Already we are obliged to depend on immigration for our servants because an American revolts from the false position, though he willingly accepts longer hours or harder work where he has no one around him but his equals.It is the old story of the free, hungry wolf, and the well-fed, but chained, house-dog.The foreigners that immigration now brings us, from countries where great class distinctions exist, find it natural to "serve." With the increase in education and consequent self-respect, the difficulty of getting efficient and contented servants will increase with us.It has already become a great social problem in England.The trouble lies beneath the surface.If a superior class accept service at all, it is with the intention of quickly getting money enough to do something better.With them service is merely the means to an end.
A first step on the ladder!
Bad masters are the cause of so much suffering, that to protect themselves, the great brother-hood of servants have imagined a system of keeping run of "places," and giving them a "character"which an aspirant can find out with little trouble.This organization is so complete, and so well carried out, that a household where the lady has a "temper," where the food is poor, or which breaks up often, can rarely get a first-class domestic.The "place" has been boycotted, a good servant will sooner remain idle than enter it.If circumstances are too much for him and he accepts the situation, it is with his eyes open, knowing infinitely more about his new employers and their failings than they dream of, or than they could possibly find out about him.