The Complete Home eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 223 pages of information about The Complete Home.

The Complete Home eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 223 pages of information about The Complete Home.
would be a welcome addition.  Walls and floor should be painted, and a colonial rug placed before the bed.  Don’t give the servant’s room the look of a perpetual rummage sale by making it a dumping ground for old defaced pictures, furniture, and bric-a-brac.  Remember that it is her only haven of rest, and have it restful, if only for selfish reasons, for renewed bodily vigor means well-done work and a made-over disposition.  When we think of the average servant’s room, small, stuffy, poorly ventilated, hot in summer, cold in winter, and unattractive to a degree, it ought to bring a blush of shame.  Above all, see that the bed is comfortable; for who can blame a tired girl for getting out on the “wrong side” of a bed so hard and lumpy that it surely must rise and smite her!  Place on the woven wire spring a good mattress either all cotton, or of straw with cotton top and bottom.  Over this spread one of the washable pads which come for the purpose, then the sheets—­unbleached if one prefers—­the inexpensive colored blankets, and a honeycomb spread.  One feather pillow of average size will be sufficient.  When two servants occupy a room two single beds should be provided.  If there is no closet, make a temporary one by means of a shelf and curtain.  An attractive room carries with it a subtle and refining influence.

HOW TO TRAIN A MAID

“Set thine house in order,” and have everything—­pantry and kitchen in particular—­as you expect your maid to keep it.  First impressions are truly the most lasting, and if she comes into a littered, soiled, untidy kingdom, you may expect her reign to be proportionally lax and her respect for your housekeeping abilities conspicuously absent.  This is a bad beginning, and then it is not exactly fair to set her to work the very first thing to bring order from chaos.  See that she has all the tools necessary to her work, replacing broken or useless utensils and assuring yourself that the cutlery and crockery for her individual table use are whole and inviting.  Show the maid to her room as soon as she arrives, with instructions to don her working garb; and then begins the induction into office, a trying experience to you both, and one which should be sufficiently prolonged to enable her to get a good grip of each new duty as it presents itself.  Avoid confusing her at the start with a jumble of instructions, but make haste slowly, giving directions in a way which she can understand.  Introduce her into her workroom, explain the range and show her how to operate it, point out the different utensils and their uses and where foods are kept.  If she comes in the morning, her first duty will be the preparation of luncheon; give her instructions for that meal, what to have, and how to set the table, this being the proper time to go over the list of table furnishings with her.  Don’t embarrass her by being continually at her heels, but give what directions

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The Complete Home from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.