The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06

the thought OF being servant never
entered my head. Ny forebears had
ali been artisans and small trades
people, and when ! was old enough
my father apprenticed me to the Lor-
iners Society OF London. A loriner
yog know. sir. is bit fnaker--a very,
very old tradc--and the Loriners' Soci-
city il one ~ the oldest guilds in Eng
land. nowadays training boys in great
variety of craftsmanship. Well. sir,
they taught me 20 be clerks book.
keeper.
4 married IN 1879. and leaving mr.
wife IN England came to New York
in search OF a better livelihood than
seemed possible at home. For two
years i worked IN Long Island City at
anything 7 could get 10 do. ! was even
tearster for g time. But I couldn't
seem 10 make so OF 81 here. and so
returned 10 LONDON. There I was so
fortunate--as 1 arSt thOuRht--as 10
procure employment as rent collector
for Mr.. George Brinsiey. public auc-
uonecr. ] worked for him twenty
seven years. Twenty-seven horrible
years OF eStorting rent from the
wrctcheG who couldn't pay and OF in
suits from tho ~eii-to-do who wouldn't
pay Till they got ready. Twenty-seven
years. Al the end OF that time I
wac heartsick with the misery that 1
saw and could not relieve and with
the insOlence 7 met and could not re-
sent ! took my wife and returned to
America.
For more than a year ] worked at
many things IN Boston, Woods HolI
and other New England places: but
all the while ! was turning over and
over in my mind the problem OF what
might be best for my future. For 7
was no longer a young man. In my
nn1 ffs-nr t.
had an opportunity to observe the man
ners and duties OF men servants. They
had always struck me as being a pc
culiarly contented class, leading quiet.
orderly lives. we'll paid, well housed
and well fed I had envied them at
times. More than ever envied them
now in the turmoil OF American COM
mercial work with it's long, strict
hours. its vulgar browbeating ONCE
managers. and above all, its poor pay.
Competition was rapidly reducing the
OF clerks and bookkeepers: la
borers. truck drivers. bartenders, made
more than we clerks and were more
Independent. But i did not want 10
be one OF these-not that IL would de-
grade me. but their work was hard
and distasteful
One day, then, in brooding over
these things, ] happened to observe to
lAil SUI lldl lHCIG were very Few
trained servants, especially men serv-
ants, in American cities. Well, sir, to
cut ii short, l decided TO become a high
class servant Of the English type, and
Immediately set upon a course OF self
training ] drew upon my observation
and recollection OF how the London
servant conducted himself, his mode OF
speech toward his superiors and his
dress. BY INQUIRY and reading learned
the scope OF his duties and by prac-
tiee j learned how 10 perform them.
"Egw many. many times, sir, / have
rehearsed before a mirror with a card
tray, / have never touched stfmu-
lant. but i familiarized myself with the
names and ingredients Of all the drinks
known IN America / learned 20 mix
salad dressings and to press clothes:
TO clean silver in the best way: I even
learned the BARRIERS trade. But above
all studied my department and my
speech. For hours at a time / re-
hearsed my part Of serving man so
that ] might know just what. how and
how much TO say in every possible
! cut my hair and my
beard 70 snit the correctness to which
] wished 70 bring my appearance for
my new walk in life"
Now He's a Philosopher
Did you find It, easy to obtain
position, Stacy?"
Not al first. You see I was new tc
the employment agency system here
and was robbed right and left"
But you consider that you have
arrived now2"
Yes. sir; ! Co"
You are contented? ?"
More than con1ented sir
"Hou spoke OF class distinction and
OF acquiring a proper demeanor toward
what you term your superiors. Didn't
the readjustment OF your social posi-
ton CRATE on you a bitg"
Not bit. sir. I am no hypocrite.