tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post7674888855962494909..comments2024-03-28T18:12:56.268+03:00Comments on Ladies Becoming Maids: In Cap and Apron: A Real Story of Going Undercover as a Victorian MaidCamille Langtryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16945716778850774065noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-40836833483188785342016-10-20T22:36:35.109+03:002016-10-20T22:36:35.109+03:00The comments about Rattenheimer did make me smile ...The comments about Rattenheimer did make me smile but as you say when seen within the context of the time it didn't spole the story. I went to a production of "The Orchid" a George Edwardes Edwardian musical comedy and there was some discussion about "cleaning it up" to prevent offence but thankfully the view was that it reflected the era so shouldn't be altered. summertime75https://www.blogger.com/profile/08610818401272494232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-16404147935729659862016-10-20T22:23:03.357+03:002016-10-20T22:23:03.357+03:00Yes, I love that novel. I think it did miss a few ...Yes, I love that novel. I think it did miss a few perfect opportunities to go deeper into the whole lady/maid swap storyline, but overall it's a unique document of a life long gone, as you've mentioned. Even the old-fashioned racism/jingoism about unstrustworthy and cunning Jews and Germans don't ruin that. Camille Langtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16945716778850774065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-90925500373696107492016-10-19T22:42:34.047+03:002016-10-19T22:42:34.047+03:00I've just finished "Miss Million's Ma...I've just finished "Miss Million's Maid" so much better that "Caps and Apron" I liked that it was bout the role reversal rather than humiliation, the part that was perhaps quite sad was that because of the date, early 1914 you knew that the crazy lifestyle would soon come crashing down and I couldn't help feeling sorry for the characters. It's certainly worth reading just for a glimps not the period.summertime75https://www.blogger.com/profile/08610818401272494232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-84516432626574644282016-10-12T19:34:55.664+03:002016-10-12T19:34:55.664+03:00It has been interesting so far and I will certainl...It has been interesting so far and I will certainly finish the rest. She did say that she interviewed several people so perhaps she "added" to her experience through them.summertime75https://www.blogger.com/profile/08610818401272494232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-58575318177343418752016-10-12T19:11:32.592+03:002016-10-12T19:11:32.592+03:00Yes, I agree. As an American, Ms.Banks was clearly...Yes, I agree. As an American, Ms.Banks was clearly fascinated with the social structure of Victorian England. Obviously 2 weeks is hardly enough to get real taste of life as a domestic servant and, most likely, much of her exploits are either fabrications or exaggerations, but I still think this book is a very interesting glimpse into the world long gone.Camille Langtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16945716778850774065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-83634185806157528192016-10-12T10:01:33.025+03:002016-10-12T10:01:33.025+03:00I've just finished "Caps and Aprons"...I've just finished "Caps and Aprons" which I enjoyed, but, there's usually a but, although it was well written and her conclusions sound she lost some credibility by only working as a maid for two weeks, I'm not convinced that anyone could grasp the roll and shear hard work in such a short time. It was interesting that young women would rather have their freedom and work harder for less money than accept the uniform and become a maid. That said it was worth reading if only for the American perspective. summertime75https://www.blogger.com/profile/08610818401272494232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-85469616937333186192016-09-30T00:01:29.884+03:002016-09-30T00:01:29.884+03:00I just found "Miss Million's Maid" o...I just found "Miss Million's Maid" on the Gutenberg Project which was free so another book to read. Regarding the caps my wife did some research into wearing nurses caps and the general feeling was that they helped to perpetuate the "handmaiden" status which was instrumental in staff not wearing them. Personally I like the addition of the cap as it does add something extra to the wearer's face summertime75https://www.blogger.com/profile/08610818401272494232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-87316880362402225372016-09-29T18:21:47.043+03:002016-09-29T18:21:47.043+03:00You are very welcome, I hope you like it. There is...You are very welcome, I hope you like it. There is something about wearing caps in particular that women of the period found degrading. Other than maids or nurses only little girls or old ladies wore something approximating a cap so it must have been associated with being either dependant or competely unfashionable. Miss Million's Maid (1915), a classic lady-to-maid/maid-to-lady novel, devotes some time to this as well as former maid, now a lady, talks to her former mistress, about to become her maid:<br /><br />"We'll do a little shopping for me, now," I decided, when we left that hat-shop divinity with three new creations to pack up for Miss Million at the Cecil. I said: "I'm tired of people not knowing exactly what I am. I'm going to choose a really 'finished' kit for a superior lady's-maid, so that everybody shall recognise my 'walk in life' at the first glance!"