And Despairing Housewives The war has affected the servant question even more in France than in England. The class that previously went into service as a matter of course is now seeking any other work where there is more freedom and position, preferably a bank or office. For in France an afternoon's outing once a fortnight is considered enough for her servants by nearly every French housewife.' With this lack of liberty the high wages do not entice many into domestic service. It is incredible to hear of the numbers of families of the upper classes who are absolutely without servant. In the provinces it is possible 10 find a femme de chambre who will accept 80 francs a month, but in the larger towns and country houses, if such a rarity as a maid can be found, she will demand 120 to 150 francs or more. And she must be humoured, while knowing how great the demand is, for almost nothing she will pack up her box and leave, to be snapped up instantly by one of a multitude of waiting, despairing mistresses. Many servants of both sexes are now receiving 400 francs a month, which is equal to £192 per annum at_the pre-war rate of exchange.
T stayed lately at a neighbouring chateau, says a winter in a Home paper. There were no servants there at all. Poor old toothless Therese, of the bassecour, who did all the dairy and farm work, cooked for us and carried the soup and vegetables over to the house. Monsieur had vainly scoured the country in search of a cook. He and Madame worked all day in the house and garden, the children swept the stairs and turned out the rooms, and we did the washing, ironing, boots, knives, setting and clearing away meals in an endless round. Life was as simple as in the cottage of any peasant, and bread was the staple food. The family rose carly in the morning and went to bed at 8.30 or nine. after the customary—_gabbled prayers.
A few days ago I called on some friends in the town. Suzanne, the eldest daughter, opened the door herself. I had' never seen her untidy before, but sweeping and dusting and cooking accounted now for her dishevelled appearance.
A few days ago when I arrived at the Chateau of R., Madame told me she was so tired of cooking that they all dined twice a day at an estaminet. The newly-acquired femme de chambre managed the petit dejeuner, and the daughters of the house put out the cider and beer and tartines for gouter, but that was all they cared to do after weeks of drudgery in the kitchen.
This evening, on our arrival home from a meal at an_ estaminet, Madame la Comtesse picked up an English newspaper.
"Bah?" she said, after glancing at the advertisements for French servants for England. "The English are valeurs. When I write
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.