The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17
SUBSIDIES FOR SERVANTS.
Ancient Funds In England TO Reward
Faithful HouscmatdS.
From the Ch'cn0o Tribune.

1.-THE servant question" was known to
womanknd as long ago ms 1920 and much
earlier Tho housekecper who Is on the verge
Of despair because Of her inability TO keep
girl" need not feel that her lot arises out Of
the peculiar conditions existing in her day
and generation. The trouble was known to
the English women when Shakespeare was
writing his plays. and probably long before
It,
Even now in England there exist n number
Of legacies for domestic servants. which have
been given annually. under conditions speci-
fed in the endowment. since the seventeenth
century.
One of the odes; Of these gifts is known
rs the "Duckett's charity" A sum Of 81, 900
was left in 1920 by one Of these much veXed
Engishmen. named Sir Isanc Duckett. to
encourage faithfulre-s among domestic SER
wants. and the b"duests are still being made
annually
The servants must be residents Of ST An
drew's. Holborn, and st. Clement Danes.
Strand Last year twenty-five applicants
were awarded sums varying from $25 to SIS
The only qualification Of this gift Is that the
servants must be married or must have at
tanned Is years OF age, and must have dis
charged satisfactorily the duties OF dumes-
tic servant in the family Of some respectable
person residing in the parishes named for
seven consecutive years in the same service.
Guidford is another town In which servant
girls may secure free gifts, although condi-
lions under which they secure them are
slightly different. There is only one award
made in this Request, amounting to $50. 1t
comes from an endowment left by John How
in ls74 Under the terms OF the eift any
servant Who has served foT two Years or
more With family in Guildford may, com
pete. There are several curious conditions
| which must be observed
| Zach year the candida ties throw dice before
! all the principal men OF the town. and the
$50 goes TO the girl who succeeds in throwing
the highest number.
This quaint custom has been Kept up ever
ri hs sssh % fso
selected out Of the applicants and the money
| goes to whichever OF the two throws the
higher In one cast OF couple Of dice which
| have been Kept 10 the same box Tor over nifty
! years.
This year the winner was servant named
vas 'x She 70 o'fs beat Re Tnsn asT
servant had been employed by a Guidford
doctor for oyer n., seven y years The previous
ns succeeded S in scoring save; I' H Both s sirl.
a throw o Was BY Mrh
they become ELIGIBLE for somps.ition, always
q Ssme,, ST.
there there a as .Turners Charity" ri. beaHes,
was left by an old resident Of the town. a Mr.
Of
yesI By hs Of The FUNDS L
within six miles Of. Beverley, This area in
cludee u portion Of the principal suburb Of
NaS G:ra sus. III sr %.ddna the a sss
| fund founded In 1897, the Mayor for the
time being has to award a marriage dowry to
provided she has been in in her situation i9r al
least eight years Any servant may claim
| the gift, but she has to prove that the money
will be Of use to her. and has to possess in
| A. gift Of Is, 600 was left by the late MARQUIS
and II Is the interest on this sum that is
The selection Of tho most worthy recipient is
| no light task. for ono year there were no
| fewer than thirty applicants.
| has to remind the Intending bride. who must
| be accompanied by her future husband,
! OF the origin Of the fund he also has to read
| to them some verses from the Gospel. and dis
matrimonial state.
Another town where money is awarded TO
faithful servants Is South Shields 81. This lnoney
| lished by Il DR.. Wnterbottom. with the OBJ
iect, Of once a year re wardng faithful servants
IN the town who have , held their places l iSr
made the gifts amounting to SIS each.
In Bristol the municipal ai!horities are
he trustees Of various charities One OF
! Portions" The worthy citizen, who ORTIZ
mated this charity in 1922 beQueathed sufticient
money 60 proSlde four ma nu,;,. portions OF
| the depreciation of land values, however.
the portions now are only $40 each.