REFERENCES. 331 



Another form of recommendation which, at first sight, 

 appears to be the certificate of a saint, reads as follows : 



Newport, R. I., 



* * Villa. 



R * * Harcourt has been in my service for three 

 months as head coachman. He is sober, respectful, an ex- 

 cellent driver, and kind to his horses. He is leaving to 

 return and care for an invalid mother in England. 



MRS. M * * SMITH. 

 30th August, 1.8 * 



These words of undeserved praise were written by a lady, 

 who, shortly after the departure of the worthy R * * Har- 

 court, discovered that the poor invalid mother was likely to 

 acquire some silverware and a few knickknacks belonging to 

 the villa. It will, therefore, be seen that little confidence 

 can be placed in written testimonials unless they are trans- 

 mitted direct from employer to employer. Then, again, much 

 depends upon your and the last employer's standard of ex- 

 cellence. Mr. Brown may be satisfied with very inferior 

 work ; on the other hand he may be over-fastidious, or, as is 

 more likely the case, incapable of passing a fair criticism. 



The usual form of reference for a good servant, if one is 



given in writing, is as follows : 



New York City, 



February 3, 1899. 



John * * * has been in my service for three years. He 

 is a competent groom (or coachman), honest, sober and 

 obliging. He is a careful driver (or understands the duties 

 of a second man on the box and in the stable). 



He leaves for no fault, and I heartily recommend him to 

 any one desiring the services of a well trained servant. 



