This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...only supplied with all the necessaries of life, but they were made to feel that the house in which they served was a real home. They shared the joys and the sorrows of the family, and took their respective place at the daily meals, ceremonies, and festivities of their masters, in a way of which the present stiff and ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...only supplied with all the necessaries of life, but they were made to feel that the house in which they served was a real home. They shared the joys and the sorrows of the family, and took their respective place at the daily meals, ceremonies, and festivities of their masters, in a way of which the present stiff and formal marshalling of the household to family prayers is a parody. At the time when such mottoes as that of the Prince of Wales, " Ich Dien," were emblazoned on the shields of the nobility, to serve was considered less derogatory than to do other manual work. In noble households the children shared with the servants the duty of attendance on elders and guests, and the youthful scions of noble families were exchanged in order to serve as pages. The system had great advantages both for the servant and his master, but it was not without its drawbacks. It took large resources and a big establishment to extend the paternal care to all the servants in the house, often from their birth and generally to their death, to provide them with all their wants, to educate and instruct them, to protect them and advise them throughout life, and care for them in their old age. All these duties heavily taxed the administrative ability of masters. A certain consideration in the treatment of servants was also necessary, because to change a servant was troublesome and dangerous, and if by bad treatment the servant was demoralised and his temper soured, the master suffered. Besides, it was necessary to treat servants in such a manner in order to secure, through their fidelity, affection and esteem--what we now expect from them in return for money. As the commercial system advanced, and the constant increase of payments in cash caused financial embarrassments ...
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