Previously, we looked at how some servants chose to emigrate to Australia rather than to remain in England. You may find that discussion HERE:
Life Below Stairs: English Servants Emigrating to Australia, Part I
An article entitled “Mistress and Maid” from The Victorian Magazine (Vol. XXVI, 1876, London, page 509) tells us “Australia offers to the young woman of the working class, high wages, a splendid climate, and greater liberty than she could enjoy at home, either in service or in a workshop, and these high wages can be earned without further qualification than strong health, strong arms, a willing mind and a good character.” The girls who emigrated found a much freer society than they had left behind in England. In Australia, they found a “fairer” situation, one removed from the petty aspirations and gross exploitations they met in set structure of household servants in England. They also found higher wages and better working conditions, as well as the possibility of an advantageous marriage.
Although they were expected to clean their own rooms and wash their own clothes, servants in Australia in the 1870s made between £20 and £26 per year. Women cooks earned as high as £40. Governesses, especially in the rural areas of Australia, were considered a prize servant. They could earn between £80 and £100.
Jane Resture’s Oceania Page Girls of Australia learning the domestic arts. http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_history/index3.htm
One of the biggest differences was the ability of the servants to find a suitable marriage. The women received multiple marriage proposals, not always from gentlemen (for those high and in demand household servants), but at least from hard-working men who were looking for a woman to help build their land. These women could look forward to a handsome and comfortable house. The only “danger” was accepting a bushman who had yet to earn the fortune they claimed to possess. Multiple offers of marriage were not uncommon. Emigration could change a maid into a mistress.
In the mid to late 1840s, many girls in service decided to make the arduous journey from England to Australian ports. One must remember that the journey took three to four months to complete, depending upon the weather and the winds. Clipper ships were still being used for such journeys for they were more economical than steam-driven ships. The clippers would export their “live lumber” and bring back a much needed import to English shores. Many died during the journey. Illness and harsh treatment was commonplace. It was not unusual to have 50 to 100 to die during the journey. Many of those deaths were babies of women who hoped for a better way for them and theirs. 
In 1846, South Australia appointed matrons to oversee the girls in hopes of securing more appropriate candidates. This became a common practice. As many as fifty to sixty employers met with each of the “acceptable” girls. It cost about £20 per girl (train fare to Portsmouth, bedding, and fare) to bring a woman from England to Australia. Queensland and South Australia groups often absorbed the cost of the girls’ voyages to bring reliable help to their homes. These schemes were abandoned when governmental economic issues interfered with the practice. Even so, thousands of servant girls arrived in Australia thanks to these programs. 
A sense of status above stairs was to be expected among the aristocracy, but it was no less observed below stairs. For example, the lower servants often spoke poorly of the “Pug’s” Procession, which happened after the first course of supper below stairs. All the servants would eat the first course together, generally in enforced silence. However, when that first course ended, the upper servants would exit to either the house steward’s quarters or those of the housekeeper where their pudding would be served to them. Even when leaving the table, they rose and filed from the room in order of precedence within the household. During the Victorian era, butlers and upper servants associated with like servants from other fine houses in their “clubs.” Footmen had similar clubs where they met and socialized. At a social gathering, such as a country fête, the servants took on the status of their employer. A maid tending to a mere “Miss” would be lower on the line of precedence than the maid tending a member of the aristocracy. 
The parlourmaid had previously set the table: linen cloth, polished cutlery, a mitre-shaped napkin, cups, saucers. Upon the table when the family sat to breakfast was jars of jam, whole honeycombs, bread, toast, rolls, butter, cream, sugar, etc. Victorians loved their food and consumed it readily. On the sideboard, one might find bacon, eggs, cutlets, chicken, fish, omelettes, kidneys, ham, tongue, game pies, potted meat, etc. According to Henry James’s travel book, English Hours, describes how the late century Victorians abandoned having servants waiting upon them at breakfast and served themselves. 
Karen Foy in Life in the Victorian Kitchen (©2014)tells us, “Cooking on a kitchen range was hard work, but those with a range were much more fortunate than the poorer classes, who still cooked over an open grate, but easier options had to be found. By the mid 1800s, kitchen ranges changed dramatically and the graft involved in both using and cleaning them was reduced, greatly improving the everyday life of the cook and the kitchen staff…. Like many other new and innovative creations, a glimpse of what the future might hold for Victorian cooks was witnessed at the Great Exhibition of 1851, where early versions of gas-powered were showcased.”
Running Footman
“Swift’s satire had little effect. A file of nine tall, matched footmen in silver and lace preceded the Countess of Northumberland’s sedan chair. It’s not clear what else her footmen actually did. (Footmen often created trouble among the maids, but it was always the female who was dismissed; a member of a matched set of footmen was too difficult to replace.)”
Footmen were chosen for their height and their handsomeness. Most were at least six feet tall. It was desirable to match the footmen in height (like the Rockettes). Most households had 3 footmen. The first footman, who was often called “James,” no matter what was his Christian name, usually acted as the lady’s footman. He would serve her breakfast, clean her shoes, take her dogs for a walk, stand behind her chair when she dined elsewhere, carry packages when she shopped, etc. The second footman served the afternoon meal. Often he completed valet duties for the eldest son. The third footman carried the coals and wood. The first and second footman served meals. They would accompany the carriage whenever it was used by any member of the household. The footmen were responsible for cleaning and polishing the silver.
The valet was usually at least 30 years of age. He was expected to have a superficial air of aristocracy about him. He saw to his master’s dress and was expected to be abreast of social gossip to aid his master in social engagements, etc. He did not wear livery. He would rise before his master. The aristocrat’s clothes were prepared, a bath drawn, and everything his master required for his ablutions prepared. He might also be required to dress the master, or he might need to know how to load a gun quickly so that his master could shoot with his friends.
The butler needed similar skills as the valet. He was responsible for the footmen, the custody of the plate, and the contents of the wine cellar. He also oversaw the brewing of the servants’ beer, the arrangement of the dining room, etc. Unlike our perceptions of the haughty butler who ruled a household with an iron hand, the Victorian butler was in a more lowly position. In reality, the valet, the house steward, and the groom of the chambers, all outranked him in the household. They also received higher pay.
Virgos expect perfection from themselves, and they may project those high standards on the other people in their lives. A Virgo hates when someone lets him or her down, even if the indiscretion is minor and unavoidable, like a last-minute cancellation. Virgos never want to disappoint the people in their lives, so they may spread themselves too thin and put themselves last.
Happy September Birthday to these Fabulous Austen-Inspired Actors…
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