The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-23
SERVANTS IN ENGLAND.

English servants are trimmed They
walk one straight path and TO this their
feet become so accustomed that they
get befogged and confused II thoy step
aside to make other paths for their feet
A cook is cook, and houscmaid is o
houselnaid A footman is nodded by
his duties into iootman. The church
catechism must have the credit or the
discredit for this universal automatic
life. English people are taught by their
national religion Ito le content in that
station of life uhcrcn'to they are called" "
For throne and nobility, for the fellows
at the head and on top this is q delect-
able social philoso, hy, but for Hodge
the farm laborer, and for Bridget the
scullery.mnid, for tho hewers Of wood
and the drawers of water tho outlook is
less optimistic.
The work Of English servants never
overlaps. 1t is rightly defined and
strictly adhered 10. 1t is an annoyance
in an English household that this is
true, for often certain work goes undone
for the reason that there is no one whose
place it is to do it, In Germany, France,
and this country servants will turn their
hands to almost anything, but no. so in
England. It is deemed dorlgatory to
do anothers work, and one gets accus-
toned TO hear, "lt is not my work, =
and the work goes undone. There are
two sides to this We do not put q
blacksmith TO mend ones watch, and
perhaps maid-of-all- is good Mt
none. English servants as a rule do
well what they undertake to do.
The relation between master and man,
would be to an American-I confess it
always was to me-irksomo. 1t is an
unnatural and forbidding relation The
servants are held at arms length, and
their servility is universal "Sr and
imam" are used with every breath,
and the raising Of the hand to the head
by the man-servant and the half.accom-
plished courtesy of the muid-servant
are 80 mechanical and as if done by
machinery that it is offensive. 1t is
very seldom any love is lost between the
family and the servants. In case OF
servant falling ILL., he or she is almost
instantly sent of to the hospital, return.
ing to the family only when able to
return TO duty. In Frnce or America
the family would feel under natural
and humane obligation, as we'll MS con.
strained by sympathy and affection, to
care for servant while sick.
All English servants have some badge
or livery. Female servants wear little
cap, though it be but wee bit of mus
lin and edging, on the top of the head,
and the men servants dress III the regu-
lation livery of their rank in tho house.
hold. Many have their separate table
fare. which is arranged for day by day
or week by week, and is palmer and
coarser than that used by the family.
The servants seldom, and i'll most fam.
lilies never, have expensive food, such US
game and dessort
1t is q custom observed in all respect
able families to engage servants by the
year and to require Character from
their last place" This is not n written
certificate, as i'll France or Germany,
and which is worthless thing but tho
name of the family lus. lived with being
given, the person engaging the servant
writes to inquire concerning character
and capabilities In no matter would Il
housewife be more scrupulously con.
scientious than i'll replying to IN inquiry
of this sort. In dischargng IL servant
months notice is given, or the wages for
the month is paid. On the other hand.
Il servant is required to give months
notice before quitting a family.