319 the cosy effect of the room. I.inen, moreover, keeps clean longer than does light cretonne. Early-morning tea is greatly appreciated, and gives scope for a very dainty outfit. The china should repeat the prevailing tone of the room, and the linen or muslin tea- cosy cover can be embroidered with a A tea'tray for early morning " Good-morning " in the same shade. Tea- cups and saucers are made for this occasion with a place sunk in the saucer, so that the cup cannot upset. Most people prefer bread- and-butter with their tea, but for those who do not a box of biscuits should be placed by the bedside. Motoring visitors often come with very little luggage, and a spare room dressing-gown, therefore, is a capital idea. A most pictur- esque and inexpensive garment can be made of house flannel in a kimono shape, edged with narrow bands of the material and embroidered with coloured washing silk. Here, again, the prevalent shade of the room may be repeated, and in a flower-room the actual blossom may be used if a small one, like a daisy or pansy, has been chosen. Bath slippers in the same style, bound with WOMAN'S HOM0 ribbon and mounted on soft woolly soles, may also be made. House flannel likewise is an excellent fabric to employ for the hot-water can cosy. This may have a design on it in an applique of linen done in an appropriate shade for the room. It is a mistake to spoil a room, otherwise pretty, by using it as a dumping-ground for all the china atrocities in the house. This also applies to pic- tures. Unless these th ings beautify a room, it is far better to leave the mantelshelf and walls bare. However, some pretty o r n a - ments cost only Cosy for the hot'Water can a few shillings, and add greatly to the general effect. Quaint green pots that will, if necessary, hold flowers, or a little blue and white Oriental china, according to the colour scheme of the room, will always look pretty on the mantelshelf. On the walls may be hung a few good photogravures or prints of land- scape paintings by well-known artists. These are more suitable than subject pictures for a bedroom, and give an air of cheerfulness. The last finishing touch, which proclaims the hostess's individual thought for the particular guest, is the little vase of flowers on the dressing-table. THE SERVAMT QUESTIOM ffVi**» THE WORH AMD DUTIES OF A HOUSEMAID The Work and Duties of a Housemaid — Wages — Dress — Daily Time-table — Special Work — Mending, Renovating, etc. "The work of the housemaid seems to be popular in spite of the wages being lower than those of a cook or parlourmaid. Usually a head housemaid receives about ;^23 to £io ; under-housemaid, ^i6 to ;^20 ; single housemaid, ^i8 to ;^22 per annum. The correct dress for housemaids is, in the morning, a neat, light-coloured print dress, simple cap, and large white apron, with a coarser one to tie over the latter while grates, etc., are being cleaned. In the afternoon she should change into a black dress, turned-down collar and cuffs of irreproachable whiteness, and muslin cap and apron of rather more elaborate pattern. In some cases the maids wear a uniform, the mcrning dresses being all of one colour ; also the afternoon ones and the caps and aprons all of one pattern. These would be provided by the mistress, but the usual print and black dresses, etc., the maid herself provides. The duties of a house-parlourmaid have already been discussed, but in small esta- blishments, where no boy is kept and there are young children, the housemaid cleans the children's boots and carries coal to the nursery. If there is a schoolroom and no special schoolroom-maid kept, the housemaid takes the entire charge of the department, cleaning the room, laying any meal served upstairs, waiting on the schoolroom party, etc. ; and frequently the housemaid is engaged to take and fetch any of the children attending school or special classes. It is most important that a housemaid should be methodical and punctual, be an
