Letters to Persons Who Are Engaged in Domestic Service

by Catharine Esther Beecher

strangers, on two conditions; the first was, that they should never have any kind of intercourse with the people of the land, but take care of themselves and do all their own work. The second was, that all the company should consider and treat each other as “free and equal.” Children and servants, soldiers and sailors, were to have the same right to every thing in the palace, as any one else had, and no person was to be superior in rights to another, in any respect whatever. All were “free and equal;” all were equally entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” in any way each thought best for himself. On these two conditions, this company took possession of this noble estate, and all its treasures.

Immediately on entering the palace, they commenced ransacking the whole establishment, and every one was trying to get the best of every thing. All wanted the pleasantest rooms, and the handsomest clothes, and the best articles of food. Each person claimed that he had as good a right to the best of every thing as any one else, and no one was willing to give up his rights. The children liked to use the

nicest china and cut glass to play with, and the cakes and sweetmeats for their food; the servants liked the silks and satins for dress, and the sailors and soldiers liked the fine parlours with their light carpets and silk curtains and sofas, to smoke and eat in. And if any of the company tried to control them, insult and abuse were showered down, for thus taking away the rights and liberties of others. Very soon quarrels began, and these grew worse and worse, until they came to blows, and there was constant fighting for every thing. The result was this; the servants, the soldiers and the sailors were the strongest, and so they got possession of the best of every thing. The richest clothing, the finest rooms, and the best food were all taken by them. The captain, officers and gentlemen were the next strongest, and they got the next best. The women and children were the weakest, and so they were obliged to put up with the poorest of every thing.

But after they had thus divided their possessions, the question then was, who should do the work? All wanted to sit in the parlours, and walk in the gardens, and eat their meals,

and ride in their carriages; but nobody wanted to cook, or wash, or sweep, or plough, or take care of horses. And yet all this work must be done, or they would be destitute of the necessaries and comforts of life. At first, the strongest tried to force the weakest to work for them, and for a while, it seemed as if the poor women and children, who had little strength to resist, would be made slaves to the strong.

But they declared that nobody had a right to make them work, and that they would go with their complaints to the king, if their rights were thus invaded.

Thus matters went on, till all the carpets were covered with filth, all the dishes were dirty, all the clothing was soiled and torn, and every thing about the estate was fast going to destruction.

Meantime the soldiers, sailors and servants, who had the most strength, were constantly domineering over the others, and quarrelling and fighting among themselves. The children were beaten and abused, the ladies insulted, and all kinds of oppression practised.

There was universal contention, fear, distress and ill will. All the decent and well meaning persons declared, that they would gladly exchange this palace for a hovel, with nothing but potatoes to eat, and straw to sleep on, if they could thus gain quiet and peace. In this company was a venerable old clergyman, with white locks, a benevolent countenance, and kind and pleasant manners. Soon after the scenes of riot and abuse commenced, he retired to a hay loft for refuge; and here he was often visited for counsel and sympathy, by the suffering and sorrowful. One day a pale and sweet looking lady came to him, in great distress. Her little Ellen, her beautiful and only child, was sick. She told the minister she could not get a comfortable bed, nor a quiet room, that her servant whom she had hired to wait on her during the voyage would do nothing to help her, that she had watched by her child day and night till her strength was all gone, that when she tried to prepare suitable food for herself and her sick child, some rude sailor or soldier would come along and snatch it away, that she was sick, hopeless and exhausted, and that

she and her child must perish for want of rest and food, unless she could get some pity and help.