"Does your family have any trouble with servants?"
"No," replied Mr. Crosslots; "I don't believe any of them stay around the place long enough to become really troublesome."
Two nurse-maids were wheeling their infant charges in the park when one asked the other:
"Are you going to the dance tomorrow afternoon?"
"I am afraid not."
"What!" exclaimed the other. "And you so fond of dancing!"
"I'd love to go," explained the conscientious maid, "but to tell you the truth, I am afraid to leave the baby with its mother."
"A flirt, am I!" exclaimed Mary Ann, under notice to go. "Well, I know them as flirts more than I do, and with less hexcuse." She shot a spiteful look at her mistress and added: "I'm better looking than you.
More 'andsome. 'Ow do I know? Your husband told me so."
"That will do," said her mistress, frigidly.
"But I ain't finished yet!" retorted Mary Ann. "I can give a better kiss than you! You want to know 'oo told me that, mum?"
"If you mean to suggest that my husband--"
"No, it wasn't your 'usband this time," said Mary Ann. "It was your chauffeur."
Mrs. Bliffkins met Mary Smith, whom she had recommended to a neighbor for a situation.
"How are you getting on at your new place?" asked Mrs. Bliffkins.
"Very well, thank you," was the reply.
"I am glad to hear it," remarked Mrs. Bliffkins. "Your employer is a very nice lady, and you cannot do too much for her."
"I don't mean to, ma'am," replied Mary.
MRS. SMYTHE DE WILLOUGHBY--"Was the grocer's boy impudent again this morning, Clara, when you telephoned the order?"
CLARA--"'E was, mum! But I didn't 'arf give 'im wot for. I sez, 'Who d'yer blinkin' well think you're a-talkin 'to? I'm Mrs. Smythe der Willoughby!'"--_Punch_.
MRS. GLABBERDEEN--"Of course you, too, must often change cooks?"
MRS. JALPERDILL--"Oh, don't speak of it! We suffer from such a continual going and coming that we've decided this winter to equip our kitchen with revolving doors."
VISITOR--"Why does your servant go about the house with her hat on?"
MISTRESS--"Oh, she's a new girl. She only came this morning, and hasn't yet made up her mind whether she'll stay."--_Punch (London)_.
The new word for "servant" and the new hours have come, judging from this advertisement:
Household assistants (two) wanted in private family; eight hours daily; six days weekly; one from 8 to 5; another from 11 to 8; all off for lunch; no meals; sleep home; wages, $10. Apply--, etc.
HUSBAND (at dinner)--"By George, this is a regular banquet. Finest spread I've sat down to in an age. What's up? Do you expect company?"
WIFE--"No, but I think the cook does."
AGATHA-"Is your former cook happy since she inherited a fortune?"
AGNES-"No, she's all dressed up and no place to leave."
"Have you any cooks on hand?"
"Six in the anteroom."
"Ask 'em to look me over and see if there is anybody here I might suit."
THE NEW MAID--"In my last place I always took things fairly easy."
COOK--"Well, it's different here. They keep everything locked up."
Mrs. X. had lost her cook and had telephoned in vain for another.
Dinner guests were expected and she was desperate. Finally, putting on her things, she went out, and she hadn't gone far when she met a neat-looking colored woman. She explained her dilemma and the colored woman listened in silence, then she said: "Where do yo' live, missus?"
Seeing a ray of hope joyfully, Mrs. X. gave her address, to be met with this reply:
"Well, yo 'jess go home an' look in yo' glass an' yo'll see yo' cook."
MISTRESS--"I want a maid who will be faithful and not a time-waster.
Can you promise that?"
BRIDGET--"Indeed'n I can. I'm that scrup'lous, ma'am, about wastin'
time that I make one job of prayin' and scrubbin'."
"Do you keep any servants?"
"No, of course, not."