The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-02 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—l have reason to say thanks to the reverence
for truth—truth " stranger than fiction "—which inva-
riably underlies the current of outward shows and
specialities in every age of the world we live in, and,
however, it may be doubted for a pe►icd, is rarely
to be smothered in obscurity, and finally obliterated
from the memories of men ; it must, sooner or later,
soar uppermost. There are many whose hearts
throb responsively to noble deeds and actions, though
unappreciated by popular applaus, or, perhaps, as
they too of-en ale, overwhelmed by popular obloquy
The man who has boldly stepped forward in a good
work, in spite of any amount of censure heaped upon
him, has only done his duty, and he who shrinks
from it, fearful of the eaStigation of the world, is but
half a man; and, perhaps, were he subjected to the
touchstone of suffering, might be found to be no
man at all.

True Englishmen, then, whose hearts are not mere
cartilage, will not shrink from exposing evils and
errors of every sort, to whatever class or d -nomina
tion they may belong Then I will again resume my
former subject, namely, that of domestic serran's.
If we visit about a good deal from house to house,
for the purpose of returning or making calls, which
is the case in most polished society, we see many
people in their intimate domesic relations, who
cannot well throw off the mask, for their grievances
and miseries are sure to be made known to us, they
must ooze out edgeways in some way or other, and
to listen to them one would imagine that they had
such an insupportable weight of suffering "to contend
against, that we feel for a time they have some claim
upon our sympathy. Of all such relations it seems
to me there is none which in the present day so
much wants remodifying, as that of master—or
mistress—and servant. When we glean from our
too communicative friends such interesting inform&
tion, which we are compelled sometimes for polite
ness sake to give attention to, we are too often
reminded of the old axiom, that " one half the world
don't know how the other half live ;" and we are
often inclined to ask ourselves the question—is this
all real or imaginative ? In nine cases out of ten
the latter may explain and account for it all. Who,
with a particle of sense, can deny it? Such people,
Mr. Editor, and I think you will agree with me,
who so frivolously engage our time by confiding
their household secre's to us (which, by the way, we
are invariably reminded not to men'ion again) must
know little or nothing of real troubles and cares
which are so often thrown into the scale of the
ups and-downs of this life. They are, in faci-,
scarcely born in the world. In other words, their
little molehills are always magnified to the size of
mountains. I was going to say God help them ; but
no, the expression is ra'her out of place; it might
be more applicable to those who know and feel
more of sorrovv-10 those who were born with a
" leaden spoon in their mouths instead of a " silver
one"

Now, what is a "servant," and what do we under-
stand to be the definition of the term ? Is she not one
who, from outward circumstances, or inward
organisation, finds herself incapable of ruling, and,
therefore, necessitated to obey; to become not the
dictator but the minis'er—not the head, but the
hands. It may be, though very rarely the case, she
may rise out of this inferior position; and, if not, she
gradually settles in its level, grows familiar with its
cares, duties, and pleasures. and leaves the same to
be inherited by her descendan's. But all this, more
or less, depends upon themselves, by having con'rol
over their general conduct, which must at all times
tend to good results, for we well know that some
may sink, and others rise, each by his, or her,
momentum of :charac er. Are we, then, to blame
those who enlist themselves in servi ude to do daily
work, though perchance they may be near akin to
us, perhaps our third or fourth cousin; and how
many such instances are there which occur in rimy
families if we could but only probe and find it out;
are we to shun them because t hey have been brought
down to this low estate, hecause they are common
scrubbers of floors, shoeblacks, dirty kitchen workers
whose labours are rarely or never ended ? Are we
to despise thein for doing all this, because forsooth
they are below us ? Not a bit of it; if fortune has so
far reduced them to the position in which they are
placed, and if held under such capacity, I say we
are bound, each and every one of us, to pay them
honourable wages for turd and honoitrable work.
Yes, reader, it is a fact, though I fancy I see a smile
playing over your countenance and treating all that
I have said with ridicule and contempt, but pray
scoff nor, for it may so happen, by the same reverse
of fortune, which has led them to all'this, some
day or other, your lot to exercise manual labour,
and by the sweat of your brow to earn and eat your
daily bread.— If then you at present. enjoy the cern-
fortable-position of being well-to-do in the world,
and are so far enabled to enjoy the' good thi:.gs of
this life, feel that you should be thankful for them,
and, moreover, feel that it is your bounden duty to
perform acts of kindness and good offices to o hers
But there too often appears a wide gulf existing
between mistress and servant; they never dream
that she and they share the same flesh and blood
of womanhood, and end ultiamtely in the same dust

