The complete servant: Being a practical guide to the peculiar duties and business of all descriptions of servants, from the housekeeper to the servant of all-work, and from the land steward to the foot-boy. With useful receipts and tablesAdams, Samuel, servant
History
The complete servant: Being a practical guide to the peculiar duties and business of all descriptions of servants, from the housekeeper to the servant of all-work, and from the land steward to the foot-boy. With useful receipts and tables
Adams, Samuel, servant
Home economics; Household employees
Gentlemen who shave themselves, usually strop their own razors
immediately after the operation, whilst the metal is yet warm, which
is the best way: but if it be left to the valet to do, the razor must
be dipped in warm water and wiped dry with a clean cloth or rag; then
laying it flat on the strop, draw it diagonally, from the heel to the
point, the whole length of the strop, turning the elbow in and out
every time the razor is turned; half a dozen or half a score strokes
backwards and forwards, as often as it is used, will keep it in good
order for a considerable time. Good razors are made concave, or hollow,
between the back and the edge, on both sides, for the greater security
in shaving, and for the purpose of giving them a better edge in setting
or stropping.
Having attended his master while dressing, combed his hair, &c. the
valet will take the first opportunity, after he is gone, to set the
room in order, by looking over his things, folding away his night
clothes, washing the brushes and combs occasionally, when necessary,
with warm water and soap, wiping them clean, and drying them at an easy
distance from the fire, and then putting them away in their places.—The
dressing-stand must be wiped clean and dry, the basin washed and wiped,
the ewer and caroft rinsed out and filled again with clean water, the
towels taken away and replaced with clean ones, the fire stirred, the
room dusted, and every thing put in order, as if immediately to be used
again. This must always be done as soon as possible after his master is
dressed or re-dressed, and every garment or other article that has been
taken off, must be brushed, folded, and put away in its proper place.
In case of the master’s coming home wet from a ride, or otherwise, an
immediate change of warm dry clothes must be provided, and the wet or
damp things taken away and dried at a proper distance from the fire;
after having wiped the coat, or other woollen garments, with a sponge,
the way of the nap, or, if only spotted, with a silk handkerchief, in
the same manner, which will effectually smooth the grain of the cloth,
and remove all the spots.
When preparing for a journey, care should be taken to ascertain the
probable time of absence, that sufficient change of linen, &c. may be
provided—nor must the shaving and dressing apparatus be forgotten. When
arrived at an inn, or visiting place, all his master’s things must be
carried into his dressing-room, and set in order for dressing, or for
the night, as nearly as possible in the same order as at home. If the
footman be not there, the valet will have to attend to his master’s
accommodation below stairs also.
The valet is to be always in attendance, in case of his master’s coming
home unexpectedly—and he is to assist in waiting at table at all
meal-times.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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