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
As the valet is much about his master’s person, and has the opportunity
of hearing his off-at-hand opinions on many subjects, he should
endeavour to have as short a memory as possible, and, above all, keep
his master’s council; and he should be very cautious of mischief-making
or tale-bearing, to the prejudice of other persons, as calculated to
involve his master in disputes, and ruin himself, if by chance he is
incorrect.
The usual salary is from 30l. to 60l. per annum, but in some situations
much more. Perquisites, his master’s cast-off clothes.
TO CLEAN GOLD LACE.
Rub it with a soft brush dipped in roche alum burnt, sifted to a very
fine powder.
TO REMOVE STAINS FROM MOURNING DRESSES.
Boil a good handful of fig-leaves in two quarts of water till reduced
to a pint. Bombazine, crape, cloth, &c. need only be rubbed with
a sponge dipped in the liquor, and the effect will be instantly
produced.
NEW MODE OF SHAVING.
Mix up with the brush, in prepared lather, one tea-spoonful of
finely pounded best lump whiting, without the smallest danger to the
razor’s edge or the surface of the chin. Perhaps the very best edge
may be given to the razor also, by throwing a pinch of whiting on a
moderately oiled or soaped strop.
TO CLEAN GILT BUCKLES, CHAINS, &C.
Dip a soft brush in water, rub a little soap on it, and brush the
article for a minute or two, then wash it clean, wipe it; place it
near the fire till dry, and brush it with burnt bread finely powdered.
TO MANAGE RAZOR STROPS.
Keep them moderately moist with a drop or two of sweet oil; a little
crocus martis and a few drops of sweet oil, rubbed well in with a
glass bottle, will give the razor a fine edge; pass it afterwards
on the inside of your hand when warm, and dip it in hot water just
before using.
TO SCOUR CLOTHES, COATS, PELISSES, &C.
If a black, blue, or brown coat, dry 2 ounces of Fuller’s earth, and
pour on it sufficient boiling water to dissolve it, and plaster with
it the spots of grease; take a pennyworth of bullock’s gall, mix with
it half a pint of stale urine; and a little boiling water; with a
hard brush, dipped in this liquor, brush spotted places. Then dip the
coat in a bucket of cold spring water. When nearly dry, lay the nap
right, and pass a drop of oil of olives over the brush to finish it.
If grey, drab, fawns, or maroons, cut yellow soap into thin slices,
and pour water upon it to moisten it. Rub the greasy and dirty spots
of the coat. Let it dry a little, and then brush it with warm water,
repeating, if necessary, as at first, and use water a little hotter;
rinse several times, in warm water, and finish as before.
TO CLEAN GLOVES WITHOUT WETTING.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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