THE DAILY EVENING TELEGRAPH PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, AEG EST 27, 18GV JJALF AN HOUR IN A SERVANTS' REGISTRY OhFICE. .Having occasion recently , to repair, by appointment, to one of those places which tare of late beoome quite "institutions" in this country, a "Servants' Registry Ofllce," I was let in for half an hour's entertainment in 9 What passed within my hearing, though it presented probably but a sample of the daily proceedings in an establishment of the kind. I had come to meet a young person whose services I was anxious to secure from the Btrong terms in which she had been re commended to me; but as I was before the time appointed, and she was con siderably alter, I was placed in the position of an nnintentional witness of what transpired in the interval. Let me, first of al observe that the "office" in question was kept by a female, I a married woman of well-merited reputation for respectability and judgment, who had now been doing business for years in that line, and, it was said, had made a good thing of it. She' had her stated hours for business, aud did nothing else. Formerly she had kept a shop, a greengrocer's, on a small scale, carry ing on the two businesses together ; but she found that the two lines did not some how suit one another; that the supply ing her customers with apples and cab bages interfered so with her "domes tic" transactions that, favoring no doubt the . one that was most lucrative, she disposed of her stock-in-trade, converted her shop into what she termed her office, with an ante or waiting-room, pulled down the old sign-board, and replaced it by another which proclaimed to the passing world, in gilt and , blue, that the undivided attention of the pro prietress was devoted to her "registry." She was a person eminently adapted for the calling she had selected. Ia her dress she was faultlessly neat and simple. Never did you aee npon her at least in business hours so much as a su peril uous bit of ribbon, far less anything approaching the gay or flashy. Her manner, without being dry, was thoroughly i business like and the same to all her custo mers. Whether it were peeress or poor cu- Tftte'B wife, whether it were the employer of a ' dozen servants or only of one of all work, she preserved consistently the same civil demeanor to every one, so that all came away with a 'correspondingly good opinion of Mrs. Prim- 1 -worthy. The young woman whom I expected not liaving arrived, Mrs. Primworthy begged that J would take a seat in the ante-room already referred to, which accordingly I did, hoping, as I did so, that my detention might not be long. - ThiB apartment evidently served as Mrs. Primworthy's sitting-room, when she was not pursuing her professional avocations. There was a convenient dividing wall through which, when seated, you could take a pano ramic view of the so-called office. This inter- ' mediate window had been left open; bo that not only could I see, if I wished, those in the next room, but I could also hear in fact I could not help hearing their conversation. Having accordingly taken a chair, I readily accepted also the oiler of a newspaper, and for i a few moments it engaged my attention; but I soon found reading to be impossible, owing to the distractions of the adjacent audience chamber, bo I gave up the attempt. My attention was first drawn off on the arri Tal of a lady in her carriage and pair, who, .laving alighted, proceeded to relate to Mrs. Primworthy her pitiable case. Her counte nance, I fancied, bore a look of harassment; and as I heard her disclose the plight that she was in, I certainly did not wonder that she Bhould evince something like anxiety. "Well, Mrs. Primworthy," she began, "I am in great trouble. My servants are all leaving me, and I cannot imagine the reason why. When I say all, I mean all exoepting my cook, who came to me about a fort night ago. I do hope she will stay, for really she is invaluable. But all the rest have given me notice, and that within a day cr two of one another. They seem, without any cause, to have taken a whim into their heads to leave me in less than a inonMi from now. I feel it so I cannot tell you. When I think of the ingratitude of their behavior, to say nothing of the perplexity they have placed me in, it almost overcomes me; and then we have visitors coming to stay with us. Oh, Mrs. Primworthy, I am quite bewildered at the .prospect.' "Well, ma'am, I'm exceedingly sorry to hear it; but you surely don't mean to say that all your servants have given warning ?" "Yes, indeed I do. Now you know our old nurse who has been with us for years, and who, I supposed, was so attached to the fam ily that she could not have endured the thought of leaving us. Well, she was the very first, positively, to give me notice. That I thought bad enough. Then, one by one, the others followed her example. My lady's maid, who suits me to a nicety, and my house maid, and even that steady young man Jones, whom I was so thankful to you lor finding for me, he says he must seek another situation too." "'Tis certainly very trying, ma'am, isn't it? I wonder whatever can be the cause