and ashes. Poor girl ; she is to be pitied—she U
serve well, and obey well, and in justice withal,bs,
often she is neither syiiipitbiied with nor conga

in. (181
If there is one thing, sir, more than another, the
creates dissatisfaction in household families, it is
sery ant having " followers Oh, dear, what a ref
pus is kicked up if Mary or Jane should have
followers ; and where is the harm in it let me ask,
the sweetheart be a respectable man and engage_A
some honest and respectable calling ? Servants s4v.is,
only like yourselves, with the same privileges. liable
and dispositions, and, therefore, why should ar
prevent the " follower's" visits. if he comes to °,lO
house in a straightforward, upright, and honoura,4%
way ? Surely you have not forgotten your own C
in such tender matters as these. Have you so
obliterated from your memory those happy cla)of
when, some ten or twelve years ago__ you had
own dear Charles" coming to see you, whom }:.°nd
are now so proud of and look up to as your hilsiv";/
in c-,,hatever capacity or sphere of life he oi
move in ?

ear, 01

But let me whisper a kind word in your
e.A
give you a little wholeson-0, advice before I proc
any further, and I SPeaL.Ovisedly, having had so_r4
experience in sect
such mater Bear in. mindthing—if you forbid sNwants in yo L' emploY
bard
little matters of indulgences as these, you
cause to repent it If "my cousin," with his utoa'y
single knock at the front door, finds he canner
admitted, he will try the area gate, or the be'c
door—foiled he will no', be, whatever is the cafe
quence, and if it comes to this it behoves yo'IA,
ketp a sharp look out, for, mark what I say, Yog:A
not know what may be going on—what plot n
been formed when your back door is so easY
access to them. Rather, then, let them come i°4"
the front, and then you will be able to see and jou'
for yourselves what is'going on under your roof
There are mistresses of another class we rae.„"s
amongst our acquaintances, who let the reit
go out of their hands entirely, who lean back in tbeof
lounging chairs and slumber, or occupy the most,'
their time in reading foolish novels, or strummingiv
the piano all day long, and apparently perfee,
indifferent to every thing going on around 00:0
save their own pleasure, which to them is a sine !pp
non. Where their households will drive to, Hea"to
only knows! The house in fact is left altogether,
take care of itself. The "better half "is ei,ber t'oo
gentle to blame anybody for anything, or else iv
lazy to do anything herself, or shew anybodY
how to do it. Although she may have pretty bl3:es
eyes in her head which appear. so bewitchingqo
pretty as they may be they are mostly closec,i
matters of essential importance. She sees not of
dust tracts on which you might write your naive
every bit of furniture in her drawing-roorn • she
so far blind and lukewarm in everything per'tab3lo
to her duties as a wife, that her servants may cl!to
they like, dress as they like—even.as finely as ol
family" if they please—go out with parasols, ro
veils attached to their bonnets, on Sundays, and 1150
their letters:directed " Miss" for aught she caresl °o
long as servants she has and plenty of them 14,1;
this may all go on for a time, but you will fiutiteo
the long run, that it won't do, especially if you ,
young wife, who-married at seventeen, without";y
en, rience whatever, and as ignorant of 11°Ijai
keeping as any school-girl, Such ladies 'as 9°.,ailt
pardon my nudeness for what I say—are, gene b)
speaking, the unwitting cause of so many 'lit
servants being turned loose upon society, and I "e 0
if such things were different we should not hat
much cause for complaint—we should not has;,,"cei
much dread of burglarious sweethearts intrody
through the kitchen-window, no fear of tribe°
locust cousins" creating a famine in the larderll,oo
Try then, and understand the proper
between kitchen and parlour, and if you hafTe,;eol
have a good Jane or Mary in your service, es`jed
them as such, treat them as human beings, Lod '-iAte
them as long as you can. And, it' pretty "lief
should have an offer, and make up her mind NV
her condition in life—that may be a loss to your pct
very likely a great one too, as good servants ar:
easily replaced now a-days ; but such thia:Ael
happen, as a matter of course, and can't be avyAbtO
Then let one act on your part be observed, ;icb
she so far makes a prudent choice—an act Icbd
will prove to be a most creditable event t° 0.6
parties—that of being married from your own 11°‘,00
and, above all things, don't forget to throw the pr
slipper ". after them, even though your neSt,ifeli
neighbour, Mrs. " Pride," may be inquisl'id
peeping through the venetians, and exclaiming
horror, " Oh, la! how. vulgar !!" • fsitSl
Since the laws of nature and of circunis-t
have made you a mistress, and your sergaisbli
merrant, which have given you such incalol.oo,
opportunities of becoming her superior, then PI
by it, by trying to realise the proverb, that " a V
mistress can make a good servant.," which is 'il
possible, both as regards theory and practice, jo9
thereore, the reformatory process must unquestierti
ably commence with you. I have always 0(1,01!
that the higher a man or a woman rises in tb°,:oor
of intelligence, the more both gain of that, L'elf!
pride which knows that it best respects its iii
respecting its superiors. Thera is no 1210,
like that of wisdom, and no presumption lir,:
of ignorance. I would wish to see every 11 car
being, whom it has pleased Providence to p"301!
the ranks 'of servitude, raised by moral eXt/40,
by judicious and liberal education, and esl/' 81
by invariable justice of treatment, to thilt,oliP
height of self-knowledge and self-respect "

