• CHARACTER-GIVING.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:] SIR,—It is even more important to servants looking for a new situation that they should have trustworthy information as to the character of prospective masters and mistresses than it is to masters and mistresses that they should have trustworthy information as to the character of servants applying for a vacant situation. A servant risks more in taking a situation under an unjust or unreasonable master or mistress than a master or mistress risks in engaging an unsatisfactory servant. This will be admitted by all thoughtful persons. Would it not be wise and fair, and also in their own interest, that house-masters and house-mistresses should establish the custom of keeping a book in which servants leaving them, whether by dismissal or of their own choice, should be asked to write answers to the following questions?— (1) Has my situation, which you are now leaving, proved on the whole satisfactory to you ? (2) Are you leaving at your own request or mine ? (3) How long have you been in my service ? (4) Have your wages been paid regularly ? (5) Have you always, while in my service, been treated kindly, con- siderately, and justly ? If not, please give instances. (6) Is there any, and if so what, rule of the house to which you object ?
As an employer of domestic servants, I have decided to start such a "Character Book" myself, and I expect good results from it. I hope that the answers may assist me in getting good servants when vacancies occur, and that the general adoption of the practice may assist our friends, the servants, in getting good places. It is also possible, and indeed likely, that I shall have something to learn for my own conduct from the answers given. I do not see why the answers should not be frank and truthfuL I shall endeavour to secure that they are so. If my Character Book is fairly satisfactory, I shall send it in to my" Servants' Agency" when I want a new servant.—I am, Sir, &c.,
AUDI ALTERAM PAETEM.
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