of it all. lias there been nothing unpleasant with them that you can think of, ma'am f Ser vants are really getting bo high and mighty in their notions now, that they'll scarce bear being spoken to." "Oh, dear, no. There has been no occasion even for fault-finding lately. And it seems so ' strange, they all say they are bo sorry to go, " and speaking of the kindness of their master and mistress, yet they cannot think of stay ing. I have questioned them, and entreated them to tell me what is the matter; but the nly answer I can get is: 'Things is not as they used to be.' But I am not aware of any change. We treat them exactly the same as we always, have and they have no complaints to make. I have only one comfort amidst it all, and that is my new cook, who is the best, I think, 1 have ever had, ,says she is quite comfortable, and has ex pressed no with to leave me. She tells me also she has known of servants elsewhere heing seized" with a similar freak, and all giv ing notice together. I think she said in one ef the places where she was before they all did bo one morning. But it is fortunate she is not going too, is it not, Mrs. Primworthy f" But Mrs. Primworthy, I noticed, made no answer to this remark; and a peculiar look ehe put on made me fancy some suspicion had occurred to her. "Do you know, ma'am," she replied, "I should much like to talk a bit to your footman Jones. He knows me well, and I will reason with him, and tell him what I think of his conduct. It can do no harm, f'Oh' you are quite at liberty to do So; but I am sure it will be no sort of Mse Foolish fellow, he is quite as much resolved to be gone as any of them. You " try what you can do. Here, Jones," said the lady, stooping forward to beckon the juan in. , "Excuse me, ma'nm," interposed Mrs. Trimworthy, "1 must auk yon to be ho kind as to step into the next room, as I think he won't like speaking out before you; so if you don't mind, ma'am, Just taking a seat in here" (opening the door of the room I was in.) , , , Mrs. rrimworthy did not finish her sen tence, but showed the lady in, cloning the door again, summoned Jones into her pre- l'cwn I frit by no means comfortable on being discovHred' in my retreat, especially when its facilities for overhearing became ap parent. The lady eviuced a little surprise at seeing me, and perhaps Ml something more; but we both remained seated, still and silent,' listening to the couvt-.sation between the foot man and the registrens. And now we had an opportunity of admiring the shrewd tact of Mrs. Primworthy. Instead of opening a direct fire npon the man with the straightfor ward inquiry why it was he had given notice, sue adopted the masterly flank movement of expressing a deep interest in the cook who had lately left the plane, and after enu-' nitrating her various excellencies, all of which. Jones endor.ed to the full, she observed: 'les, indeed, she was what we mav call a good servant, and no mistake; and what's more, she was a comfortable sort of a person to live with; and I'm quite 'certain, Jones, if she'd :i remained you never would have wanted to leave the same as vou are." "No, mum, nor none on us wouldn't, aud so that's the truth," admitted Jones, falling at once into the trap. "It makes such a deal of difference, doesn't it, Jones, when a conk makes things agreeable in the kitchen. I knew it was so. Servants as hns a kind master and mistress don't all give warohi;' that way without there being a cause for it." "That they don't, mum, and accord in to my notions servants did ought to be all of a equal ity like, and not one set over the rest on 'em. It makes a place beyond all beariu', that it do." I stole a glance across at the lady, and it wa3 really painful to witness the evident discom fort which this observation of the footman oc casioned her. She started as if to rise from her chair and stop further discussion; but on Mrs. Primworthy resuming, she sat still. "And then, Jones," added the latter, "I've always found when a cook do treat her fellow servants bad, it's a thing she can't be cured of, so it isn't any use arguing with her on it." "That's just where it is, mum: and as I says, 'tain't no good any on us a tryin' to re main. Her temper be so bad, and she be that there violent, as no one can't 'bide in sight of her. I'm sure I've always a wished to live peaceable like with every one; but that there woman she won't leave none on us alone. 'Tis her natnr, I expects; and so sometimes she'll be abusin' one, sometimes t'other, and some times abusin' us all round. Such a time as I've had these here last ten days ! I'd sooner list for a soldier. I'd sooner " Here Mrs. Primworthy interrupted him. "Your mistress is sadly put about, Jones. Don't you think you could manage to stay on till she was suited ? and you might have more time, perhaps, to look out for a good place." "No, mum; I'm ve:y sorry for missus, but I couldn't stay; I believe as it would be the death o' me. I was going to say as I'd sooner break stones from mornin' to night, and get my vittles where I could, than I'd bide in a place where that there woman was. If we was a lot of dogs, she could not treat us no worse nor she do. 