402 STABLE SERVANTS. 



35 shillings to 2 guineas; young riding lads, 7 shillings a 

 week and keep; and full-grown lads, 18 shillings with lodging. 

 Men drawing 25 shillings and upwards would probably get a 

 cottage, fire and lighting. Some liberal employers give vege- 

 tables and milk. In London, an ordinary groom ought to 

 get 25 shillings a week, supposing that he has to find his 

 own lodging. 



As a rule, a groom can get board and lodging in a private 

 family of his own position in life, for about I2s. 6d. a week in 

 the country ; and in London, for about 16 shillings. Lodging 

 in the country would cost about 2s. or 2s. 6d. a week, and 

 4 or 5 shillings a week in London. I have found that when 

 seven or eight riding lads club together, they can feed well on 

 6s. 6d. a week, supposing that they get free fire and room, 

 and that one of them does the cooking. 



COMMISSION. 



Owing to the ignorance and apathy displayed by the large 

 majority of horse-owners with respect to the conditions under 

 which their animals live ; many grooms and coachmen have 

 got into the habit of resenting the slightest interference on 

 the part of their employers with stable details a state of 

 affairs which is somewhat similar to that which usually exists 

 between mistress and cook. In neither of these cases is the 

 fault altogether one-sided. The impatience of supervision on 

 the part of the servant is chiefly prompted by fear of losing 

 perquisites, and also of being made to do more work. On the 

 other hand, masters as a rule are unacquainted with stable 

 routine, and the ordinary pay of even the head man of a 

 stable, if sufficient for the bare necessaries of life, leaves little 

 or nothing for a " rainy day." Stable servants have no 

 pension to look forward to ; they do not grow younger ; 

 and in many cases, employers regard the surreptitious 

 presents and commissions received from tradesmen, farmers 



