Isthereahousewifewho，since1838，hasnotsufferedfromtheevileffectsofSocialistdoctrinesdiffusedamongthelowerclassesbyincendiarywriters？Ineveryhouseholdtheplagueofservantsisnowadaystheworstoffinancialafflictions。Withveryfewexceptions，whooughttoberewardedwiththeMontyonprize，thecook，maleorfemale，isadomesticrobber，athieftakingwages，andperfectlybarefaced，withtheGovernmentforafence，developingthetendencytodishonesty，whichisalmostauthorizedinthecookbythetime-honoredjestastothe”handleofthebasket。”Thewomenwhoformerlypickeduptheirfortysoustobuyalotteryticketnowtakefiftyfrancstoputintothesavingsbank。AndthesmugPuritanswhoamusethemselvesinFrancewithphilanthropicexperimentsfancythattheyaremakingthecommonpeoplemoral！
Betweenthemarketandthemaster’stabletheservantshavetheirsecrettoll，andthemunicipalityofParisislesssharpincollectingthecity-duesthantheservantsareintakingtheirsoneverysinglething。Tosaynothingoffiftypercentchargedoneveryformoffood，theydemandlargeNewYear’spremiumsfromthetradesmen。Thebestclassofdealerstremblebeforethisoccultpower，andsubsidizeitwithoutaword——coachmakers，jewelers，tailors，andall。Ifanyattemptismadetointerferewiththem，theservantsreplywithimpudentretorts，orrevengethemselvesbythecostlyblundersofassumedclumsiness；andinthesedaystheyinquireintotheirmaster’scharacteras，formerly，themasterinquiredintotheirs。Thismischiefisnowreallyatitsheight，andthelaw-courtsarebeginningtotakecognizanceofit；butinvain，foritcannotberemediedbutbyalawwhichshallcompeldomesticservants，likelaborers，tohaveapass-
bookasaguaranteeofconduct。Thentheevilwillvanishasifbymagic。Ifeveryservantwereobligedtoshowhispass-book，andifmasterswererequiredtostateinitthecauseofhisdismissal，thiswouldcertainlyproveapowerfulchecktotheevil。
Themenwhoaregivingtheirattentionstothepoliticsofthedayknownottowhatlengthsthedepravityofthelowerclasseshasgone。
Statisticsaresilentastothestartlingnumberofworkingmenoftwentywhomarrycooksofbetweenfortyandfiftyenrichedbyrobbery。