not reprove her in the
jlowance. from which carfare and church
money must bo paid, then a larger
amount paid each month, from which
must come all the little details of dress
gloves, belts, veils, ribbons, Sec, as well
as what amusements she caves for. and
then during her last year in school the
allowance was largo enough to cover all
dressmaking bills and all the smaller ex
penses of daily living.
There will not be half the danger of ex
travagance and useless spending of money
if a girl knows that it is she alone who
is to bear the consequences and can not
have the very satisfactory feeling that,
"after all. it doesn't matter, father always
pays." And then there are the girls who
often go without some very trivial but in
HOME MADE BAGS OF SOFT LEATHER
CHARMING hand bags are made of
soft leather, with fastenings of cords
held in place by beads. These bass
are quickly anil easily made, and as the
sewing-may be done on the machine there
is now no reason why even the girl who
is mot an expert needlewoman may not
turn out a successful bag. The principal
qualification needed for making the bags
attractive is a good eye for color. The
girl who is able to bring together un
usual shades in subtle and charming coler
harmonies is sure to turn out bags which
all her friends will rejoice to possess.
Soft ooase leather is used for the bags,
which are deeper than they are wide.
Two pieces of leather are cut and the
edges pinked all around. About two
inches from the top the leather is pierced
at regular intervals for a draw cord.
This may be either of the leather, of
silk or gold cord or of beads. Two
holes are made close together and then
there is a larger interval before the next
two holes.
Metal disks, with holes in the centre
are used to hold the draw cord in place.
These are of gold, silver, bronze or cop
per, and are ornamented with colored
stones or merely with designs in the
metal. They are some of them very
charming in color, and it is in the selec
tion of these ornaments, as well as in the
color of the bag itself, that the possi
bilities for turning out remarkably beauti
ful bags lie. The draw cord of leather
holds these ornaments in place.
The two sides of the bag are stitched
together on the machine, the pinked edges
being left on the outside. The edges may
be sewed together by hand if desjred, of
course, but the stitching must be strong
and very even.
Shot Bag for Paper Weight.
rOR a writing table fitted with bro
cade or cretonne articles—paper
holder, blotter, &c—there should be
a paper weight of the same material to
complete the Bet. This paper weight is
nothing more than v tiuy bag trimmed
with a ruching of gold lace, tied with
gold cord, and filled with lead shot. Noth
ing could be simpler, yet this little bag
will be a real ornament to the desk.
If the desk articles are all of silver qr
of bronze or bright French gilt, then this!
paper weight way be made of cloth m
presence of outsiders or other servants.
That only rattles her and does no good
when the mistake has already been made.
their minds wholly desirable thing for
fear that they would be thought foolish in
asking for it. On their own allowance it
would spread out in some way and no one
be the wiser. The giving of a definite
allowance to each child is well worth the
effort it may cause the head of a house
hold striving to manage in the best way
on a small income. In the end no more
will be spent, but it will certainly be
spent to best advantage, for the child will
derive through it not only those things
which she needs and will have to be given
anyway, but, with a good training in the
use nnd abuse of spending money, a
knowledge which is every bit as impor
tant for the laborer's child as for the
daughter of a millionnaire.
gold or silver, or of gold or silver ribbon.'
The best quality of material must be had
for this purpose, for a cheap grade of
gold or silver tissue will tarnish quickly.
Less than a quarter of a yard of three
inch ribbon is necessary, and the
same amount or less of gold metal lace
is required in the making of this little
shot bag. The cost is infinitesimal, but
the result a real adjunct to the writ-
Ing set. I
PHOTOGRAPH FRAMES.
NEWEST in photograph frames ure
those of Marquetrie made of inlaid
woods and having inside rims fin
ished with French green gold. Also of
ornamental wood are frames of lacquered
olive, carved bamboo and green teak,
highly polished red cedar, ebony and ma
hogany. They are of oblong, square,
round, oval and heart shapes and in sizes
suitable for card, cabinet and miniature
photographs.
Metal frames are of plain, chased or
repousse worked plated anil sterling sil
ver; of green gold it, Colonial or Empire
design and of brass and bronze used sep
arately and in combination.
Some of the daintiest porcelain frames
are exquisitely decorated in Dresden ef
fects, others show tip; familiar Delft de
signs and a third class have tops painted
with figures after Watteau and sides en
riched with gold scrolls. Hand painting
also decorates the ivory frames which,
coming from the Far East, show rural
scenes, temples and gods unfamiliar to
the average pair of Occidental eyes.
Red morocco is most of all fashionable
among leather photograph frames, but!
many attractive novelties are developed mi
pig, seal and walrus, as well as in black |
enamel kid. These pelt frames are plain j
save for a gold, silver or black monogram i
at the centre of the upper border unless;
they are of the square book order, holding
from two to eight photographs, in which
event the monogram is on the outer side, of;
the left hand cover.
Brocaded and flowered silks and satins
are still high in favor as coverings for
photograph frames, but in these hair]
padded, cushion effects the latest fancy isj
for an elaborate floral design embroidered j
with silk upon while, taupe or tan linen.
Persian and Florentine enamelled metal
frames have lost none of their prestige,
but they are not effective over any photo
graph which has a dark background. Floral
frames representing mscs. violets or for
get-me-nots in pressed and tinted white
metal are exceptionally attractive, but only
suitable for photographs of children aud
<juite young girls
Teach her how to address you, insist that
she always be neat, but through it all
show her that you are really interested
in her and are trying to help her to pro
ficiency in her line of work. The attitude
of respect for your character aud your
superior knowledge will quickly come,
and this is the ground upon which nil re
spect should be based; this is the only
real mark of equality ■mil Inequality.
