The times., 1899-02-15
Shnnn EcntiIity.

Inc New York journal reports thdl Il
humane society is needed for the footmen,
and recounts an incident which took p ace
lately somewhere on Fifth Avenue. y
youth of eighteen was seen standing on a
curbstone, his ears rapidly growing white
in the icy wind. \ policeman warned him
that those members would probably freeze
in short time. but the boy said that he
couldn't help that; it was orders. He
dared not even stamp his feet to keep the
blood in circulation. 1t seemed to be his
opinion that his mistress did not care
whether he froze or not
| This may be an extreme case, but it is
certainly possible. An experienced OBJ
! server of men and things once said that
f! he had never seen among the old families
| of Europe such utter Indifference to the
life and well being of servants and in
feriors as he had seen among the rich of
America. This is rather a serious indict-
ment, but it would be hard for us TO prove
that there is nothing in it.
The coachmen and footmen of the rich
have very hard time in freezing
weather. They are expected to preserve
a dignitied and impassive demearor, while
their bones ache with the cold. They are,
in many cases. obliged to wait for long
hours while their employers are taking
part in some festivity which doubtless ap-
pears more delightful to the coachmaa
who watches from without than to those
who are invited guests. There is only one
other man obliged to face the weather
ercise, and that is the motorman. In his
case the company which employs him re-
fuses to shorten his hours or give him any
protection in severe weather. because it
will cost too much But even in his case
the physical and mental effect of freez-
ing atmosphere is not intensified by the
feeling that one is suffering more or less
needlessly. If the coachman and footman
were allowed to resort to some place
where they could keep warm and get
cup of hot coffee, instead of sitting or
standing motionless in the bitter cold, it
would cost their employers only trifiing
inconvenience. OF course, such 4 BIT of
thoughtfulness on the part of the mistress
would mean that she regarded her servant
X.
appendage to her establishment. and some
people may not consider this opinion good
form. There seems to be a floating no. /
tion among some of those who be,ong to |
the dinner giving and yacht-owning part 4
of society that any sort of theory which /
the common humanity of en-
ployer and employed is more or less old
and out of date. As this notion |
is incorrect, it is doubtless fated to dis
appear at some time in the future, and all |
lovers of the true, the refined, and the |
beautiful will be glad 10 see it go.
Among those who really understand the
meaning of that much abused term 'gooi
the old term lady" has never
lost its original significance. The Saxon
loaf giver' was she who took care that
all her dependents, from the least TO tie
greatest, should be fed and clothed. She
not only cared for those who belonged to
her, but she fed the beggar at the gate.
She was ''of gentle birth''-and gentlefolk
we're distinguished from churls by their
kindly manners TO one another and their
interiors. OF course, there have always
been people who took the meaning of gem
leman and gentlcwoman to be something
entirely different; but the Old ideal has
always been in the world. The dignity OF
'eal gentlefolk is so secure that they can
lfford 10 be gracious. 1t is only the shams
who think it below them to treat their de-
,cndents with common humanity.