SYDNEY SERVANT GIRLS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 May 1876, Page 2

SYDNEY SERVANT GIRLS.

♦ The new phase of servantgalism (says the " New Zealand Times") consists in a rascally attempt to extort money. A lady residing in the city, says a Sydney paper, who did not know that to advertise now for a girl sixteen or eighteen years of age brings about a house a cluster of girls of worthless character, all acting in concert, advertised for. one, and experienced the full force of the difficulty. Fully fifteen appeared, although the first or second was accepted, more, however, through the persistent way in which she begged for employment than through her appearance. It could be seen outside that a perfect system of telegraphing was at work among them. The one employed returned to her work in the course of an hour or so after being engaged, and she was set a rout some light ordinary duty. Her mistress left the kitchen where the girl was employed, but on returning in the course of half an hour, found to her surprise that she had quietly decamped. Here was a difficulty to be solved—what could have been the cause of her sudden departure 1 An explanation came, however, in a short time. Within two hours of leaving, the girl and a woman, apparently her mother, returned to the house, and gaining admittance, walked boldly into the front room. The woman at once opened fire in such a way as to indicate practice in the work. She wanted a full week's wages for her girl: she would like to know why she was discharged instanter after being engaged. And the mother and daughter then commenced in the most violent and loud way to cheek explanation from the mistress of the house, who sought to explain that the girl had left of her own accord. In violent and obscene language the money was demanded over and over again, the woman getting near - the door and* holding it open, as if to make her demand the more powerful by drawing the attention of passers-by to the scene. But the man of the house happened to be in, he having returned just after the girl had run away, and the moment he was called into the room the girl dashed out, and the mother followed nearly as quickly, meanwhile threatening all kinds of proceedings. A more determined attempt at extortion could scarcely&ave- been conceived.