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The footman's friendly advice

To his Brethren of the Livery; And to all Servants in General: ... To which is Prefix'd, An Introduction, humbly Submitted to the Consideration of all Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Ladies, who keep many Servants. Also a postscript, In Answer To Squire Moreton's Pamphlet, Intituled, Every Body's Business is no Body's. By R. D. [i.e. Robert Dodsley]
Dodsley, Robert (1703-1764)

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SERVITUDE: A POEM.
 
SERVITUDE.
 
HONESTY.
 
CAREFULNESS.
 
OBEDIENCE.
 
DILIGENCE.
 
Of SUBMISSION to REBUKES.
 
NEATNESS.
 
Of Receiving and Delivering MESSAGES.
 
DISCRETION.

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NEATNESS.

But hitherto we've only had Respect
To what concerns the Mind or Intellect:
'Tis true, internal Qualities conduce
To greater Ends, and are of greater Use,
Than those which only serve for outward Show,
As powder'd Wiggs, clean Shirts, and such like do:
Yet these are necessary, and 'tis fit,
That those, whom Time and Business will permit,
Appear before their Masters always clean and neat.
But don't ye run into affected Ways,
And apish Gestures practis'd now-a-days;
22

Be decent, clean, and handsome, but not nice;
Respectful and well-bred, but not precise.
Preserve a Mean; yet of the two Extreams,
A Fop less odious than a Sloven seems.
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