The New York herald., 1872-05-15
scrvant-Galism I'm the Land o. Cakes
The Fair (Kitohen) Maids OF. Dundee.

scrvant-Galism I'm the Land o. Cakes
The Fair (Kitohen) Maids OF. Dundee.
Little did John Leech imagine, when he
evoked the avenging culinary goddess in his
illustrations Of servant-galism, what he was
doing for posterity. The maids Of Dundee,
who do the linen lairds of that vicinity the
honor to wait at table and preside over the
production of boiled and roast, have formed a
trades union, and regularly discuss the hours
of service and the various descriptions of
menial attention expected at their hands In
another part of the HERALD will be found q
highly interesting account of the meeting
which resulted in the selection of officers for
the society. Little did the bonnie lasses know
of parliamentary rules and society bylaws;
but "chiel amang them talin' notes" did
not wish to see the well laid plans ''gang
a-gley," and gave them several useful hints.
The wrongs Of the scullery we're alluded to in
severe terms, very much to the point, after the
cannie manner of their nation. We are GER
tain that the lady in waiting who objected to
''the fag"-a pancake of gauziness worn by
maid-servants on the top of the cranium--was
pathetic as would be the lament Of Jeemes
over the ignominy of crimson plush in
expressibles. The young lassie, too, who
Indignantly advanced her belief that they
(the mistresses) did not consider the servants
made of the same material as themselves,
touched as deep chord in the pride of hui
manity as ever vibrated at the grand appeal
of Shylock, the Jew. The ironical servant,
however, did not venture the remark that their
masters shared the heresy Of their mistresses.
Indeed, one feature will strike the observer
that all the taunts Of the queens of the kitchen
were levelled at the princesses Of the parlor
curious feature, also, is the oft-expressed fear
of the stouter- hearted that wheedling word
from the mistresses Gin their fine hattering
way would break down the faith Of the weaker
vessels among them. From six in the MORN
ing to ten at night was considered too long q
working period, and it was taken under advise
ment whether two hours should not be Topped
from the sixteen. fearful threat was that
which, if carried into effect, would condemn
all Dundeedom to cold victuals on Sunday
and We cannot but admire the spirit in which
one mercifu lassie suggested boiled potato
compromise. They should eat cold meat, but
she didn't object to boil potatoes for them. 1t
was delicate compliment to the sterner sex
which suggested that the rules of the Amalsa-
mated Engineers should be their rules, and
one, we are sure, which every Draw engineer
laddie by the banks O the lay will remember
when he thinks of becoming matrimonially
analgamated for life. There is in this also a
hint as to in whose blssful company the halt
holiday weekly was to be spent.
To the eternal credit of the maids of Dundee
is the fact that they have begun the movement,
and the gallant buffers, gardeners grooms,
footmen and porters who assembled at Leam-
ington, England, did right courteously in Civ
ing the fair bonnets over the border three
rousing cheers for the forward step so firmly
taken. Certain misgivings come to our mind
as we reflect on the possibility OF the cold meat
torture being applied to free-born Americans,
if the downstairs revolution should spread
among the cisatlantic Abigails, who can
oftentmes make life wretched, as it is, without
proceeding even to the hot-potato compromise.
distant thunder, as Of rafting pots and pans,
breaks upon our ears, and the sS'SSrning voices
Of the Scotch lassies singing the modified
rules Of the Amalgamated Engineers to the mir
Of Bonnie Dundee" swells in our imagine
tion as dried apples in saucepan of hot wnter.
1t seems like the dismal monotone Of the weird
sisters in Macbeth repeating their incnntation,
which has sensible meaning, for the first
time
Double, double toll and trouble,
Fire burn and calJron bubble.