THE LADIES’ WORLD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2402, 18 January 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES’ WORLD

LADIES’ COMPANIONS.

THEIR TRIALS -AND TROUBLES

The woman of many vagaries probably does not realis-a at all how revolting many of her doings _ might be to a person condemned to live, in the servile conditions of companionship. She forgets that by her side there is a woman with a mind very much alert and very much trained to criticism from the very vicissitudes and difficulties she has found, herself compelled to endure. Only two often women are so vain _ that they cannot keep their vanity in bounds. They expect admiration from their companion, and she makes her best endeavour to give it until she is nauseated with her own endeavours to flatter, and with the insincerity to. which she feels herself condemned. The woman who has never had to deny herself a luxury, or who lias never had any serious trial in life, is usually jealous, and many cases occur in which the companion, plain and unattractive in every way, has roused jealousy by a mere talent for saying smart things. “I do not see why she need be jealous of me,” said one of these 6ame companions- the other day, with tears in her eyes. “She has everything and I have nothing, except sufficient education to try to make my living, and an aptitude for saying a smart thing now and then. I said one once too often, and so I have to move on and look for some other situation just after I had learned to endure the one I have.” It was merely because at- a luncheon party some gentleman had been very much amused at a witticism that fell from the lips of the middle-aged companion. The employer herself WUs not a person who, under any circumstances, could have let fall a witticism, but sbe had many other attractions.

Women who employ companions only, too frequently feel that as they have gone the length of giving a microscopic salarv they must make up for it by special economy as regards the paid companion. It is not uncommon to meet employers who alone- with a guest, cat roast chicken and drink champagne at luncheon, while the companion is made to understand that anything else than a taste for cold mutton and water is not expected of her. A recent experience of a companion was that no member of a fair-sized family ever exchanged words with her. She had to guess when she was wanted and when her absence was preferred. On one occasion she had been sitting all morning by the sea with her capricious charge when a visitor approached and scatc-d herself. The indication by which the companion was made to realise that she was exepeted to leave was the sunshade of her employer suddenly unfurled and stuck over her shoulder into her face. SMALL WORRIES.

The humiliation of the position is intense to any woman who respects herself. There are cases in which she is incessantly reminded that her time belongs to her employer; she has to fetch and carry from morning to night, she is responsible for every worry that occurs. Many rich women who have no calls on their time and interest get into the way of literally flinging money about them for their own needs only. Some of them never write a note; all business is arranged by telephone or telegram, and the companion has to be. always in a state of running about or of being borne around in taxis in response to telephone messages or wires. Then capricious women are . never satisfied with any w-ork done for them. No dress ever comes home from a dressmaker without- a series of complaints; no milliner can ever send home a hat or bonnet which has not to be return, ed for alteration. It is the companion who has all this nasty business to look after. The companion who travels finds her task a very hard one. In addition to her work of planning routes, buying tickets, attending to baggage, of packing, where no lady’s maid is kept, and of making out a list of possessions to be put inside each trunk, she has to study every humor of her employer. She has, too. to avoid any occasion of jealousy, and she must, meet each change of temper in' the spirit expected of her. She must efface herself utterly when indulged caprices have resulted in the necessity companion is usually expected to develop into a sick nurse. Indeed, there are no limitations to the capacity and the patience demanded 'of the woman who undertakes these duties. The only remedy is a careful definition of the hours of work required and of the kind of work attached to the position. There are cases in which genuine devotion is ven by a companion in return for consideration and kindness. These instances, however, are not the average, and, as with most other occupations -for women, it is the average- cases that affect most people who find employment., and for whose benefit improvement is needed.