The best way to select, and the surest way to secure, honest and faithful servants, is a matter which has always perplexed housekeepers, and seems to be a growing trouble. It must be remembered, however, that poor work is as often the fault of the mistress as of the maid. It is more common, of late years, than formerly, for young people to assume the cares and responsibilities of a home, when totally incompetent to superintend and secure the correct performance of domestic duties, and still less prepared to perform these duties themselves. To increase the perplexities of this class, they are met by like inefficiency on the part of many of those whom they employ. To mothers, chiefly, we must look for a more perfect system by which to secure more efficient service. If mothers could be made to see the importance of training their daughters to be conscientious, systematic housekeepers, as well as to excel in the less practical parts of an education, full one-half of our troubles would be mastered. This would be more effective in training good servants than anything which could be devised. Let our daughters be taught that, as none are "fit to command until they have learned how to obey," so none are prepared to assume the care of a household or charge of servants until they are able, not only to arrange the work, and superintend its performance, but also able themselves to do all they would delegate to others.

In cases where several servants are employed, each one should have her appropriate work assigned, but with the full understanding that, if needed, she is to be called upon for work outside that which she considers her own. For this reason it is desirable that each one should have been early taught to be at home in all parts of household labor. No judicious housekeeper will be inclined to call a girl from her own regular work, unless there be real necessity for so doing. She will or should study the comfort of her servants, and exact from them no extra labor but such as under pressing circumstances they will see she is herself willing and capable of doing. If the mistress of the house shows herself ignorant of any of the duties belonging thereto, she has no reason to look for or expect satisfactory service from those in her employ. A firm, but kind, government, judicious rules, requiring implicit obedience, give larger promise of faithful and prompt work, and far more respectful service than an ignorant but exacting housekeeper can ever expect to find. While demanding prompt attention to the work to be done, those employed should receive such kindness and watchful care for their interest and comfort as employers would wish their children to have if similarly situated. Make their rooms as pleasant and comfortable as is possible. If the arrangements of the house will permit, see that those who have the hot and dirty work to do have the means for daily or frequent baths, which is as much for the employer's comfort as for theirs. Ample time should be allowed them for keeping their clothes in order. These things should be urged upon them for their own sakes; but if not attended to, should be required for the sake of their employers, and to secure the comfort of the family.

In making a contract with a girl for any position in the family, the mistress of the house should very carefully explain the rules by which she regulates the time and labors of those she employs, stating definitely in what part of the Sabbath each girl can go to church, or if they go on alternate Sundays, as must often be the case in large families. Then define exactly what privileges each may expect — how often they can visit their friends, and how late they may remain out. Give every privilege that can be allowed consistently with the duties to be performed, and for the girl's own best interests. These rules having been so distinctly stated that there can be no misapprehension, let it be as clearly understood that from these rules and regulations there can be allowed no deviation, except with the knowledge and consent of the mistress. One afternoon and evening of leisure each week is all the time that can be spared conveniently from household duties, and as much as the servant can have, and attend faithfully to her own sewing and keep her clothes in repair. All the other evenings, after the ordinary work is over, will be needed for this important attention to her own garments. Except in extreme cases, such leisure evenings as they can command should be scrupulously reserved for their social enjoyment and their personal affairs. To allow them more time would lead to idle habits, which those who must labor for their living can ill afford; while to give them less time would be unjust. When two, three, or more girls are needed in one house, the question of how much company they can be allowed at the house is important. If one girl has the privilege of allowing her friends to call when they choose, the others will expect the same privilege, and justly. This will cause confusion and disorder in their regular duties. We think it should be settled, that visits cannot be permitted till after the day's important work is over, and that by ten o'clock visitors must leave, the kitchen and range be put in order, and the girls all in and ready to retire to their needed rest. Nor should a kitchen full of visitors be allowed at any time, nor the dining room be used for their guests. Their friends can easily be made to understand this. The kitchen ought to be in order before friends begin their calls, and the dining room carefully arranged for the morning's meal, the windows fastened and the doors closed. We do not approve the policy which permits the many visitors that naturally call where there are two or three girls, to be invited or expected to take their meals with them. On the contrary, it should be distinctly forbidden. If one feels at liberty to ask her friends to stop to meals, the others have good grounds for expecting the same privilege. If they may ask one, they must ask others, or act with great partiality. At first sight it seems mean and miserly to refuse this privilege to servants, but it is easy to see to what it leads,— a room full every night. Simply in view of the expense of this kind of hospitality, it is a matter of grave consideration. It is also a bad custom — a real injury — for the employees, as well as the employer. We have been through a long experience of this kind of open hospitality, and confess we did not find it either pleasant or profitable. It is bad every way, and no kindness to the servant. In all that increases the real comfort of those who labor, or tends to make them better and wiser, every housekeeper is bound to be as generous and thoughtful as circumstances will permit.

In engaging help, be slow to decide. Seek all the information possible. Be sure of substantial, reliable credentials, as to their worth and honesty; then, this once settled, let them see that it is the wish of their employer to trust them. Locking up closets where the food is, or putting aside the best part of the food from the first table, is a good recipe for making crafty, dishonest servants. If treated with kindness, courtesy and uniform gentleness, there are not many so rude and so low as not to be more faithful for these tokens of interest in their welfare. We recognize, to the fullest extent, the doubtful, unsatisfactory materials all housekeepers are exposed to have on their hands, if they are compelled to depend in any degree on "hired help." But the treatment which we have here recommended is, we believe, the surest way to transform them into useful, competent and honest friends.