'Missus' from Sarah Jane's Point of View

'Missus', in The Bulletin, 1883

While most newspaper cartoons criticised servants for being too demanding, occasionally, as in this cartoon, they represented the hardships of servant life. Some commentators recognised the plight servants faced, and the reasons they were turning to other forms of employment:

What sort of life is domestic service where only one young woman is employed, and treated as servants are treated in some households . . . ? She is wanted at 6am, or before, and keeps busy all day till bed time at 10 or 11pm. 'No followers allowed', not even a brother or sister, lest they should eat or drink something, or take something home. The poor girl cannot sit with the 'family' - she is 'only a servant', and therefore has only the kitchen to sit in if she has any leisure. If there are any grown-up sons, she is liable to instant dismissal if one of them is seen speaking to her, and the daughters order her about as though she were a convict.