MRS. MILLEFLEURS.- "Oh, Angelina! I'm so glad to see you!-You must excuse my looks. I've been House Cleaning all day, and I'm almost tired to death!"
Servants were the underpinnings of the middle or upper class lifestyle in mid-19th century America, yet they are a most misunderstood subject. I'll be exploring the myths and realities of domestic service at the upcoming 2013 Ladies & Gentlemen of the 1860's Conference in my presentation, The Servant Problem: Good Help is Hard to Find.
HOW MRS. MILLEFEURS CLEANED HOUSE.
MRS. MILLEFLEURS.-"Oh, Bridget, do scrub a little more gently; you shock my nerves."
Many people have formed a viewpoint of domestic service based on classic novels and movies, such as Jane Eyre - but servants in England are far different than their counterparts in America. The "servant problem" is a constant refrain in literature of the period; the interactions between mistress and maid were frequently fraught with conflict.
Visiting the intelligence, the maid-of-all-work, the "Irish girl" - all this and more will be examined during my presentation.
If you've never attended the conference, it's an experience like no other: incredible presentations, workshops, original artifacts, quality shopping and more!
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