SERVENT-GALISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 69, 4 February 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

SERVENT-GALISM.

The Times, for the delectation of autumn readers, has diverted the attention of its readers from the struggles of Hungary and Poland, from the woes of" the Pope, and from the disaster of the United States, to the ['.retentions of domestic servants. A gentleman writes to complain that domestic servants are tyrants, whose arrogance has become unbearable. "A Modern Diogenes who don't live in a tub" gives a vivacious and humourous account of persons who answered his replies to servants' advertisements. These applicants cross-ques-tioned the gentleman in the most arrogant and offensive manner. The butler declined to serve coffee, and the cook appeared to desire unlimited control over his kitchen and the supply thereof. The butler was told he would be expected to do everything he was desired to do, except feed the pigs. "That," said the gentleman, " I do myself." Our Modern Diogenes is a'humourous fellow; and his facts in the main, are fairly sfa- J ted. But, let society be just. The wrong is not ail on one side. French servants dress according to their means, and save the greater part of their wage.*. English servants, as a rule, save little. This 13 calamitous. Married, the extravagant servant makes a bad wife. But is there no influence in the example of masters and mistresses? The Haunting extravagance of the drawing room is observed by tlie kitchen. That which is made the standard of the admirable in society, will influence every gra le of society. Only a fortnight since we saw 1; hare-legged Irish p3asant girl issue from a tumbling mud hut, en crinoline I A love of dre<s cannot become the passion of the middle and upper classes, without showing a deleterious effect on tho working classes. Factory girls spend nearly all their tarningj in tawdry silks and guy bonnets for Sundays. Your cook sails out for her holiday in her kid gloves and with her parasol—she, who has the door-key and a beer jug dangling from her fingers six days in the week. This is wrong. Tho homespun kirtle dayn were sim ! pier and m ire wholesome than oars, when j every young lady sneers at the idea of making | a custard. When the mistress was proud in \ the performance of her do.nestic duties, the servants were not ashamed of theirs, and were content to be knovvu as domestic servants, and nothing more.

Masters and mistresses are reaping their own sowing. The is a false show and base pretence in nil grades of society. Ths struggle is to make live shillings look like a sovereign. It is natural then in servants to make their half-pence look like shillings. Their delight is to sail from tho house, on holidays, equipped like the folk whom they serve. It is a pitiful, immoral state of things; but the fault in not all, O sapient Diogenes! in the butler's pantry or kitchen.— Ll>yls Paper.