Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1883 — Government Service in England. [ARTICLE]

Government Service in England.

There is no occupation more sought after in England than employment in the civil-service. The emoluments are not great, but they compare favorably with those which commercial clerks in banks receive. They are also more secure, and a retiring pension may be looked forward to, precluding the necessity of clerks pinching themselves durinc active service to putting by something for h rainy day- During 1882 26,499 candidates were examined for appointments. The numlier for 1881 was 24,234. In 1882 5,940 obtained certificates. There were 550 more certificates granted in 1881, there being more because a sufficient number passed in 1882 to supply from six to eight men f6r every’vacancy, x.. • -

The household and personal expenses of an English family during the ten years 1481-91 are both curious in their nature and highly instructive to those who are interested in tracing the influence of diet upon the national temperament. The age was marked by indulgence among the few, and sobriety among the many, with the result that the turbulent and restless spirit which preyed upon the idle and desolute feudal chieftan and his liveried retainers passed by the doors of the frugal and religious yeoman or merchant who mortified the flesh and lived in charity with all men that were not his debtors. For example, meat was rarely tasted in the Cely household, and then in a fresh and nutritious form. The “weder” was bought for 20 pence, and sometimes a “hogg,” lamb, or calf at 4 higher priceMoreover, a cow was kept; and, in addition, great quantities of cheese, and many “dishes” of milk, curds and butter were purchased. On one occasion a cod and a rib of beef, costing 6 pence, formed the dinner; on another, greater extravagance was shown in honor of a guest of quality, when 12 shillings was laid out on wild fowl. But the most frequent items in the household accounts are for fish and bread. The former consisted of “herrying rede,” “herrying whyte,” “sprotts,” “stookfyshes,” and “yelys,” then, like salmon, a somewhat expensive luxury. This rather salt diet, however, rendered a corresponding consumption of beer necessary. Thus, in the year 1842, sixty kilderkins at a shilling were consumed at the Essex residence, and twice that quantity in London. Shortly after, forty-four barrels of “good” and “three-half-penny,” ale were laid in, and “Polle Godfrey’s wife” received on Christmas even, 1483, £l6 ss, for 200 more kilderkins supplied during the past year. In June, 1484, George Cely, who had lately married, came into Essex on a visit to his brother, with his wife and servants, the event being signalized by a huge consumption of beer. Nine small payments occur consectutively for beer provided for the occasion, but at length it was found necessary to order two kilderkins of strong ale, and then six more, this time of small beer. We learn incidentally hereon that his host had run .out. of his universal beverage, for the modest allowance of eighty kilderkins, which had been ordered from Mrs. Godfrey, as usual, at the beginning of the year, was paid for, because exhausted in May, and there remained but one barrel of “dooyil here” (costing2s. instead of Is;, that is) to go on with. Among the miscellaneous expenses of the household besides regular entries for “colys,” “bote-hyer,” and the like, is the following in Oct., 1483: “The tyme that newe watches were kept in London.”— The Gentleman's Magazine.