'Taint me only, either; every one as comes to the kitchen catches it from her just the same. If it's the baker or the grocer's man, she do fly at 'em as if she was a tiger, axing them what brings 'em there, and such like, till some on 'em declares as they won't come no more. 'Twas only last night as the butcher's boy said some one else might come for orders, 'cos he shouldn't come again. Never did see such a woman in all my life: she must be abusin' or a scolding summut. Why, one day, if she didn't take and beat the poor cat with the bastin' spoon, 'cos she happened to come nigh the hastener when she was a roastin', till the poor animal went liinpin' off under the dresser." The amazement and consternation of the lady, which had been fast fomenting, here reached a climax, and completely got the better of her. Unable to Bit quiet any longer, she quickly rose from her chair, and, present ing herself again in the oflice, put an end to the discussion. The appearance of his mistress Jones took as a signal for him to withdraw; whereupon the lady recommenced. "Well, Mrs. Primworthy, I have overheard all. I really do not know how I feel 1 I am amazed 1 I am mortified, too. How I have been taken in with that woman ! To me she is perfectly respectful, appearing to know her place most thoroughly; and yet amongst the servants she must be a regular virago. Still, I feel relieved greatly, disappointed though I am. I am sure I have to thank you for the way in which you elicited the truth from Jones, and really you deserve credit for being so clever." . Mrs. Primwortny smiled, with a look of modest satisfaction, and replied: "Why, ma'am, when you told me what the cook had said to you, I suspected at once what was the matter." "Well, I say, I think it was very clever of you. But I am greatly to blame; for, do you know, I entirely forgot to make any inquiry respecting the woman's temper; sol am justly punished for my own stupid forgetfulness." "Well, ma'am, I don't know. You might not perhaps have heard the truth, even if you had made that inquiry. You see, some mis tresses makes it a sort of rule never to say a single word to harm a servant that applies to them for a character; and I know one lady, for example, who, though she has had really all sorts in service, gives the same character to every one. They are all good-teinpered, all cleanly, all sober, and so on; when I know, as a fact, some of them have been quite differ ent. And then, you see, ma'am, this woman is a knowing one; she never shows her temper to you: most likely her former mistresses have found her, like you have, quite civil and re 'spectful, though in other kitchens she has gone on as she has in yours. It is seldom, too, we can get servants to speak out of one another. I assure you, ma'am, they'll leave a good place sooner. I don't know when I've heard one speak out like that footman of yours did; and it is a great pity they don't; for how are you or I to know how's any ne to know the real characters, when there's an agreement like to keen the truth back from us ? I BUDnose. ma'am, you intend giving the cook notice !" "Indeed I shall," replied the lady. "I shall hurry home and give her warning at once; and I do hope, by doing so, I shall get my other servants to uto'p on. Do you think they will, Mrs. Primworthy ?" "Keally, ma'am, I hope they may, but I cannot undertake to say. Servants has got such queer obstinate notions sometimes. But I think if you can send the cook away, with out letting her fancy any one has been telling of her, it is the best thing you can do, ma'am." "Good morning, then, Mrs. Primworthy; I must hurry home. I shall call again to-morrow; for in any case vou will have to help we, I oYily trust that it may be one servant, and not live, that 1 pball require yoa to lind for m." The lady now re entered her carriage, and the footman closed the door after her. Before, however, driving away, she seemed to ha?e remembered something more, for Jonim whs sent back with a message relative to the hour of the morrow's visit; having delivered which, the man seized the opportunity of adding Just a word, as if in self-vindication: "You see, mum, we never likes tellin' on one another; but when a woman like that cook do forget herself, and come to treat her fellow servants as if they were all her inferiors, why then, I don't think the likes of her don't de serve no consideration, but only to be treated accordin'." "Quite light, Jones; you need never mind telling the real truth in such a case as that." There was now a short pause; Mrs. Prim worthy taking advantage of the vacant in terval to put on her spectacles and cast her eye through a handful of papers which she drew from her desk. Thinks I to myself, as I mused over the interview just concluded, such, I dare say, is but a reve lation of what takes place frequently in a kitchen, without ever reaching the ear of mas ter or mistress. Probably many a mysterious warning, which has sorely perplexed the head of an establishment, is traceable to some such cause as that just divulged. While other reasons are alleged, the truth is that there is some cross-graiued, cantankerous spirit below stairs, who embitters kitchen life to one, if not more, of its occupants, till further endurance of it becomes unbearable. 