You have to be pretty well ace-high as a housekeeper to read this without cold shivers going down your back as to your own inadequacies and shortcomings, when checked against the standards of ""the run of the house"". And that in spite of her assurances that this is a blueprint for efficiency to shortcut the way to good housekeeping on not too big a budget of time or money. An excellent handbook for aspiring housekeepers (the Bride's Own Bookshelf) -- and for those who would improve their own methods. Particularly sound on details of the ""servant problem""; on care of equipment, on cleaning methods, marketing, planning.