Inquire of a lodging-house slavey the way to make beds

Posted by Natty on July 08, 2004

I have to post the question again since my question disappeared from the board.

The author says:

One might as well inquire of a lodging-house slavey the way to make beds as expect a country bumpkin to know the road to the next village.

I understand that "lodging-house slavey" is a servant girl in a boarding house. I think that she is the one who makes beds. Perhaps the author here sneers at the professionality of the servants in those institutions?