Rank in England.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 143, 27 February 1886, Page 6

Rank in England.

To illustrate the distinctions of rank so closely observed among servants in aristocratic families, Adam Badeau writes as follows in the New York " Sun" :— I was staying once at a house where there had been a grand quarrel between the maids of Lady Torrington and Lady Molesworth. Lord TorrJnghon was a viscount and Lady Molesworth only the widow of a baronet. But the Torringtons were poor, and Lady Molosworth was very rich ; it was said Lord Torrington managed her estates for her. Upon this her Abigail presumed, vainly supposing with the pride of wealth that her •Distress was superior in consequence to those who belonged to the peerage. She was absolutely about to take precedence as they went in to dinner. But Lady Torrington's maid haughtily thrust her back and exclaimed : " You are only the servant oi a baronet's widowed my!rristress is the wife of the Right Honorable Visco antTorrington, lord-in-waiting to Her Maiesty." Of course tho superior claim was allowed, and Lady Molesworth's maid remained behind in merited confusion. The story reached the upper regions, where it created a deal of laughter, but no one seemed to suppose it reflected any ridicule on real rank. The j distinctions in the drawing-room are important ; only those in the servants' hall are trivial. i