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to see always the seamy side of life； the small expedients； the
aids to nature； to stand behind a chair and hear an acquaintance of
your master's ridiculed； who has just been warmly praised to his
face； to see a hostess who has been graciously urging her guests
〃not to go so soon；〃 blurt out all her boredom and thankfulness
〃that those tiresome So…and…So's〃 are 〃paid off at last；〃 as soon
as the door is closed behind them； must needs give a curious bent
to a servant's mind。 They see their employers insincere； and copy
them。 Many a mistress who has been smilingly assured by her maid
how much her dress becomes her； and how young she is looking； would
be thunderstruck to hear herself laughed at and criticised （none
too delicately） five minutes later in that servant's talk。
Servants are trained from their youth up to conceal their true
feelings。 A domestic who said what she thought would quickly lose
her place。 Frankly； is it not asking a good deal to expect a maid
to be very fond of a lady who makes her sit up night after night
until the small hours to unlace her bodice or take down her hair；
or imagine a valet can be devoted to a master he has to get into
bed as best he can because he is too tipsy to get there unaided？
Immortal 〃Figaro〃 is the type！ Supple； liar； corrupt； intelligent；
… he aids his master and laughs at him； feathering his own nest the
while。 There is a saying that 〃horses corrupt whoever lives with
them。〃 It would be more correct to say that domestic service
demoralizes alike both master and man。
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。
One thing never can be sufficiently impressed on people； viz。： that
we are forced to live with detectives； always behind us in caps or
dress…suits； ready to note every careless word； every incautious
criticism of friend or acquaintance … their money matters or their
love affairs … and who have nothing more interesting to do than to
repeat what they have heard； with embroideries and additions of
their own。 Considering this； and that nine people out of ten talk
quite oblivious of their servants' presence； it is to be wondered
at that so little （and not that so much） trouble is made。
It always amuses me when I ask a friend if she is going abroad in
the spring； to have her say 〃Hush！〃 with a frightened glance
towards the door。
〃I am； but I do not want the servants to know； or the horrid things
would leave me！〃
Poor； simple lady！ They knew it before you did； and had discussed
the whole matter over their 〃tea〃 while it was an almost unuttered
thought in your mind。 If they have not already given you notice；
it is because； on the whole your house suits them well enough for
the present； while they look about。 Do not worry your simple soul；
trying to keep anything from them。 They know the amount of your
last dressmaker's bill； and the row your husband made over it。
They know how much you would have liked young 〃Croesus〃 for your
daughter； and the little tricks you played to bring that marriage
about。 They know why you are no longer asked to dine at Mrs。
Swell's； which is more than you know yourself。 Mrs。 Swell
explained the matter to a few friends over her lunch…table
recently； and the butler told your maid that same evening； who was
laughing at the story as she put on your slippers！
Before we blame them too much； however； let us remember that they
have it in their power to make great trouble if they choose。 And
considering the little that is made in this way； we must conclude
that； on the whole； they are better than we give them credit for
being； and fill a trying situation with much good humor and
kindliness。 The lady who is astonished that they take so little
interest in her； will perhaps feel differently if she reflects how
little trouble she has given herself to find out their anxieties
and griefs； their temptations and heart…burnings； their material
situation； whom they support with their slowly earned wages； what
claims they have on them from outside。 If she will also reflect on
the number of days in a year when she is 〃not herself；〃 when
headaches or disappointments ruffle her charming temper； she may
come to the conclusion that it is too much to expect all the
virtues for twenty dollars a month。
A little more human interest； my good friends； a little more
indulgence； and you will not risk finding yourself in the position
of the lady who wrote me that last summer she had been obliged to
keep open house for 〃'Cook' tourists！〃
CHAPTER 22 … An English Invasion of the Riviera
WHEN sixty years ago Lord Brougham； EN ROUTE for Italy； was thrown
from his travelling berline and his leg was broken； near the
Italian hamlet of Cannes； the Riviera was as unknown to the polite
world as the centre of China。 The GRAND TOUR which every young
aristocrat made with his tutor； on coming of age； only included
crossing from France into Italy by the Alps。 It was the occurrence
of an unusually severe winter in Switzerland that turned Brougham
aside into the longer and less travelled route VIA the Corniche；
the marvellous Roman road at that time fallen into oblivion； and
little used even by the local peasantry。
During the tedious weeks while his