Garland Globe | 1906-03-24 | Page 9 | Domestic Service in Olden Days

Domestic Service In Olden Days. "Menial" was originally applied only to domestic servants to show that they wero "Intra moonla," or between walls, as distinguished from tho apprentice, ap-prentice, so called from tho French "apprendre," to lenrn. Until tho eight-tccnth eight-tccnth century all sloglo men between j 12 years old and CO, and all married ones under 30, and all single women between 12 and 40, not having any vlslblo livelihood, wero compellablo by two Justices to go Into service. But at a still earlier dato tho domestic servant seems genornlly to havo been ' some relation to the family, showing that service had no contumptlblo meaning in those days, and explaining, explain-ing, perhaps, why so often In old boolis nnd plays tho lady's maid or tho valet Is referred to as their master's or mistress' "lady" or "gentloman."