364 RECOGNITION OF A UTHORITY. 



he speaks, and his orders should receive some forethought 

 and not be given hastilv, without consideration. Otherwise 

 the servant, after slow cogitation, arrives at the conclusion 

 that his master knows neither what he wants nor how the 

 work should be done, and executes the order according to 

 his own interpretation of the requirements. 



" So in any commands we give, or in any reprimands we may use towards 

 any person, justice, good feeling, and, indeed, common sense, demand that 

 we are quite sure the command is proper, and the neglecting or disobeying 

 it does not proceed from its impropriety, or the impossibility of its being 

 carried into effect." — Charles Bri?id/ey, ^' Pocket and the Stud,'' p. 148. 



On the other hand, it is more advisable to have whatever 

 directions are given strictly obeyed than it is for the owner 

 to vacillate between his and the servant's opinion. Coach- 

 men who take their orders sulkily, or shirk them because 

 they are not allowed to have their own way, should not be 

 retained. When a master gives an order, the coachman or 

 groom should touch his cap, reply, " Yes, sir," or, " Very good, 

 sir," and obey without further comment, unless there is some 

 very good reason for him to speak. In conclusion of this 

 subject of obedience to orders allow the writer to say that all 

 orders should be strictly enforced, whether in regard to such 

 a trivial matter as the fastening of a buckle or the more im- 

 portant consideration of the care of a horse. If your loqua- 

 cious servant attempts to argue with you or tell you how he 

 did such and such a thing when living with so and so, hear 

 him out in the first instance and then say, " Now do as I told 

 you, and in the future when I give you an order reply, ' Yes, 

 sir,' and execute it without any comments or hesitancy." It 

 is advisable in trivial matters to insist on your servant do- 

 ing what you may see the mistake of on second thought. 



