Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-04
Alffan0rIa Qbaxttte
TuURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER
Servants Versus Dome,tics.

Servants Versus Dome,tics.
The weakness of lndu!glug 10 magnicquent
language, says the Baltimore American. seems
growing upon society daily. The old fashioned
and purely Saxon words which were 10 use halt
q century ago are gradually dying ont, and their
place ia being usurrcd by class which, al.
though resonant, lack simplicity and have \
very artificial and turbid air. 1t is hardly pos.
| sible now 10 travel through any part of the
| country and find village and home Of rasto
raj peace and innocence which poets so much
love to describe Instead Of "Swcct Auburn,
lovclicst village of the plain VIC haVo cities
innumcrablc even if they should be beyond the
confines Of civilization and composed Of few
tumble down shantics and grocery store The
old taverns, which are associated with case and
comfort, have given place to hotels, and our din
ncrs, cvon if composed Of herbs and cold meats
are dignilied by the namo 0! banqucts. We do
not live at house now, but at residence;
there arc no cottages in existence, only villas.
and when no invite ftW friends 10 them We
do not give party but reception. llsr
dressers and tailorS arc artists; dressmakers are
modstcs; the leader Of a rural band OF music Is
q professor; the most obscure theatre IS an
opcra house; patent medicine mau is doctor,
and the man in charge Of canal boat is cap.
tain. This weakness is now beginning to show
itself further. There arc no servants now.
only domestics, although we had fondIy hoped
that the falling for using this word was con
fined principally to that class who seem to think
that true dignity 20 longer attaches itseli TO la
Dor, and who consider that the term ser
want is stigma and disgrace but 10 the
October number Of the Atlantic Moothly coz.
tributor gravcly agues that We stSmall2a our
domcsics "by an cplthct which L hope most
Americans take very unwllllngIy, upon their
lips, and seldom without sense of its cruelty.
I mean the word servants" And then he urges
that we should call our houscmaids and cooks
domestics, after the example OF "thc non-brutal
nations, the Freuch and llaaus. instead OF
following "lhe brutal English and German
fashion," Now, iu the first plac, there Is prob
ably no country in the world where such stroog
bond of union exists between masters and mis-
tresses and their servants as 10 England, nor
where the latter are treated with more respect
and remain longer in ono Individual service.
And it does seem as if the fashion otusng soma
high sounding name to cover their business ar
counts for many Of the household troubles whle'
arc experienced in many families and the Wor-
ry, vexatiou and tyranny which 50 often make
home life burden, and force men and women
to hotels and boarding houses. Besides this
tho word domestic is mi used it being 10 the
proper sense an adjective, while the term SER
want has antiquity to recommend it, AMI
throughout the Bible We God that patrlarchs
and prophets conceived no higher honor than
to be called servants No man can feel insult
ed by having his occupation plainly stated, IN
stead of being thnly disguised behind high
sounding and mcaoiuglcss titles. There Is no
cruelty attached to such fashion. The real
cruelty consists in spreading and fostering the
idea that it is disgrace to be called servant
instead Of teaching that our republic fully re
oogniz,s the dignity of labor, no matter what
occupation man or woman may follow.