1 was about to resume my newspaper, when a second lady stepped ill by appointment, like myself, to meet a young woman who, fortu nately for her, was already awaiting her arri val in another "Salle d'Attente," and had only to be summoned. One glance at the lady con vinced me that, although she might be mistress of an establishment, she was not blest with a family. That somewhat antiquated bonnet; that rather short adhesive skirt, which evi dently gave shelter to no crinoline, and that quaintly-pinned shawl, all conspired to be speak unmistakably the old maid. She spoke deliberately, yet somewhat determinedly; her features seemed to take no interest in the re marks that escaped her, appearing incapable of evincing pleasure, pain, or animation. "You see," she began, with a slowness bor dering on solemnity, that would almost jusiify the following specimen of punctuation, "Mrs. Primworthy ; I require, a person, of more than ordinary, respectability. Situated, as I am ; and there being only females, in my house ; it is necessary to avoid, the slightest cause, for scandal ; or even, remark. You know ; I keep, but the two. I require them, to be as correct, as myself, in every way." "Of course, ma'am; naturally you do," replied the ever-coinciding Mrs. Primworthy, probably thinking all the while she did not sue why respectable attendants were more indis pensable in the case of this unprotected female than with anybody else, and adding, "Perhaps you'll allow me to call the young woman, as she is waiting, and then you can speak to her yourself." The summons resulted in the entree of a good-looking girl of about two-and-twenty; well, but certainly not gaily dressed, whose bright eyes and animated look presented a marked contrast with the unimpassioned aspect of her possible future mistress. Scarcely possible, too, thought 1; surely this cautious maiden lady seeks something far more demure than this damsel. The girl having dropped a propitiatory curtsey, the lady commenced as follows, each word weighed with consistent deliberation: "You have been in service before, I under stand ?" "Yes, ma'am; I was housemaid and parlor maid at my last place." "What sort of a place was it? a quiet place?" "Oh yes, ma'am; 'twas a very quiet place, and very little company." "Did they keep any men servants there ?" A decided stress upon that awful word of three letters being perceptible. "No, ma'am, they didn't keep no man ser vants. They had used to keep a footman afore I come; but as I could wait at table, master said as he shouldn't want a man no more." "And did you and the cook do all the work of the house t" "Not quite all, we didn't, ma'am. There was, besides us two, a boy as used to clean the boots and knives, and run of a errand, and sometimes help wait at table." "Oh, indeed 1 there was a boy, was there ! and pray what age was the boy ?" " ell, ma am, 1 think he said a3 he was just turned sixteen." "As much as that ! H as he a big boy or a little boy ? because, you know, some boys at sixteen are almost men, and quite as objec tionable." At this the girl could not suppress a smile, nor could I: not in the least disconcerted, however, she replied: "Why, he wasn't very big nor yet very little, but I never knowed as there was ever anything against the boy." Despairing, I conclude, of eliciting further information touching this interesting youth of sixteen, the lady, who, I noticed, had been scrutinizing this young woman's attire from head to loot, next went into the matter of dress, on which subject she appeared to hold decided views. "In case of your entering my service, I must tell you I should require you to dress very Simply." "Oh, yes, ma'am, certainly. I've always been 'customed to dress plain." "Yes, but," resumed the lady, "I cannot say I consider your dress to-day at all suited to a servant." As I glanced at the girl's clothing, I confess I could discover nothing with which even a fastidious mistress could lind fault. The bon net certainly was trimmed with broad green ribbon, and the gown, a clean print, appeared to owe its expansion to one of those contri vances held evidently in virtuous horror by her punctilious criticizer. "Vou may depend upon it," she continued, "it is very much more becoming that the dress of a female should sit close to her person than that it should be spread out away from it in that manner." I wondered at the moment in what sense the word "becoming" was to be taken, whether the estimable lady was under the impression that a skirt which sat as hers did tended most to show the figure to advantage. Some further allusion. howeTer, which she made relative to "ffie proverbial unsuitable ness of crinoline for going up stairs, soon convinced me that her objection to the article rose solely from her notions of pro priety. After some further observations on tue part of the lady, in which she pointed out the impossibility of the girl'B doing her work properly while encumbered with the ap pendage in question, the latter