alone is true 'respectability.'
" Honour and shame from no condition rig2,;,'
Act well your part, there all the honour tw..-
Finally, study well, important princiPle°ooo;
these, and remember who is the Maker of pod
'
that, whether we be high or low, rich of.ditte;
masters or servants, we must all, sooner '9,;(
" meet together " and give an account "
stewardship. to
It is now time, sir, that I should (11406
conclusion, this part of my subject being "'-/O'
of —Yours, &T., ITO
Liverpool, January 31, 1857.

A CHALLENGE ANSIVERF-D•

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN T105.i,
Sir,—Should the individual who sends .ipg'
lenge in your paper of to-day, while see-,,Ci
untruthfulness, allude to me, let • hilit„-oril
Perhaps, the publication of this in your it itt
Monday, may bring him out. Please ins°
my chai aeter is at stake.—Yours, &c., V IS°
West Derby, Jan. 31, 1856. a

GENIUS REWARDED.—It is reported that fl opuro
order is on its way to England to be bestowed„, $l:4
Robert Peel, in recognition of his late lecture "Itfel''l
and her People. The order, is the Order of the
Andrew of the first class. The Queen it is -
~,ear
already anticipated the baronet's prayer to 0"
honour; he having, in her Majesty's opinion, 5
deserved the distinction.—Panch,. the
How TO RAIiE RECRUITS IN SCOTLAND.---Wheat

began there was great difficulty in raising reef% '
North of Scotland. A. suggestion was made in, "Abe'
that a depot of the 79th should be stationed 9', oe',l
as a popular Highland regiment. This was actf,,its.4
before the war had closed 600 able bodied ree`ior
raised! The depot has now been removed, 311-
a single recruit is obtained. io,,
...oar till',
REPRESENTATION OF hi A 11,YLEBONE.--A OS'
circulation throughout the borough of Marylebc'neoesloll
is a probability of an early vacancy in the rePr`nn
and that it is the intention of Sir Samuel Mereliip Ye'
offer himself as a candidate. The friends of coogel
Bell are, however, it is stated, on the qui vice, B 0 , ele,f
backed as he was by nearly 5,000 votes at the la- OP 11
that he has a prior ciaim, and a better chance'
oPti,
other Liberal candidate. n Old
RATS.—There are two objections to the conill3°-cl0"04:
killing rats by laying poison for them ; first, the an OA'
which it exposes other animals, and even hilit„;lo°,4ols
second, the possibility that the rats, having ra' no Itlfee,j'
may retire to their holes, and dying there, caeoai,ts, voro
able stench, and produce numerous crawling juse-deett„il
Patent Anti Vermin Mixture for the immedietBo 0`,4
of rats and mice, is tree from these objecr:tber:
effectually cleared. dwelling houses, ships, and "„c:il'atpp
that, were -much infested with these deetfrnill'
disagreeable inmates. The smell of the i'1:0495
the vermin from their holes, and it being, si.ucaree4ol-4,
delicacy to them,• they will devour it witliknii t,'
and die on the spot. To be had at the P'.-011;"
Office, 49, Brownlow hill, Liverpool, at 6d, Ita
Can be sent free by post to any part Of the .014'
America, Atiatraliai Otc,—Advti

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