KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



265 



DOMESTIC TOPICS. 



MISTRESSES AND SERVANTS. 

 {Continued from Page 136.) 



It cannot be a matter for surprise 

 that the remarks of our valued correspon- 

 dent, " Forestiera," in connection with our 

 own on this subject, should have brought 

 us an overwhelming number of communica- 

 tions. The evil we attempted to fathom, 

 and for which we could propose no efficient 

 remedy, is acknowledged from one end of 

 the country to the other We live — not 

 for ourselves, but for our servants. We 

 are at least, to a fearful extent, in their 

 power. 



We took so complete a review of the re- 

 lative position existing between the mistress 

 and her servants in a former number of OUR 

 Journal, that we need not go over that 

 ground again. The justness and fairness of 

 our observations has been universally ad- 

 mitted ; so that, if we were to give publicity 

 to a tenth part of the letters received, it 

 would burden our columns, without adding 

 one new fact. Yet have we a pleasing duty 

 to perform, and one for which we were 

 not altogether unprepared. Among the 

 mass of letters which have come to hand, 

 are some which speak loudly, eloquently, 

 kindly — aye, and not a few affectionately, of 

 the domestics living in the families whose 

 mistresses have addressed us.* Residing, 

 for the most part, far away from great cities, 

 and buried in the bosom of the country, 

 people cannot understand what is said about 

 the wickedness of servants generally. It 

 appears incredible. This is a happy igno- 

 rance which we admire. It is most terrible, 

 to be compelled to believe what daily comes 

 under our eye. Human nature shudders at 

 it ; but we record facts as we find them. It 

 is well known that an infected sheep will 

 spread contagion through a whole flock. 

 Equally true is it that evil-disposed servants, 

 by constant contact, make each other as 

 bad as it is possible to be. With rare ex- 

 ceptions, good and virtuous servants are 

 unknown in great cities and their vicinities. 

 As we have before said, there is a menial 

 chain that binds them together ; by the aid 

 of which, as by an electric wire, they hold 

 uninterrupted communication, and share 

 largely in " family secrets" which never 

 could become publicly known excepting 

 through such a channel. We all know this 

 but too well ; and yet are totally unable to 

 prevent it. But to return. 



* As we have carried out the wishes of the 

 writers, in this article, they will not feel aggrieved 

 by their favors not appearing in print. We have 

 let one speak for the rest. — Ed. K. J. 



The letters we allude to speak of domestics, 

 male and female, who have lived in one and 

 the same family for a period of years, num- 

 bering from five to forty. Their long service 

 has made them (very properly) part and 

 parcel of the household. They are treated 

 not only with respect, but with kindness and 

 consideration. Their morals are cared for, 

 their health and comfort are studied, and 

 their happiness is secured. The natural 

 (let us harp upon this) consequence, is — that 

 duty becomes pleasure. ■ The master, mis- 

 tress, and family are loved, not feared. There 

 is but one interest in common. If the house 

 were left in charge of domestics so treated, 

 it would be perfectly safe. No anxiety 

 need be occasioned even by a prolonged 

 absence. All this is the necessary conse- 

 quence of kindness. 



Among our correspondents is a lady, 

 residing some 200 miles from London, who 

 signs herself " a Clergyman's Wife." Her 

 observations quite charm us ; she regards 

 the world as we do, made for the enjoyment 

 of all. She is no advocate for undue free- 

 doms ; believing, as we do, that servants 

 properly treated would know well how to 

 behave themselves without requiring to be 

 constantly reminded of it. The heart is 

 what we want to work upon. That gained, 

 every thing else becomes secondary. 



We find in this letter of " a Clergyman's 

 Wife" some very sensible remarks. She 

 quite agrees with us as to the danger of 

 " contact" where a servant is radically bad. 

 She also fairly assumes that " contact," where 

 a servant is good, possesses equal power. 

 "To the influence of our old and faithful 

 servants," she says, " I attribute the comfort 

 we have had in the younger ones. If the 

 example thus set by the heads of the lower 

 house be so far beneficial in its result, how 

 much greater must the effect produced on 

 the younger servants be, by their observation 

 of the manners and example of their master 

 and mistress ? " This is sound argument. 

 Again, " Do we not daily see the habits, 

 thoughts, and feelings of the parlor reflected 

 in the kitchen ; also the gait, bearing, dress, 

 &c. of the different members of the family ? 

 A friend of mine observes, that she can 

 generally tell the reception that awaits her in 

 the drawing-room of any family, by the 

 manner in which she is received by the 

 domestics at the door.'''' There is something 

 about this that pleases us vastly. We know 

 it to be true. We have remarked it often. 



Our correspondent goes into some detail 

 on these subjects ; and the more we follow 

 her in her remarks, the more we admire the 

 moral feeling that actuates all she says. She 

 does not, as is the all-but-universal practice, 

 look down with supreme contempt upon all 

 who are of a rank inferior to her own. As 