yielded bo far as to consent to lay it aside and appear sleek and slim during working hours. This point gained, the lady next inquired: "Have you been ia the habit of wearing a cap f' "Yes, ma'am, I've always been used to wear a cop."' "1 wonder whether it is what should call a c ap. Some servants of mine have told me before I engaged them that they wore capi, but on coming to me they have had nothing on their heads but a tiny bit of net which you con Id not even see unless you stood behind them. Before engaging you, I think I should like to see one of your caps." "Very well, ma'am." "You tell me you have been accustomed to open the door. I hope your manner to visitors is respectful aud modest, especially when a gentleman calls. I have not many gentlemen visitors; but you know, to a gen tleman you cannot be too guarded and reserved in your manner. Never say a word more than you can help, and never be Been to smile or look pleased as some servants do." The next inquiry on the part of the lady had reference to her leaving her last place the reason why. To which the girl with, as I thought, great candor, gave an answer well nigh fatal to her present prospect of engage ment. "Well, ma'am, missus always said as she was quite satisfied with the way I did my work, and I shouldn't have had to leave only she thought as I had an acquaintance." "A what?' ".An acquaintance, ma'am." "An acquaintance !" exclaimed the maiden lady, her hitherto inflexible features being for the first time summoned to participate in the horrified amazement with which the disclo sure was received "an acquaintance ! Oh, I do not wonder that you should have had notice. I never would keep a servant in my house who was capable of such au impropriety. A place soon loses its name for respectability if acquaintances are tolerated." "But, if you please, ma'am," replied the young woman, "it wasn't true, only missus suspected so." "Ah ! but I should be afraid she had some ground for her suspicion. Servants are so foolish. They require so much watching to keep them proper and respectable, that it causes ladies a great deal of trouble and anx iety. It shall never be said that I fail to look after mine. Even on the Sunday, when they must of course go to church, I keep them within my own observation. I always make them walk close behind me and sit near my pew where I can see them, so that no one can even speak to them without my being aware of it; besides that, I consider it my duty to see all the letters that my servants receive, so as to prevent anything like au improper corres pondence." On the disclosure of so complete a system of espionage, the idea seemed to occur to the young woman that the situation might not be quite so desirable as she had supposed, and for the first time there were symptoms of non acquiescence in the lady's mode of dealing with her domestics; so she replied, still quite respectfully: "Please, ma'am, I've always been used to have an hour or two to myself of Sunday afternoon, and I ain't never been 'customed to show anybody the letters as I gets." "Well, I could not alter my rules for any servant. I only act in accordance with what I conceive to be my duty. If you think my ways too strict, you had better not think of my place." There was a few moments' pause, during which the girl looked down, as if to collect from off the floor her thoughts, or words wherein to express them, the result being, as I quite anticipated, her final answer: "I'm 'most ateard, ma'am, I shouldn't give yon satisfaction." An exchange of "good mornings" now terminated this interesting though abortive interview; and Mrs. Primworthy and the lady being left in sole occupation of the office, the latter recommenced "Scarcely thought that person would answer for me when she came into your office. She is evidently fond of dress, and altogether there was a style about her that I do not like in a servant." "Well, ma'am," replied Mrs. Primworthy, "as regards the matter of dress, why you see, ma'am, servants is apt to get a bit dressy nowadays, and to tell the truth, ma'am, I shouldn't have considered that girl at all gaily dressed as the times go. Things is a good deal changed now in comparison as they used to be ; and the fact is, you can't get servants to dress themselves the same as they did twenty or thirty years ago, with large caps tied under the chin and bonnets with scarcely any ribbon, and short skimpy skirts and such like. The times is altered, and we shan't have ser vants the same as they used to be never again no more. Besides, ma'am, misstresses is so dif ferent. I know some that takes a sort of pride in the appearance of their servants, and wouldn't have them dressed in the old-fashioned style on no account whatever." "How strange that does seem I Perhaps you had better try and find me a more elderly per son. Have you any one on your list at pre sent who you think would suit me ?" "No, ma'am, not at present, I'm sorry to say, no one at all; and I'm really afraid I shall have some difficulty in meeting with the kind of person you require." "So I should fancy," soliloquized I, as on the departure of this model mistress I in