<br /><br />"Miss! Oh, Miss Beatrice, you can't," protested Million, in shocked tones. "You're never going to wear—livery, like?"<br /><br />"I am," I declared. "A plain black gown, very perfectly cut, an exquisite muslin apron with a little bib, and a cap like——"<br /><br />"Miss! You can't wear a cap," declared little Million, standing stock still at the top of Bond Street and gazing at me as if I had planned the subversion of all law and order and fitness. "All very well for you to come and help me, as you might say, just to oblige, and to be a sort of companion to me and to call yourself my maid. But I never, never bargained for you, Miss Beatrice, to go about wearing no caps! Why, there's plenty of young girls in my own walk of life—I mean in what used to be my own walk! Plenty of young girls who wouldn't dream of being found drowned in such a thing as a cap! Looks so menial, they said. Several of the girls at the Orphanage said they'd never put such a thing on their heads once they got away. And a lady's-maid, well, 'tisn't even the same as a parlour-maid! And you with such a nice head of hair of your own, Miss Beatrice!" Million expostulated with almost tearful incoherence. "A reel lady's-maid isn't required to wear a cap, even if she does slip on an apron!"<br /><br />"You shut up," I gaily commanded the employer upon whom I now depend for my daily bread. "I am going to wear a cap. And to look rather sweet in it."Camille Langtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16945716778850774065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-83289901222697697112016-09-29T11:50:27.238+03:002016-09-29T11:50:27.238+03:00Firstly thank you for the link to this book, after...Firstly thank you for the link to this book, after a few difficulties I managed to transfer it to my Kindle. Although I have only just "dipped" into it I found it interesting that Banks wrote that even the face of an ugly girl was improved with a cap. Also that the Housemaids cap was not as respectable as one worn by a "lady nurse" says a lot about the regard for the poor maid.summertime75https://www.blogger.com/profile/08610818401272494232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-50591537867321125882016-09-28T19:03:08.767+03:002016-09-28T19:03:08.767+03:00Indeed. Going undercover and then stuck there is o...Indeed. Going undercover and then stuck there is one of my most favorite plots. Possibilities are endless.Camille Langtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16945716778850774065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-14741828938094783312016-09-28T09:22:13.766+03:002016-09-28T09:22:13.766+03:00Heh, and naturally, a reform-minded young, er, per...Heh, and naturally, a reform-minded young, er, person might find herself found out and in short order be blackmailed into remaining in service, never to return to her former life and her abandoned crusade....Arcadia Bergerhttp://arcadiaberger.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-30733747653327407092016-09-27T19:44:41.050+03:002016-09-27T19:44:41.050+03:00Thank you very much, I am glad you liked it. There...Thank you very much, I am glad you liked it. There is actually a whole subgenre of Victorian ladies "going undercover" to tell the real story of how the working classes live, often with a reformist agenda. I'll probably devote another post to other prominent examples if there is indeed interest in it. Camille Langtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16945716778850774065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-988993754670474624.post-61898630079049720152016-09-27T18:20:16.967+03:002016-09-27T18:20:16.967+03:00Wow that was an interesting read and a great sourc...Wow that was an interesting read and a great source of research! Truth not that far from some of the fiction on this site, although unlike our noble heroines, I am guessing Elizabeth Banks escaped this world. From what I read from the attached Wikipedia link I like this woman.<br /><br />Thanks for the post, I and I am sure many others would be fascinated to read more :)An appreciative readernoreply@blogger.com