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
When the butler sees that the first course is nearly done with, he
again gives notice to the cook, and proceeds to take all the dishes off
the table, and the footman and under butler take them away, and fetch
the second course. The butler being employed, in the mean time, in
setting the table in order, laying the mats, clean spoons, glasses, &c.
The footman, with the assistance of the house-maids and others, having
brought up the next course, the butler places the dishes on the table,
takes off the covers, hands them to the footman, to be taken away, and
again takes his station at the side-board, and during the whole dinner,
the same kind of etiquette as before, is observed by every servant in
attendance, (of which, in some cases, there are several besides the
butler, under butler, and footman; namely, the lady’s footman, valet,
and on particular occasions, waiters hired for the purpose.) The third
course, (consisting of pastry, viz. pies, tarts, &c. with game at
the top and bottom of the table, and the cheese and salads placed on
the side-board) which being removed, as before, the butler with a
napkin wipes off the stains and marks of the hot dishes on the tables,
and places the dessert, as it is brought up by the footman and under
butler. He also puts the wine on the table, and the under butler the
wine-glasses, while the footman places the finger glasses before each
person, and a plate, with a knife and fork and spoon on each plate, the
butler putting other spoons for serving the fruits, jellies, &c. The
butler takes his place behind his master’s chair, at the foot of the
table, and the lady’s footman, behind his lady’s chair at the head, to
hand the wines, &c. and all the other servants leave the room, taking
with them all the things that have been used.
The footman, as soon as all the things are carried down, repairs
to the drawing-room, makes up the fire, sweeps up the hearth, and
otherwise prepares that room. The butler also taking occasion to see
that the lamps and candles are lighted, and the card tables set out,
with candles and two packs of cards on each, and the chairs and sofas
properly arranged by the footman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account