Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-06

ally to be seen hanging on to the straps
behind some state equipage, or In the
| more sOberly clad attendant sitting
croSS-armed beside the cOachlnan
| when my lady" goes out in the car
riage. Originally the footmen were
what their name implied, and were al
| most indispensable at the period at
| which they originated. In those days
travelling was very different to what it
| is now; the chief roads We're in fair
| condition, but when it came to cross
| and country roads their state was de-
plorable, in wet weather mere quag-
| mires, cut up by deep ruts, in which
! the travelling carriages of those who
owned them were apt to stick fast. And
| then it was that the running footmen
proved of service. 1t is conjectured by
| many that the wands their present day
followers carry on state occasions are
| the conventional slaves of wood which
| their predecessors habitually bore to
| lever the vehicles of their masters out
of the ruts when they came to dead
lock. And very probably this is so, but
there is another derivation which con-
tans much evidence of probability:
| the WanGs now carried are metal tipped
| and it is certain that the primary duty
of the footmen in former DAYS was to
run before the carriage when On long
| journeys, in which case the men re-
CURED sustenance and refreshment,
and the tops of the wands they carried
were furnished with receptables i'll
! which were stored hard boiled egg or
white wine: and occasionally even now
Y, foCtmen's slaves may be seen with a
ball-like top, capable of being used.
These men were accustomed to per-
form long journeys at a high rate of
speed. and many records of such feats
are still eXtant, and may be found in
the old volumes of Notes and Quer-
les
A recent volume, ''The Ghosts of Pic
cadlly" in referring to "Old j." the
Duke of Queensberry, who died in 1910,
-, and who bythe-bye, is believed to be
the last Of the London grandees to keep
these rctainers tells an amusing story
anent one of them. His grace was in
the habit of trying their PAGES by see
ing how they could run up and down
Piccadlly he watching and timing from
his balcony. For the trial they donned
date thus dressed ran his trial. At the
conclusion he came to a stop before the
duke. highly pleased with the mans
performance. And your livery will do
very we'll for me-" replied the man, and
gave the duke further proof of his
powers by running away with it. Be-
sides being employed as marks of dig
nifty and grandeur. these men filed the
posts OF messengers where long dis
tanceS had to be covered and speed
was essential and in the Berkeley
Manuscripts, 1921, an account Is given
of one, Langham, an Irishman, who
was running footman to Lord Berkeley,
in the time of Elizabeth carrying a
letter from Callowdon to DR.. Fryer liv-
:. ing in Little Britain in London, and re-
turning with bottle of medicine, a
journey of 14S miles, in forty-two hours
notwithstanding he stayed one night at
the doctors and apothecarys houses,
his reward being a new suit of clothes.
Even making allowance for some eN-
aggeration, this must have been Won
derfuI performance in those days, when
the condition of the roads is taken into
consideration. And this was no isola-
!, ted case. for there are others equally
good on record. But it seems the life
was a trying one. and so taxed the
powers of those that followed it that
they were not able to keep it up be-
yond a very few years.
1t is curious fact that in the whole
Of London there is only one public
house that is named after them, 1.-The
Running Footman," in Charles street.
Berkeley Square, ncighborhood in
which, from the dwelling houses of the
very well-to-do, this class of servitor
would he very likely to congrcgate. and
from the old sign we are able to form
some idea of the costume they affected.
i This was something like the racing cas-
tune of old times. black peaked cap,
n racing jacket. knee breeches. white
stockings and Shoes these latter dis
placing the ton boots. which would
have been out of place in their calling.
An efficient footman in his prime would
undertake to do his seven miles an
hour and his sixty during the day.
| Perfect System on a Steamship.