dulged in speculations as to whence the good lady had derived her notions of "do mestic" treatment; whether she had herself in earlier years been subjected to anything correspondent in the way of supervision and restraint, and whether, if so, how it had answered in her own case. Whether, for example, pains had been taken to impress upon her youthful mind the impropriety of possessing an "acquaintance," and all such ob jectionable superfluities had been judiciously kept aloof. Who knows but what her pre sent freedom from marital encumbrance may be due to the successful adoption of this sys tem ? She may perhaps own her state of blissful celibacy to the laudable intervention of parents or others who checked every tendency to cultivate an acquaintance, aud, thanks to their efforts, life remains to her one continued game of solitaire. But, be it even so, I began to have my doubts whether the plan on which this respected lady acted was the right one. I could not bring myself to See the propriety of treating servants like young school-girls, to Bay nothing of the practicable impossibility of doiug so. It is, no doubt, a great nuisauue to know that one or more young men are hover ing over an equal number of your female attendants, and a still greater one when, on the ripening of the acquaintance into some thing more, a good servant like Betsy takes herself off "for better for worse," leaving you as good as cookless, or nurseless, or house maidless; and it ia not to be wondered at if, after such painful experience, the mistress of 'a house should insert a clause in her resolu tions prohibiting henceforth all followers; but this does not answer, nor ever will while the law of nature continues against it; and so singular am I, that I now prefer engaging a servant who has a respectable well-defined Joseph on the horizon with whom Bhe is per mitted to "keep company" at intervals, rather than a young woman who, I know, will be on the watch to take in tow the first Dick, Tom, or Harry perhaps all three whom Bhe may succeed in signalizing. But the time wm paisin;, and my young woman had nit ooinn. Weary o't waiting, I rose' to depart, wheu Mrs. l'liinworthy, knowing I bad come some distance, prevailed upon me to "wait a little longer." 1 was about to speak to her about the person whom the maiden lady had sent adrift, and who, I thought, might have suited me, when she was again summoned back to her office. A young man, with light hair and fair complex ion, about five and twenty, well got-np in a Bnit of light-colored gnrments and an Albert chain dangling gracefully from a buttonhole, had come to transact business with the ac commodating Mrs. Primworthy. He has come in quest of a valet de chambre, was my conclusion; or, maybe, he is a married man and is deputed by his wife to negotiate for some female servant or other. It was then with unfeigned surprise that I heard Mrs. Primworthy address him familiarly as "Thomas," inquiring interestedly, at the same time, after his porents and family. Greater still was my amazement when, on proceeding to business, I heard the question asked him, "What made you leave your last situation ?" Yes, indeed, however hard to credit it, this was a footman out of place ! He had come to see if Mrs. Primworthy could find him another berth. "Why did I leave my last situation?" he answered, echoing Mrs. Primworthy's question "I left it becansa my feelings would not allow me to remain any longer; and when you hear all particulars, you'll only wonder how I put up with it so long." "Indeed, Thomas. I'm sorry to hear that. Let me see you was only there four months was not that all?" "Six months, Mrs. 'Primworthy, such a six months as I hope never to pass in any other situation, and I'll take care I don't if I can help it. Why, they don't know to treat a re spectable man; and then, the things I was ex pected to do there, it brings up all my indig nation to think of them. First of all, I wasu't even given a room to myself, but was forced to share a bedroom with the groom, a common fellow who used to snore so loud I had to lie awake for hours listening to him. To think of this, after what I had been ac customed to ! and then, this low chap, he knew so little of his place, and all that was due to me, that he refused to clean my boots the very first morning after I came, saying I was just as much a servant as he was; so that I had actually to do my own boot cleaning during the whole of those blessed six months." "Well but, Thomas, I don't think such little annoyances as those sufficient cause for leaving a good situation." "You wouldn't call it a good situation if you knew all the rest I had to put up with. A good situation, indeed t That is just what t was told it was before I went there. I ex pected they were good stylish sort of people, who knew what a man in my position would, and what he would not, stand. Such unfash ionable hours, too, as they kept I never heard of before 1 If they didn't breakfast at 8 o'clock, and then expect me to be all dressed and ready to attend table at such a time of day as that. Of course I told them at once I couldn't do it; they must get the parlor