“O good old man! how well in thee appears The constant service of the antique world, When service sweat for duty, not for meed! Thou art not for the fashion of these times, Where none will sweat but for promotion, And having that, do choke their service up E’en with the having: it is not so with thee.”
Such are the reflections of Orlando upon the decay of service in “As You Like It.” That ingratitude and incivility are not a monopoly of to-day may be seen from such wills as those of Dr. Messenger Monsey and of the Rt. Hon. Humphry Morice. The servant problem, indeed, often forms a diverting feature of wills. And since in current wills we find frequent instances of constancy and corresponding reward, doubtless the lament over the “constant service of the antique world” is one among many cases where the cry of ?tas parentum is erroneous or misleading. [Pg 170]
In Hone’s “Table Book” is this memorandum: “The following memorial I copied from a tablet, on the right hand side of the clergyman’s desk, in the beautiful little church at Hornsey. The scarceness of similar inscriptions makes this valuable.—S. T. L.
“Erected to the memory of Mary Parsons, the diligent, faithful and affectionate servant in a family during a period of 57 years. She died on the 22nd day of November, 1806, aged 85.
“Also to the memory of Elizabeth Decker, the friend and companion of the above; who, after an exemplary service of 47 years in the same family, died on the 2nd of February, 1809, aged 75.
“Their remains, by their mutual request, were interred in the same grave.”
But against such examples of a hundred years ago may be set wills like those already mentioned. Dr. Monsey is characteristically vigorous in speaking of his servant Nanney. “This she must take as a reward for her impertinence, sauciness and unwilling service; she’s as proud as the Devil can make her, as much of a prude as the best of you, as self-conceited and pert and self-sufficient as the most flaunting Duchess in the Kingdom.”
Among many, as has been seen, the Rt. Hon. Humphry Morice found only one faithful to his trust: “and sorry I am to say he is the only servant I ever had who seemed sensible of good treatment and did not behave ungratefully.” If from an addition to his will made at Naples, March 14, 1784, we may judge of his usual conduct, he must have deserved gratitude and devotion, if any master ever did. “I appoint my [Pg 171] servant John Allen and my servant Richard Deale joint executors of this my will and codicil, being confident I can depend upon them for the taking care of my effects and of what I have, that they will dispose of it as I order ’em by letter or otherwise.... I desire to be buried at Naples if I die there, and in a leaden coffin, if such a thing is to be had. Just before it is soldered, I request the surgeon in Lord Tylney’s house or some other surgeon may take out my heart, or perform some other operation to ascertain my being really dead. The five servants I brought with me from England to have a complete suit of mourning. I mean for ’em to continue in the house I inhabit ... till it is a proper season for ’em to return to England, so as for ’em to avoid taking that journey during the extremes of winter or summer, according to the time I may happen to die. Their maintenance here, also the expenses of their return to England [which he stipulates shall be by land] to be paid out of my effects.”
It speaks much for his trustful nature that he associates with the one servant found faithful in 1782 another in 1784, in spite of his disappointment in human gratitude. This generous trait of his character will again be exemplified.
Dr. Thomas Cheyney, in one of the numerous papers upon which comment has been made, was another whose kindness was ill-rewarded. In a codicil dated January 14, 1748, he says in language through which we [Pg 172] can see his disappointment and disgust: “Thomas Randall having chose to leave my service not in the most grateful manner, after I had educated him from his very distressed childhood, I hereby revoke all legacies intended ... for him.”
M. Coquelin, the famous actor, left a large legacy for his servant Gillet, “who has been the most honest and most devoted of servants.” Handel’s will and codicils show how much his servants were in his mind. Sir John Dolben, of Durham, Bart., D.D., says in his will, dated May 22, 1751: “I give and bequeath to my faithful and affectionate old servant Elizabeth Burlington all my wearing clothes and apparel whatsoever, and I wish I was in circumstances to leave her a provision for life suitable to the care she has taken of me during very many long and sore distempers, but I think and hope my children will not let her want under old age and infirmities.”
The Rt. Hon. Mary Countess Dowager of De la Warr, whose will reveals a lovable and sentimental personality, was fortunate in her servants. Dated July 24, 1783, it is addressed to Johnny her son: “My dear Son, as I hourly feel my health decay, it reminds me how necessary it is to make a few memorandums, which, from the knowledge I have of the integrity of your heart, will (I am sensible) be as binding and as strictly adhered to by you as a will strictly drawn up with the greatest form.... Poor Elizabeth Hutchinson’s unwearied attentions to me and your sister Charlotte during all our sickness cannot be forgot [Pg 173] by me. I desire she may have ￡30 and all my wearing apparel, and added to these the best of characters. The rest of my servants mourning and ￡10 each, having behaved very well in my service. Adieu: jusqu’au revoir.”
It is curious to observe the minute care with which high dignitaries consider the claims of their servants. The Noble ............