In every household there is oue mem-
PRACTICAL TALKS BY
GRANDMOTHER
( tT" REAT your teeth as tenderly as
you would treat an infant, my
dear children, and your reward will
probably be a healthy and happy old age."
The April Grandmother thus addressed
her three granddaughters. "A perfectly
shaped denture is a gift which Na
ture rarely bestows, but as the average
young girl's teeth are sound, by thorough
ly brushing them at night, morning and
after each meal, she may at least keep
them looking white and wholesome. If
she loses many of her teeth before reach
ing middle age it is usually because an
unwillingness to endure a little pain pre
vents her from having them repaired until
only mere shells remaiu to be worked
upon.
"The enamel of the teeth may be seri-
ously injured by extremes of temperature
in beverage and food, as swallowing a
glassful of iced water immediately after
taking soup or following ice cream with
a demi-tasse. And an immense amount
of mischief may come to a naturally sound
denture through the medium of various
fruits whose acid juices not only destroy
the enamel but render the exposed sur-
face exceedingly sensitive. Such teeth
are likely to take on an ugly dark hue,
decay, ulcerate or so rapidly wear off at
the corners that before many years tlicir
roots must be capped, and"—tb>: April ■
grandmother shuddered at the idea—"false j
teeth, ' however, perfectly fitted and
matched, do not masquerade as natural
ones any more successfully than does
, skim milk us cream.
"Of course I do not mean to say that
acid fruits are to be tabooed," slie con
tinued i» response to the alarmed ex
pression on the face of one of the girls
who had been biting into v large red ap
ple at short intervals daring Ihe evening,
! "but only to advise you Unit, always after
!i indulging in uu acid fruit orgy it is the
: I part of wisdom- to thoroughly rinse the
imouth and then to rub a little bicarbonate
| Of soda upon the teeth and gums.
' "Although everybody knows that candy
'fa bad for the teeth," proceeded the April
I Grandmother in resigned tones, "nearly
'all school girls devour just as much eou-
Jfectionery as they can get, so that I can
merely recommend to them the softer
'kinds of sweets as less injurious, because
| they literally melt in the mouth, whcivas
hard confectionery is often the means of
breaking off a perfectly sound tooth, ren
dering it useless as a means of masticat
ing food and very disfiguring to the
mouth.
"The habit of biting off threads or of
loosening knots with tho teeth is a bar-
ber upon whom must rest much of the
responsibility of seeing that all runs
smoothly and that the home is a happy
one. Wherever there is a daughter tbis,
certainly, is her sphere, and through no
channel has a girl the same opportunity
of showing herself capable and making
herself of value to those she loves as iv
trying to deal with the servant question,
which is wrongly conceded to be the most
yexing problem of the age.
barons one," concjuded the April Grand
mother turning directly upon her eldest
granddaughter, who colored guiltily and
began to search for her embroidery scis
sors. "Very young animals gnaw at fab
rics because their incoming teeth pain
them, but that is not a good reason why
a young gentlewoman should wilfully in
jure her incisors by employing them in a
similar manner."
Attractive Yarn Boxes.
""r*O keep a large skein of wool which
I is too clumsy for a wrist ball from
constantly and insistently rolling off
the lap when in use, there are now
fashioned most attractive weighted boxes
to aland close to the arm of the chair or
on a nearby table and hold the ball firm
ly where it should remain. These boxes
are easily fa. nioned of cretonne or silk
made with a small hole at the top for the
yarn to slip through, and given weight
and solidity by a little pillow of shot laid
in the box. A small sachet of heliotrope
and orris powder^or any favorite perfume
placed in this case will render the yam
doubly attractive to work with.
The more attractive of the yarn boxes
have a round top with flat base, but there
are many square designs that are also
excellent. In making such a case care
muse be taken to have the inside as soft
and smooth as the outer covering, that
there shall be nothing to catch and pull
the delicate wool. China silk makes a
goml lining or soft sateen can also be
used.
Twine boxes of all kinds are now being
j pressed into new service as yarn cases
and they serve splendidly in this new
capacity. The perforated silver twine
boxes are especially good for wool hold
ers, and make an attractive addition to
the work table.
Bulgarian Embroidery.
BULGARIAN embroidery on linen
is now very popular for the Email
furnishings of bedrooms of a certain
style. This sort of decoration is not suit
able for an excessively dainty pink and
white or nil white apartment, for the col
ors employed are vivid and the designs
striking. Added to this, the embroidery
is at its best on rather heavy linen, a rich
er or more delicate fabric, not making
nearly so attractive a background. There
are many girls, especially those away at
school, who have their rooms furnished
in a fashion which requires some touches
of bright color, and for these the liiil
garian embroidered fittings or one or
two pieces of it are very satisfactory.
It is particularly good for boys' rooms at
school or college, because it has a much
more sturdy look than most linen articles.
Bed, blue and green on the natural linen
is the usual color harmony. Some of the
pieces, however, are decorated with only
one or two of these colors. _ Hod and blue
or green and red on the linen color are
perhaps' more attractive combinations
than that of the three colors. I'illows,
table and bureau scarfs and bags are •
made of the linen decorated in this
fashion.