The reception, manner of attendance, undisturbed freedom
and quiet, which I meet with here in the country,
has confirmed me in the opinion I always had, that the
general corruption of manners in servants is owing to the
conduct of masters. The aspect of every one in the family (80:5)
carries so much satisfaction that it appears he knows
the happy lot which has befallen him in being a member
of it. There is one particular which I have seldom seen
but at Sir Roger's: it is usual in all other places that
servants fly from the parts of the house through which (10)
their master is passing; on the contrary, here, they industriously
place themselves in his way; and it is on both
sides, as it were, understood as a visit, when the servants
appear without calling. This proceeds from the humane
and equal temper of the man of the house, who also perfectly (15)
well knows how to enjoy a great estate with such
economy as ever to be much beforehand. This makes
his own mind untroubled, and consequently unapt to
vent peevish expressions, or give passionate or inconsistent
orders to those about him. Thus respect and love
go together; and a certain cheerfulness in performance
of their duty is the particular distinction of the lower
part of this family. When a servant is called before his
master, he does not come with an expectation to hear (81: 5)
himself rated for some trivial fault, threatened to be
stripped,[38] or used with any other unbecoming language,
which mean masters often give to worthy servants: but
it is often to know what road he took that he came so
readily back according to order; whether he passed by (10)
such a ground; if the old man who rents it is in good
health; or whether he gave Sir Roger's love to him, or
the like.
[38] _I.e_. stripped of his livery, dismissed.
A man who preserves a respect founded on his benevolence
to his dependants lives rather like a prince than a (15)
master in his family; his orders are received as favours
rather than duties; and the distinction of approaching
him is part of the reward for executing what is commanded
by him.
There is another circumstance in which my friend excels (20)
in his management, which is the manner of rewarding
his servants. He has ever been of opinion that
giving his cast[39] clothes to be worn by valets has a very
ill effect upon little minds, and creates a silly sense of
equality between the parties, in persons affected only (25)
with outward things. I have heard him often pleasant
on this occasion,[40] and describe a young gentleman abusing
his man in that coat[41] which a month or two before
was the most pleasing distinction he was conscious of in
himself. He would turn his discourse still more pleasantly
upon the ladies' bounties of this kind; and I have
heard him say he knew a fine woman who distributed (82: 5)
rewards and punishments in giving becoming or unbecoming
dresses to her maids.
[39] Cast-off.
[40] _I.e_. humorous on this matter.
[41] _I.e_. while the man was wearing that coat.
But my good friend is above these little instances of
good-will, in bestowing only trifles on his servants; a
good servant to him is sure of having it in his choice very (10)
soon of being no servant at all. As I before observed,
he is so good an husband,[42] and knows so thoroughly that
the skill of the purse is the cardinal virtue of this life,--I
say, he knows so well that frugality is the support of
generosity, that he can often spare a large fine[43] when a (15)
tenement falls,[44] and give that settlement to a good servant
who has a mind to go into the world, or make a stranger
pay the fine to that servant, for his more comfortable
maintenance, if he stays in his service.
[42] Economist. The verb is still used in that sense.
[43] A fine, in English law, is a sum of money paid by a tenant at the
beginning of his tenancy, usually to reduce his rent.
[44] When the right to occupy a house or lands terminates, by
expiration of lease or otherwise. The usual term is "falls in."
The meaning of the whole passage is that when a tenement--house or
lands--is to be rented, Sir Roger often grants it to one of his
servants without requiring payment of the customary "fine" on taking
possession; or, if the servant choose to remain with Sir Roger, he may
have the fine paid by the "stranger" who leases the property.
A man of honour and generosity considers it would be
miserable to himself to have no will but that of another,
though it were of the best person breathing, and for that
reason goes on as fast as he is able to put his servants
into independent livelihoods. The greatest part of Sir (83: 5)
Roger's estate is tenanted by persons who have served
himself or his ancestors. It was to me extremely pleasant
to observe the visitants from several parts to welcome
his arrival into the country; and all the difference that I
could take notice of between the late[45] servants who came (10)
to see him and those who stayed in the family, was that
these latter were looked upon as finer gentlemen and
better courtiers.
[45] Recent, former.
This manumission and placing them in a way of livelihood
I look upon as only what is due to a good servant, (15)
which encouragement will make his successor be as diligent,
as humble, and as ready as he was. There is something
wonderful in the narrowness of those minds which
can be pleased, and be barren of bounty to those who
please them. (20)
One might, on this occasion, recount the sense that
great persons in all ages have had of the merit of their
dependants, and the heroic services which men have done
their masters in the extremity of their fortunes, and shown
to their undone patrons that fortune was all the difference (25)
between them; but as I design this my speculation only
as a gentle admonition to thankless masters, I shall not
go out of the occurrences of common life, but assert it, as
a general observation, that I never saw, but in Sir Roger's
family and one or two more, good servants treated as
they ought to be. Sir Roger's kindness extends to their
children's children, and this very morning he sent his
coachman's grandson to prentice. I shall conclude (84: 5)
this paper with an account of a picture in his gallery,
where there are many which will deserve my future observation.
At the very upper end of this handsome structure I saw
the portraiture of two young men standing in a river,--the (10)
one naked, the other in a livery. The person supported
seemed half dead, but still so much alive as to
show in his face exquisite joy and love towards the other.
I thought the fainting figure resembled my friend Sir
Roger; and, looking at the butler, who stood by me, for (15)
an account of it, he informed me that the person in the
livery was a servant of Sir Roger's, who stood on the shore
while his master was swimming, and observing him taken
with some sudden illness, and sink under water, jumped
in and saved him.[46] He told me Sir Roger took off the (20)
dress he was in as soon as he came home, and by a great
bounty at that time, followed by his favour ever since, had
made him master of that pretty seat which we saw at a
distance as we came to this house. I remembered indeed
Sir Roger said there lived a very worthy gentleman, to (25)
whom he was highly obliged, without mentioning anything
further. Upon my looking a little dissatisfied at some
part of the picture, my attendant informed me that it was
against Sir Roger's will, and at the earnest request of the
gentleman himself, that he was drawn in the habit in
which he had saved his master. R.
[46] Can you criticise the use of pronouns in this sentence?