NOTHING MENIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 387, 5 November 1874, Page 2

NOTHING MENIAL.

" I am ready to do anything j I do not care what I do, so long as it is not menial." How much longer are we to hear such words as these ? Nothing menial \ do the people who use the word know what it means ? We rather think not. The occupation of governess, for instance is generally excepted, and yet in the true sense of the word, to be a governess is to follow a very menial occnpation iudeed, for menial is simply the good old Saxon word for that which is done by many. Now, because a thing is done by many is no reason why it should not be done by more it there is room for more. We should have reason to be glad indeed if many other occupations, such as printing, book-keeping, hair-dressing, were menial in this the true sense of tho word. Perhaps some day they will be. Meanwhile those who stand out against anything (so-called) "menial " always rank in our mind with the youth who, phave gone to a manufacturing city to seek employment, wrote home to his friends he had got excellent work — it was work in which he never needed to soil his hands. Who does not at once feel anre that that youth would never make his way till the notion about soiling his hands was driven out of his head ? who does not know that no man whoever made his way to greatness struck at soiling hi* fingers? Imagine a Watt or Stephenson thinking about the dirt on their hands as they worked at their engines ! Would a Faraday ! hesitate to try an experiment because the chemicals might stain, or a Palissy &hrink from being besmirched with clay ? So, too, no woman who lets herself be deterred by that word menial, nepd ever hope to make herself a place amongst the workers in the world. But it will be said, " Whatever the original meaning of the word may huve been, it has now become synonymous with much that is undignified. We do not care what its derivation is, if derivation no longer accords with the meaning it conveys." To this there is but one answer — no work can be dignified which is useless- We have seen little pincushions, fairy-like in their tiny neatness, and could not but admire the deftness of the fingers that had made them, while we sighed at the rubbishy produce, useless to the producer and to everyone else. Truly the housemaid of the lady who made them had the more dignified occupation of the two, for the hoi asmaid't work was essential to the comfort of the household ; her mistress's to no one. And yet those ladies who shrink from " menial " work vrould choose the futile pincushions in preference ; and seeking dignity, miss all chance thereof, — Women and Work,