A MODEL OF DISCIPLINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MODEL OF DISCIPLINE.

(By Robert Russell.) A letter from Margaret solved my difficulty:

Dearest Eleanor: Bear with me for a hasty note,

but\l want to help you in your hour of need, and also to give de- - served promotion to tlio two best servants it has ever been my good fortune to possess. Our prospective year abroad forces me to dispense with Graham and Perkins, who will bring this note to you, and I want you to take them ti fill the vacancies in your establishment of which Marjorie told me. In one you will find instinctively perfect horsemanship ; in the other a wonderful tact of service. That they both possess -an unobtrusive sense of humor will not detract from their other qualities in your estimation. I will see you when I sail, and you must thank me adequately. Lovingly, MARGARET.

I needed a coachman and a butler at once. Margaret’s perfect establishment in Philadelphia I knew, though I had never seen the men she .jwas sending me. Both of us took a pride in personal supervision of our households, and it wa6 with a sense of relief and thorough confidence in my oldest friend’s recommendation that I had the newcomers brought in. Having ascertained which was Perkins and which was Graham, I studiously noted their appearance as they stood before me. I did not wonder at Margaret’s enthusiasm. The broad shoulders of the stalwart Peikins gave every indication of strength to handle the most refractory steed; while in his eyes I saw thorough understanding of the power of kindness to animals. None the less prepossing was the smaller, more delicate-looking Graham. His alert bearing combined in perfect proportions readiness to serve with unobtrusive dignity. “Graham and Perkins,” I said,reaching my decision with little hesitation, “no inquiries concerning your character and habits are necessary on my part. Mrs. Dorian has sent you to me, and that is sufficient. There is one rule of my establishment, however, which I wish to impress upon you both. Every person who serves me must obey my orders implicitly. I tolerate no demurring. My instructions are always clear, and an order once given must be executed without remark or subsequent comment. Failure to adhere to this rule admits of no explanation, but merits immediate discharge. I will pay the same, wages that you have been receiving. Is the situation satisfactory?” An almost impercoptable glance of acquiescense passed' between the men, and Perkins replied : “We shall be honored to serve you, madam.”

“Very well. Perkins, you are to occupy the rooms over the stable, which faces the street directly at the rear of this housev Take your things there at once; the footman will assist you. Graham, my maid Simmons will dhow yiou your quarters up-stairs. Be prepared to serve at dinner this evening. Do not wear a white tie; I prefer black for the butler.” Perkins started to speak, but I was determined that their first orders should be received with a strict adherence to my instructions concerning silent obedience, and I said somewhat sternly: - “Remember the importance of what I have just said to you, Perkins. I have given you both certain orders. Let me see how well you comprehend my rule of un questioning service.” They hesitatingly bowed themselves from the room, though I was certain that Perkins felt he had something of importance to say. The first hour of chagrin and perplexity which my new servants cahsed me came at dinner. Graham was aip absolute sight in a dress suit several sizes too large for him. He served very well, however, except for some slight awkwardness—'attributable to nervousness, -I presumed. After the others had finished dining and. left the room, I spoke to him on the subject. “You must procure evening clother of-a more perfect fit, Graham. lam surprised that Mrs. Dorian did not insist on your doing so.”

s In poor taste , though it was, I - '/ *

could not- resist" the temptation of mentioning the first oversight I had ever 1 known Margaret gujlty of. “Certainly, madam.”

I realised that these were the first words I had heard him speak, and was rather curious to investigate his manner -more thoroughly. Having noticed that ho was apparently suffering from a slight lameness, I continued the conversation.

“Are you troubled with rheumatism; Graham?” • “I have a spavin, madam, which occasionally causes me some annoyance.”

“Spavin?” I repeated incredulously. “I thought only horses had spavins.”

“Your pardon, madam, my trouble comes from the kick of a horse, and for the lack of a better word I call it a spavin.”

Not wishing to allow any mistaken sense- of humor, which Margaret had said they both possessed, to lead the man to indulge in anything approaching familiarity, I reverted to the subject of his duties.

“I j)resume you are accustomed to doing the marketing? The second maid will show yo l uwher© I trade.” “I have purchased all the feed for Mrs. Dorian for two years,” was his ungrammatical rejoinder. “Food, not feed, Graham.” “Certainly, madam.”

While his manner of serving dinner might prove Graham’s strong point, conversation certainly was not. The following morning, in pursuance of my weekly custom, I visited the stables. Perkins was industriously polishing the silver of one of the harnesses as I entered. He ceased as I addressed him.

“Do you find the stables in good order, Perkins?” “There is need of some slight dusting, madam, and- the plate is a bit dingy.” «.

Here was prodigy indeed. A coachman whose first complaint was of the dust, and "who described the harness trimmings as “plate!” “How arc the horses?”

“To tell the truth, madam, I have not seen them yet,” was his astonishing reply. “Not seen them? I do not like your indifference, Perkins. I supposed your greatest interest would be in the horse-flesh.” “I regret, madam, that I have been remiss, but I slept poorly last night on account of the odor of the stables, and have not had my much desired opportunity to inspect'the animals.”

. And the horses not twenty feet from where lie was standing! With all his grandiloquence, he was worse than Graham. For the next two weeks every glimpse of either of the men brought, fresh cause for amazement. In all justice I must say that I had never known servants who so unhesitatingly obeyed every order. An instruction once given was the signal for absolute and silent obedience on their part; but their consistent, constant failure to appreciate the character of their employment nearly drove me into nervous prostration. I resolved to bear it until Margaret came to see me before sailing, and then to ask her where to send the l men. Keep them I Avould not.

Margaret called on the morning of the day of her departure. Her sympathy at my tale of desperation was consoling, but she was utterly at loss for tan explanation. The incidents of the misfit dress suit, and of the coachman’s lack of interest in the horses, puzzled her intensely. Wo had tacitly left the subject of her proteges when Graham’s appearance at the door, to announce luncheon, brought her close to mo with a movement of evident surprise. “What is he doing in the house?”’

“He is announcing luncheon, which he will presently serve very poorly,” I replied with some bitterness.

“And Perkins? Is he in the stable?”

“I trust so, Margaret.” A peal of laughter rang through the house. “Great Heavens, Eleanor!” she cried. “You have put the butler in the stable, the horseman in the hall! Didn’t you know?—Perkins is the butler and Graham the groom.