Ways of Living.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 350, 22 January 1903, Page 2

Ways of Living.

A HIEING FAIR IN gagr appears curious in <£ i mm registry offices, gig employment societies, etc., that there are still places where domestic s r rvaats stand awaiting hire as their ancestresses might have done a century ago. May and October are the two chief months for holding hiring fairs, and on the Welsh Border men and woman Stand, clad in their best, in the market places ready to answer possible employers, .who for the most part are farmers or farmers' wives. ■ P'lfj West country servants have held for manyyears a deservedly good 1 " reputation for long service, and I cannot help thinking that, so far as Border girls- are concerned at all events, early training haa much to do with their character for faithful, steady service. The roaming spirit engendered by rapid and constant changing of situations finds no place in Welsh Martha's 'make up/ When she enters a situation it means for her a year and a day's service at least, not merely a few days' or weeks' trial, and then to 'fresh fields and pastures new.' October to October and May to May is the usual term of service, and holidays tew and far between. : It must be remembered that both spring and autumn fairs are two days' duration each. The first is really the business day, devoted to selling and buying stock, hiring servants, and purchasing at the shops in the town; and the second day is tbe gala time, holiday pure and simple, a round of pleasure-seeking, before enterin t the dull monotony of up-hill farmhouse life.

Very lonely indeed are some of the farms from whence the men and girls find their way to await fresh employers in the neighbouring towns. Perched high up on the hillsides, or half hidden in the dingles, sometimes ten or twelve miles from a railway station, the broad-stretching farms demand such work for such long bonis that we to the eastward can scarcely understand what the annual holiday means to the farm households. From early dawn the roads to the market town ring with the eager, steps of 'Johnnie and Mary' fairward bund, and in spite of the keen eye of the excise officers, untaxed carts often \told far more than their legitimate freights as good-natured drivers give lifts to tired feet. When those desiring to enter fresh 86i vice reach the town they refresh them selves with bread and bacon or butter, which they bring with them, and a cup of tea brewed in some cottage, where the good wife makes a few shillings by making tea and retailing it at a penny and twopence per thick cup. After breakfast, or What serves for the same, way is made to th? market place, and two orderly rows are formed, men on the one side the street and girls on the other. All are ready by 9 a.m. for farmers and their wives who may come along in search of servants to put leading questions to them regarding their capabilities Men desiring wagoners' places sport moleskin jackets, while those wanting to secure l service as cowmen or general farm labourers wear linen smocks. Formerly girls used to hold something in their hands denoting the sort of work they felt most fitted for. Maids for general allround farmhouse work showed miniature frying-pans and brooms,, while others, wishing for dairy work, milking utensils, ■. ■" ?:-..e.-sv/

Sometimes at the business part of tbeae fairs there is something horriblj suggestive of the slave markets as known in the Southern States of America a few years ago For instance, when a girl is simply told by a farmer to — • Step ont and show her paces, for he canna stand a slow-footed wench about hiß place.' If an employer is satisfied >ith the appearance and character of a girl as given by her late mistress, she hand the lassie a shilling as ' earnest money.' If the farmer's wife decides later on not to have the girl, the coin is forfeit 'to the latter. If, on the other hand, the girl herself fails to agree with the terms offered, she has then to hand back the shilling accompanied by another coin of equal value ont of her own pccket. Otherwise there can be no 'backing out,' and the engagement is understood to be for a year. Gorgeous and many-coloured are the dresses worn by 'Mary' at t*e annual outing. Maroon cashmeie and *pink ribbons, or dove-coloured alpaca and sash of royal blue, are favourite combinations. Lockets and chains ate nearly always worn, so are broad silver bracelets,:* the sort that shut with a loud snap. As a rule the farmers drive back early, and it is when their future employers are safely on their homeward way that these Johnnies' and 'Marys' b?pin to enjoy themselves. First comes a substantial dinner of cold roast beef at a small inn (r cottage, where dinners and teas are provided for the day Afterwards a bit of a stroll round, for all the world as if they had not walked a dozen miles perhaps since tuirise, and then to the show-ground to soe the wonders and taste the real joys of the day. Menageries, strong men, fat women, abnormally large babies, sword swallowers, peep shows, penny and twopenny shows containing all manner of attractive curiosities, merry-go-rounds, swing boats, shooting galleries, circuses, and cocoanut 'shies' galore. And spread about through the fair, booths and stalls of cheap jewellery, ribbons, etc., eash presided.over by its own special 4 Cheap Jack,' who, of course, vaunts to the skies hjs. own particular ' 'fcice penny.' No very rigid censorship is : exereised over the shows, which are so liberally patronised on fair days. An attempt to adjudicate upon their want of educational value farm and domestic servants was once made, I believe, by an energetic little lady, wife of a local clergjm*n, who paid a vi?it to each show in turn, tried the swing boats and ' hobby hj rses/ tosieif tbey were calculated to add to the mortality of the women and the industry and steadiness of the men, etc.

The oqncl usicns upon the subject at which the clever little lady arrived were never recorded, on account of an unfortunate incident which afterwards occurred. The mistrcs? of parish morals was neatly and plainly dressed, and she moved fitji brisk feet and business-like manner: down the road from the show-ground. i* rt A few yards from her own gate she was stopped by a burly farmer with the usual ' Be yar wanting a place, my girl 9' 'Certainly not, sir!' snapped the offended lady. She was passing on, when the farmer, stepping in front of her and holding up a warning finger, said—- ' Now. look yar, my wench; don't ye be so deep'rate independent. Yar may be agetting good wages now; but look yar, there'Jl come a time when you'll have neither man nor place, having such a tongue in your head. Well, well, I'm sorry for my own sake that ye've got a place whatever, for with your quiet bonnet and gown yon be the likeliest little slip of a girl as I've soen this morning. Good day, and a better temper to thee, my wench!' Since then I have not heard of anyone interfering with the conduct of the shows, or those who take such innocent pleasure in sjeing therm

Tip to within a f-sw years ago fch* Welsh hiring were the happy hunting ; ground of : rsscally Acting in their Bfcrangera, those men trebled the'fawnhouse lads to the vile porter, and spirits which tbe pnbUc-holisaa served at fair tima, and gottiag tke labourers maudlin and foolish they would persuade them take-a last-mag'.of porter/ inlo which they would drop a shilling. When the half-drunken lads got to the dregs of the stuff they would .jrahe up to tho fact that the shilling meant mischief, that the generous hearted gentleman opposite was a "oruiting sergeant/ and as such to be shunned as the plague. The coins would be dropped out on the table, and handed back to the wily deceiver. But too late! ' ■>.,'...■■