maid to wait at breakfast, and answer the bells, too, and not expect me anywhere upstairs till after 12 o'clock." "That was making rather bold, I think, Thomas. You'll find very few places indeed where you'll be left to yourself till twelve in the day." "Well, Mrs. Primworthy, that is my resolu tion, and I intend keeping to it. They re quired nothing more at my former situation, because they knew better what a man like me was entitled to. But there was lots of other things they wanted me to submit to. When I engaged for the place, it was understood that I should have a suit of clothes at the end of every six months, making two suits in the year; but after I had been there about two months, the gentleman sends for me, and says he, 'Thomas, there are two suits of clothes of mine on the drawers in my dressing-room which you can have; they are not all worn out; take and get them altered to fit you, as they are well worth it.' I felt my pride hurt at this, and no wonder, and so says I to him, 'No, sir, I'm much obliged to you, I don't wear other people's cast-off clothing, but I don't mind carrying them down stairs and giving them to Bill the groom. I dare say they will be useful to him, and perhaps he won't mind wearing them as they are, without even altering!' And what do you think Mr. says to me be cause I mentioned this about Bill and the old clothes ? Why, he calls me an insolent fellow, and tells me to be off down stairs. So, when my time was up, at the end of the six months, I received my wages right enough, and quite naturally I looked for the suit of clothes according to agree ment; thinking how nice it would be for me to have some good new things to come away with, when Mr. turns and begins abusing me like anything, saying he had done more than ever he wa3 bound to do In offering me those old things of his, so I shouldn't get any thing more out of him, and it was no use for me trying to. If that wasn't behaving shabby I" "I think, Thomas," interposed Mrs. Prim worthy, "you was wrong in refusing the clothes. Perhaps if it was not specified that the clothes should be new ones, Mr. considered he was acting up to the terms he engaged you on in offering you what he did. I know Mr. has always been re presented to me as a thorough gentleman, and the last young man as was there said it was a nice comfortable place, and he was aorry to leave. To tell you the truth, Thomas, I'm afraid you was a little bit spoiled, as the say ing is, at the place where you was before." "Well, you do astonish me to think how any man of proper feelings could call that a comfortable place; but it showed the sort of men they had before me when they had actu ally been in the habit of carrying the coals upstairs. They tried this on with me when first I came, expecting I was going to carry two or three great souttlefuls of coals a day all the way from the coal-cellar up to the drawing-room. But, as I told them, my bauds are not made for that sort of work, and what's more, I understood my place much to, well to submit to it if they had been. I never made any objection to lift the coals on to the fire when the ooal box Btood ready beside the chimneypieoe, bo as to save the ladies the trouble; and as I was anxious to be accommodating, I told them if they would get a sort of coal cupboard built on the landing outside the drawing-room door, as Lady did, to hold two or three daya' coal, I shouldn't even make a difficulty about filling the coal box from there; but as to carrying the coal up-stairs, I shouldn't do it." "And did they actually let you off carrying the coals V inquired the asto nished Mrs. Primworthy, becoming, like myself, more and more amazed at Thomas' presumption. "If they did, I think yoa were treated with great indulgence there alto gether." "Indulgence 1" exclaimed the man, "don't speak of indulgence in that house. I might as well have gone for six months to gaol at one for all the indulgence that was allowed us there. Uf course, a man like me, wheu he has done hid work, likes to spend hia even ings now and then with his friends or at his olub. But never could I get out of a night without first aking leave, and then it was always, 'What do you want to go out for, Thomas?' or 'Where do 5ou want to tgo to, Thomas?' or 'How lone shall yon be gone, Thomas?" making me feel more like as if I was a ticket-of-leave man than a man bearing the respectable character I did. And would you believe, though 1 of fered to put a lock on the back door and stand the expense myself, so as I might come in any hour of the night without disturbing the family, the geratleman he wouldn't allow it. saying he wondered only however I could ask Buch a thing. That doesn't much look like indulgence, I should say, should yon?" "As to the matter of going out at nights. Thomas," replied Mrs. Primworthy, "I know of many places where that is not allowed for a habit, and yet the master and mistress, I should say, quite as indulgent as need be. But now what do you wish me to do for you? because' you see, here is some one else come to d business with me, and I dare say her time is prtcious, the same as mine is." "Why, what I want