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Untitled Article
concerns him if he see a good chance elsewhere . In England there is seldom any loye between master and servant ; there is no affection , no reciprocity . A short time ago I saw a servant of Earl D— , uncovered , bowing submissively as he attended his master , and assisted him to his carriage . He was regarded as a faithful and attached dependent . I heard his lordship so speak of him ; and I
heard the man , the moment after the carriage drove from the door * say to one of his comrades , * There ' s a fellow for a lord , he may do for a broom , ' and saying this , he pantomimed the street-scavenger , * but he ' s not good enough for the scoop . ' There was a liveried thing seen some months ago , riding about and carrying a lap-dog wrapped up in flannel , for an airing ; he was directed to go into none of the close and filthy streets among the residences of the canaille , lest he
( the dog ) should inhale the atmosphere of poverty , and the effluvia of gin , onions , and tobacco , and not to go out of a gentle walk . Which of the two was the more foul , contemptible , degraded wretch , —the owner of the dog , or the man who submitted to the order ? The sick , flannelled lap-dog was a god compared to either of them . Yet , no doubt , this was ' a faithful and attached servant . * I say there is no affection existing between employer and employed , between
truster and trusted , master and servant . But ' they are very faithful / oh , very ! ' They will stand up for their masters and defend them on emergencies / ay , if the guinea shine behind the emergency . And such faith is merited and won , no other . ' Firm is my faith if bought by gold , ' may be stamped on the foreheads of them all . The master
is afraid of being seen in any shape that shall not exhibit him as the master ; he thinks he shall slacken the chains of ' respectful subordination , ' if he oil the links by speaking to the wearer as if he were a fellow-being ; or , more foolish and more cowardly still , he dreads the opinion of his neighbours , who will say he does not keep his servant in subjection , if he be not in his tones imperative , and in his looks austere .
It is singularly strange , that the gentleman or lady who will unhesitatingly confide the keys of wardrobe , cash , or jewels to a servant , and if occasion require , go into a court of law to vouch , on oath , a belief in said servant ' s trustworthiness—to speak , still on oath , instances in proof of the servant ' s impeccable integrity ; it is singular , I say , that there is one point on which the ready voucher would be struck into blank silence . If the court should put the question * Did you trust this servant with the key of your tea-caddy V After the
dumbfoundermg consequent on this interrogatory , something would be emitted like * What a question ! nobody ever does ; it is contrary to custom V Are you puzzled , reader , for the cause of this effect defective . ' Tell me , ye who cavil at my sourness , does any other principle guide you or yours , your copartners or acquaintances ? Do you trust because the trusted is faithful ? because the trusted is of spotless integrity ? Not you ; you know your security is not there . You know your own remedy , and revenge too , in the event of
betrayal and turpitude ; you know that rascality is merely frightened away . On every village green , companion to the church , you have erected a pair of stocks . All your honesty , your morality , and much of your religion , is as two current coins jingled against
Untitled Article
Autobiography of Pel . Verjuice . 401
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1833, page 401, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2616/page/41/
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