Morning journal and courier., 1891-04-11
MIR. wAKEMAN'S JOURNEYINGs.
At London-A Chapter on British High Life Below Stafrs-Character- istfcs of the British Servant-Wages and Duties of Servants in the Cas- ties of Britafn-The GOverness- The Head Butler-Other Help.

LONDON, England, March 24. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 There is in Great Britain a line of no bility, not set down in Burke's Peerage, as rigorous in distinctions, as unyielding in established rights and traditions, as i'm pregnable against innovation, and as naughty in the enjoyment of it's caste and privileges, as that authenticated nobility and aristocracy which it's different ranks as often rule as serve. These are the lords and ladies of that vast and ordinari- ly mysterious realm known as the "Below Stairs'' of British life.
 They are one and the same in England, Scotland and Ireland. While British poli- tics may boil in Ireland, stew in Wales and
 Scotland and simmer in England. the real
 United Kingdom, imperturbable to poli-
 tics, calm and impassive in the face of
 commercial disaster or social change, is
 held together as with ribs of steel, rivets
 of copper, and cappings of brass, by the | adamantine solidarity of this invincible
 nobility-the British danes of the duster,
 ladies of lap-dog and luggage lords of the ladle, barons of bells and boots and peers of the pantries and pots.
 AS a result of several years observation,
 I should say that the chief characteristic of the British servant, whom we may fair
 ing consciousness, and insistance upon the
 cognizance by all others, of his, or her,
 exact place, whatever that place may be.
 Because of this much else may be con | doned. There is only one other class of
 servants in the world that gains so much | through the same characteristic in a cer-
 tain degree of dignity. This is the Afri-
 cans. However much you may elevate
 and educate the latter, place them in any
 form of service and the old consciousness
 of propriety in distinctions instantly re-
 turns, and with it the fine, though often
 pathetic, dignity of themselves asserting
 the distinction The true man or woman
 of service possesses real, if sometime:
 sombre, pride in serving a real gentle man
 or real gentle lady; and while you may no
 find the African s suitability, in an appa rent unconscious defining of relations, il your English servant, it is the one unva rying rule of feeling, thought and actio1 of his, or her, whole life, to truly serv, the truly noble and considerate, and t. : truly rule, by endless insistance of rights
 perquisites and traditional dignities, tn ignoble and the parvenu.
 The number, wages and ways of tn servants employed in and about the grea 5 | halls seats and castles of Britain almos tell the story of their masters. First an foremost is the steward, who is responsi , ble to milford and lady for the entire es ! tablishment, the servants, hiring of ser wants, and the purchase of all ordinar necessities such as food, except meats g which is invariably the perquisite of tn !, cook. The steward receives eighty pounds ] and an unlimited amount of noble blacl J guarding, per year.
 Next in importance, if not indeed tn c first, is the housekeeper. She is usually Il maiden lady of severe age, or a wido' !, culled from poor relations. She must U person of infinite expediency, commo 5 sense, experience, and with soul an T physique of iron. She usually has entiI d charge of the detail of all domestic ma e ters; holds the keys to every private apar d ment and secret compartment; with he n assistants makes, lays and repairs all cal l. pets; cleans and re-hangs all tapestrie' 's frequently originally embroiders the fne' 't of draperies; packs, unpacks, re-hane 3: and drapes all paintings; prepares an 't marks with the family crest all linen an d faces; cares for the statuary; and attend n to the interminable cleaning and waxing ( l. floors. She receives from twenty to rweI % ty-fve pounds per year, having under he le from one to two assistant housekeeper
 whose yearly wages are from twelve [ le sixteen pounds. In a general way all tl le female servants of the place are amenab le to the head housekeeper, who is at no tin of of the year away from her post.
 Id The next of these in grade is perhaI of the governess. This necessary though LII h fortunate person is expected to educat is and form the manners and morals, to tt ,e age of twelve, of the children. She mu le read, write, speak and teach French an at German, and be able to instruct in the r, ct ailments of Latin, the sciences and philo B. ophy. She must sing and teach vocal m,
 sic, and play and instruct upon the piar nt and harp In fact she must be the super a or, companion and servant of her charge d. Her compensation is from forty to sixi ty pounds per annum, and many opportun he ties for intrigue. In the greatest hous In | sine is allowed two, and sometimes thre Is nursery maids at from ten to sixte, ,a- pounds each. There is an upper hous si- maid at sixteen pounds; an under hous to maid at twelve pounds; and from two lis four assistant housemaids at ten pound ds all really under control of the housekeepe Ter But the ladies' maids, who are respon d. ble only to their mistresses, hold what a in regarded as the most desirable position lst insomuch as, while the most exacting
 ties are required, they receive from thir
 to fifty pounds per year; while their c portunities for travel and sightseeing ( TUT unlimited. The lady aid is usually A young woman of excellent education a .1 | r,oor;na oooompl;obpoo,I-