is a regular first-olass situation; and I think a butler's place the one to suit me best, Wause people always treat a bntler with greater respect and consideration than they do a footman. It seems to me a butler holds a situation sort of half-way in a family between the parlor and the kitchen. He is not exactly master, nor be isn't looked upon quite like a servant; and then, too, his having charge of the wine, and the silver, and such like things, of itself makes his place of importance; and to tell you the truth, Mrs. Primworthy, it is not every one that is quali fied for it, but after the experience I have had " Thomas was not permitted to finish the pro clamation of his competency for the office newly ' aspired to, Mrs. Primworthy making bo mani fest a transfer of her attention to the new arri val that he made hU bow, signifying at the Bame time his intention of calling again in a day or two. What was effected at the threatened interview I did not learn but I remember thinking at the time, had I been Mrs. Primworthy, I should be somewhat cautious about helping this airifled gentleman into a first-class family, even in the new form of butler. Curiosity tempted me to ask the woman something about him, when she told me she had known him for several years; that he had been taken by the hand out of a hovel by some one or other who had given him a decent education, and provided him with two or three successive situations. Till lately, none knew his place better than did Thomas, but he bad recently held a situation at a Lady 's, who had, in fact, as Mrs. Primworthy expressed it, completely spoiled him. Thia lady, under the by no moans rare delusion that Bhe had got a treasure, was persuaded that she could not do enough for Thomas, nor require too little from him, coupled with a superstitious dread of the awfulnesa of the calamity, should Thomas ever leave her. Under the combined influence of these joint impressions, it was no wonder if Thomas' indulgences increased both in number and in magnitude. What he liked ha did, and what he liked not he left alone or did by deputy, till it had grown hard to define exactly the nature of the position which he held in this Lady 's establishment; and there, no doubt, it was he had conceived the happy notion of a neutral office between up stairs rule and down-stairs servitude for which he deemed himself so admirably Buited. But in an evil day for him, Lady took ill and died, died most unexpectedly. Poor Thomas, of course, participated in the general disper sion of her retinue that ensued, winding up in the service of this Mr. , six months' ex perience of which had quite satisfied him. It was now my turn, the last comer already alluded to being the individual whom I was expecting, and whose appearanoe was verily a relief to me; for although I confess to have been somewhat entertained by much I had been fain to listen to, I, in truth, desired to hear no more. My own business was of a very ordinary nature and speedily concluded. Had anything passed worth jotting down, it should have been recorded for the benefit of the reader; but I refrain from inflicting the recital of my commonplace transaction upon others, who, like myself, have probably had enough of the subject. My admission behind the scenes, if I may so term it, went, I think, to strengthen the no tions I had already held, as to the correct mode of dealing with domestic servants. I had always been under the impression that there were two errors to guard against if you desire to be satisfac torily served. One is, the mistake of being over strict, and the other that of being too in dulgent. To steer evenly a midway course be tween these two very common ' tendencies, while it forms one of the secrets of successful management, is an art of which few are mas ter. And a third notion of mine is this that for the kitchen the happiest and most success ful form of government is the republican. If cook be president, let her be nothing more. A monarchy below stairs never answers. If cook is permitted to wield the reins, she will very soon assume the whip, and the community will be subject to periodical disruption. Being already prepossessed with the correctness of my theory, I came away with existing impressions deepened by what I was constrained to hear during my half-hour's detention in the Ser vants' Registry. London Society. , . WANTS. W ANTED, AtlEMH IN EVERT CITT AND TOWN IN Fcnsejlvania and Southern New Jersey FOR TUB BROOKLYN LITE IKSUBAKCECOMPAN'X OF NEW YORK Also, a Jew good SOLICITOUS for Philadelphia. Cell or fcddrees E. B. COLTON, GENERAL AGENT, - NO. 687 fllElSPT MTBEKT. gOOK AOICNTS LN LUCK AT LAST. bfalvoi?FZhi?h,h!, '" --o enveloped the Inner J,'KPRY 0F THE S'ECH" SERVICE." r,n?Zn,. 1 1 " 'nteret this book transcend, all the iii-i "tS?. f . ,ll0u'""'b rare, and conclusively oreve mat truth la ulraiigt-r than nYllon." Ageuia are clearing from oo to fclOO per month, wuicu we can prove to an; doubling applicant. it- more can obtain agoucit lu territory yet unoccu pied. AddrtM JP. UABUETT rO HO, litlt kTKlit.r, 1 2U tiUIJk.DiaJfiUJk,
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