EXPENCES OF HOUSEKEEPING 



deducible from the premises. Hence every free man and woman 

 have rejected with just disdain the appellation of servant. One 

 would think, however, that they might be reconciled to it by the 

 conduct of some of their superiors in life, who, without the 

 smallest apparent reluctance, call themselves &quot; Public Servants,&quot; 

 in imitation, I suppose, of English Ministers, and his Holiness, 

 the Pope, who, in the excess of his humility, calls himself, &quot; the 

 &quot; Servant of the Servants of the Lord.&quot; But perhaps, the 

 American Domestics have observed, that &quot; Public Servant &quot; 

 really means master. Be the cause what it may, however, they 

 continue most obstinately to scout the name of servant ; and, 

 though they still keep a civil tongue in their head, there is not one 

 of them that will not resent the affront with more bitterness than 

 any other that you can offer. The man, therefore, who would 

 deliberately offer such an affront must be a fool. But, there is 

 an inconvenience far greater than this. People in general are so 

 comfortably situated, that very few, and then only of those who 

 are pushed hard, will become domestics to any body. So that, 

 generally speaking, Domestics of both sexes are far from good. 

 They are honest : but they are not obedient. They are careless. 

 Wanting frequently in the greater part of those qualities, which 

 make their services conducive to the neatness of houses and 

 comfort of families. What a difference would it make .in this 

 country, if it could be supplied with nice, clean, dutiful English 

 maid servants ! As to the men, it does not much signify ; but, 

 for the want of the maids, nothing but the absence of grinding 

 taxation can compensate. As to bringing them with you, it is as 

 wild a project as it would be to try to carry the sunbeams to 

 England. They will begin to change before the ship gets on 

 soundings ; and, before they have been here a month, you must 

 turn them out of doors, or they will you. If, by any chance, 

 you find them here, it may do ; but bring them out and keep them 

 you cannot. The best way is to put on your philosophy ; never 

 to look at this evil without, at the same time, looking at the many 

 good things that you find here. Make the best selection you 

 can. Give good wages, not too much work, and resolve, at all 

 events, to treat them with civility. 



340. However, what is this plague, compared with that of the 

 tax gatherer ? What is this plague compared with the constant 

 sight of beggars and paupers, and the constant dread of becoming 

 a pauper or beggar yourself ? If your commands are not obeyed 

 with such alacrity as in England, you have, at any rate, nobody to 

 command you. You are not ordered to &quot; stand and deliver &quot; 

 twenty or thirty times in the year by the insolent agent of Borough- 

 mongers. No one comes to forbid you to open or shut up a 

 window. No insolent set of Commissioners send their order for 

 you to dance attendance on them, to shew cause why they should 

 not double-tax you : and, when you have shown cause, even on 

 your oath, make you pay the tax, laugh in your face, and leave you 



