In and out of Florence; a new introduction to a well-known city . in America. Rowena besieged agents—for there aregood ones in Florence—besought pension mistresses,enlisted the Interest of friends, and even questionedshopkeepers with whom she came into professionalacquaintance. It was by this last and least promis-ing way that she discovered Marina the maid, orcameriera. Out of Navonls lace shop on the ViaStrozzi came the clue that put beautiful Marina intoour hands. She was the daughter of an Arezzo hair-dresser, and had had very little training as her red-brown hair, her big, soft I
In and out of Florence; a new introduction to a well-known city . in America. Rowena besieged agents—for there aregood ones in Florence—besought pension mistresses,enlisted the Interest of friends, and even questionedshopkeepers with whom she came into professionalacquaintance. It was by this last and least promis-ing way that she discovered Marina the maid, orcameriera. Out of Navonls lace shop on the ViaStrozzi came the clue that put beautiful Marina intoour hands. She was the daughter of an Arezzo hair-dresser, and had had very little training as her red-brown hair, her big, soft Italian eyes andbright cheeks, her youth and pretty grace, and herswift intelligence made Rowenas brief questioningand examination a mere formality. As to wages,Marina suggested twenty or twenty-five lire a made It twenty-five: and Marinas cheeri-ness and neatness and prettlness have been a wonder-ful bargain at five dollars a month. Not to speak ofher actual services, which include caring for therooms, serving at table, and acting as ladys-maid. Photo. Author Beppi and the Water Pails Servants, Marketing, and Housekeeping 33 to Rowena. This last she accomplishes with particu-lar deftness and cleverness. Finally, she does all thelighter laundry work at the picturesque stone tubunder the Banksia arbor in the garden. In this lastitem alone she has actually saved us her wages eachmonth. The discovery of Marina was a step toward gettingestablished, but the most important one of the littlehousehold was yet to find,—namely the cook. Row-enas specifications required that this person be, first,a woman; second, a woman who could cook; third,an honest woman who could cook; and, fourth, anhonest woman cook who could and would cater eco-nomically. Again she sought the agencies, thefriends, and the friendly shopkeepers. Days passedof much inquiring and of occasional refusing of cookswho claimed to be honest and who confessed to aspecial cleverness as economical caterers, b
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