The comment of the reformers on 1 that is on the face of it is reasonable enough: let a certain minimum of amenities be made statutory; let the calling be dignified; replace the neat but unpopular cap and apron by a new, but still neat, uniform; prescribe a certain allowance of free time, and in particular allow for adequate sleep where the maid lives in; but encourage her to liv out, a wage laying a heavier burden on the householder than he bears ioday. There is clearly something to be said for 1f the calling is of the selfish, untidy too henest slatterns Awho lower ranges today may feel themselves impelled to live up to it, As it is they have often the excuse that they are no worse than their mistresses deserve.
But that is by no means all the story. There seems to be fatality as well as cause and effect in domestic rvige, and mistresses kindly, just and generous can be cursed with a succession of servant who make their life a misery But you cannot legislate for the exceptional cases. If there is to be legislation—in the form of a trade union code—it must concern itself with the ordinary decent maid. taking service in- the ordinary decent household. The maid is on the whole in a strong position, for there are usually more mistresses seeking help than maids seeking situations; domestic service has very limited attractions in comparison with other employments which leave the evenings free—no small consideration in the day of the sixpenny cinema, And in the ordinary decent household there ought.to be no need for legislation. It can hardly be equity able at the best, for in the ordinary home, with the movements of its different members affected by such factors as school hours, professional engagements (og, in a doctor's or clergyman's house), the entertainment of guests, there must always be elasticity and adaption. That is reasonable enough if the employer remembers that extra strain should in justice be compensated by extra leisure.
Average Mistress a Little Harsh indolent, So, for risk of foreigners being forced un-
Driving Dangerously:
The Slanting Back Window To the Editor of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.