ssary to add, with decision and dignity.
The applicant's personal appearance tells something of what she is: if
slovenly, her work would be ditto; if flashy, with cheap finery and
gew-gaws--well, she may be honest and reliable, but she may also make
it difficult for you to be mistress in your own house. Be a little
wary of the middle-aged servant; if she is really desirable, she is not
apt to be casting about for a position, and besides, she is usually
"sot" in her ways. The fact of a girl's looking sullen or morose
should not militate against her--she may be only shy or embarrassed.
If she is impertinent--maybe her former mistress "talked back," or made
too great an equal of her. Anyway, be your own ladylike self and she
will probably fall in line. The quiet, steady-looking girl who evinces
a willingness to learn is apt to be a safe investment.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question her about her housework experience, her ability to do plain
cooking and baking, make beds, serve, wash, and iron. She cannot
possibly be an expert along each of these lines, perhaps not on one
even, but a general working knowledge of all is very desirable. Have a
complete understanding with her at the outset regarding her work,
wages, hours of work and of leisure, and breakages. Don't try to put
the best foot forward, though there is no particular harm in pointing
out the special advantages she would enjoy in your home, but give her a
frank and honest statement of what she may expect. If she asks you, as
she no doubt will, if you have much company, say so, if you have, but
add that you will relieve her as much as you can of the extra work
entailed. And don't resent her asking about the size of your family,
and about her room, for she would naturally be interested in both. A
complete understanding at every point may save considerable future
trouble. The question of a uniform may come up during your talk. Some
girls absolutely refuse to don anything which looks to them like a
badge of servitude; if this happens, let it go, because you know it is
not an absolute essential. At the close of the conference ask for
references. No mistress is obliged to give a reference to her
departing servant, but if she does so it ought, in all conscience, to
be an honest one. It is a deplorable fact that many housekeepers,
either in a desire to be magnanimous, or to avoid a scene or annoyance,
give utterly undeserved recommendations, thus opening