348 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



her salt likes to do a thing and do it badly. If it is badly 

 done, it is a humiliation ; when it is well done, it becomes 

 a pride : and the approval of those we love is always a 

 joy. Men differ, of course, very much in their apprecia- 

 tion of cooking and other housekeeping matters. When 

 the man cares, though he scold, or sigh and look miserable 

 when things go wrong, it is more stimulating to the 

 woman than when he appears indifferent ; but all men 

 and most women appreciate a well-kept house, though I 

 have heard there are some women who make such 

 grievance over their duties that the man almost wishes 

 they were left alone. 



One of the most useful gifts in life is to be able to 

 organise, command, and instruct others ; to use, in fact, 

 the materials under your hand, instead of doing every- 

 thing yourself. Servants certainly do not respect those 

 who do their work for them, and the irresponsibility of 

 the situation only makes them careless and indifferent. 

 On the other hand, it should be thoroughly realised that 

 no one can depute to others the control of their ex- 

 penditure without greatly increasing it. 



In cooking, in dressmaking, in gardening, it is, so to 

 speak, the scientific and aesthetic part which really ought 

 to be done by the mistress of the house. She has time 

 to study the books and newspapers; and if she really 

 knows her work she will find no difficulty in teaching it. 



Every generation is known to complain that servants 

 have become useless and bad. I see no difference during 

 my life-time ; in fact, I should say that the proportion of 

 good servants had increased, rather than the contrary. 

 Of course, their customs and ways have changed with 

 telegrams, posts, and railways, as have the habits of 

 everybody else ; and if any housekeeper has moments of 

 depression, as we all have when things go cross, and 

 thinks the world is going to the dogs, may I recommend 



