Letters to Persons Who Are Engaged in Domestic Service

by Catharine Esther Beecher

Now this can be accomplished only by

having both sides try to bring it about. On the side of employers, pains must be taken to render the situation of domestics agreeable and comfortable, and to secure for them time and means to gain a good education and a comfortable support. And many intelligent persons are now feeling the importance of this. I have heard many gentlemen say, “When we get good domestics, we must pay them so well, and treat them so well, that they will feel that they cannot improve their condition by any change.” And I have seen many sensible women acting according to this advice.

But as this book is not designed for employers, but for domestics, I will confine myself to pointing out the modes by which you can contribute to raise the respectability of your situation.

To give you my views more clearly, I will describe a domestic who does the work in a family where I have resided.

In the first place, she always dresses herself neatly, and yet in a style fitting the work she has to do, while she keeps her chamber and kitchen in such neat order, and there is

such a look of comfort and respectability about her and all her concerns, that every one likes to see her in her kitchen. Then she is intelligent and well educated, at least enough so to know that it is lady-like to be respectful and polite to every body. If any person comes into her kitchen, she offers a chair, and treats them with the same politeness that is shown by the lady of the house to her visitors.

Then she always does all her work well. Her bread is always the best, her meats are well cooked, her vegetables served hot and in the neatest order. She is economical and careful, too, so that nothing is wasted by neglect. She is not set in her own ways, but is always ready to do any kind of work that her employer wishes done, and to do it in the manner requested.

When the children come into the kitchen, if she has time and it is convenient, she makes it pleasant to them, but if they give her trouble, as she has authority given her to do this, she decidedly, but kindly, requires their instant departure.

She is so prudent, kind, and discreet, that

the lady who employs her can, at any time, leave the care of her family and her children with her, and feel entirely at ease, knowing that every thing will be done in the best manner during her absence. And in times of sickness, she always looks to her kitchen for the tender sympathy and watchful care, which she never fails to find.