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Management of Servants (Such diversities of characters)
are such diversities of characters and dispositions to be dealt with; but a few points are of prime importance in engaging a new servant, and their observance will save much after annoyance and vexation. She should be fully informed as to her duties, her wages, how paid, and what her privileges will be. If she agrees to your terms, well; if not, let her go without regret. If you engage her, let her understand from the first that you are the mistress. Firmness here will save much future trouble. She will be able to gauge pretty accurately your powers of administration, however obtuse she may be as to her own duties and her fitness for them. The mistress who can "read" character has made a long step toward successful management. All " girls" can not be treated alike; no two, indeed, in all particulars. While every good mistress will desire to show all possible kindness to her dependents (for the true lady is ever generous to her inferiors in station, however haughty to her equals), she who understands human nature will realize that to some "girls" special favors must be sparingly and wisely granted, as they destroy the usefulness of a few. Praise, when deserved, is a tonic to most; indeed, some seem to require it to keep them up to "concert pitch." Appreciation is but the just due of every faithful and conscientious servant, and will be freely rendered by the wise mistress.
It is difficult to teach domestics to be systematic, yet nothing is more necessary. This is especially true in the South, where one pair of hands must perform often what several pairs once did. The mistress herself must do the "head-work," and arrange the work, unless she has an unusually competent servant.
How to be systematic, yet not "fussy," is a difficult lesson for some housekeepers, as well as "girls," to learn. The immaculate housekeeper's home is not always a happy one; her "fussiness" destroys the comfort of all about her. The most efficient housewives do not make the most talk and parade about their neatness.
It does not at all lubricate the domestic machinery to "scold" any body, however great the provocation may be. (Certainly, if it did the housekeeper's excuse for doing so might be a valid one.) A word of reproof, after the irritation has passed on both sides, will do wonders sometimes, and bear good fruit; but to speak, if the least angered, when the offense is committed, is but adding fuel to the flame already burning too brightly. A very appropriate motto for kitchen and parlor would be, "He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." The mistress who can not rule her own temper can not rule others.
Never permit family matters of private interest to come to the ears of the servant. It will take away half the annoyance of her departure to know that she carries nothing with her. The indiscriminate companionship of children and servants that is often permitted, may be productive of much