Pages are young male servants who perform odd jobs and can be found in various settings, including noble houses, government buildings, hotels, and casinos. The tradition is ancient, with many societies having a version of a page, and women can now serve as pages as well. The word “page” comes from the Greek word for “child,” and pages were originally retainers who assisted warriors. In medieval times, pages could become squires and later knights. Today, the concept of a page as a carrier of messages lives on, even though messages are now transmitted electronically.
A page or pageboy is a young male servant who performs an assortment of odd jobs. Pages are typically young men interested in pursuing more advanced careers in the environments where they work. For example, a US Senate page might be interested in politics and hope that by serving in the Senate, they can learn through observation. The page tradition is quite ancient, with many societies having a version of a page, and in the modern era, women can serve as pages as well.
The word “page” comes from the Greek paidion, meaning “child.” Front pages were retainers who assisted warriors, typically using their experience as pages as a form of training. After a specified period of work as a page, a young man might be elevated to a position of warrior-in-training, and then eventually become a full-fledged warrior. In medieval times, pages could become squires, and later turn into knights, and a complex system of rules governed the duties and privileges of these individuals.
In addition to serving warriors, pages have also traditionally worked in noble houses and government buildings. In these circles, Pages are heavily used to pass messages, and they can also perform other odd activities, ranging from helping serve dinner to picking up someone’s laundry. In some countries, people may work as pages before pursuing a career in service as butlers and other domestic staff, using their experience as a page as a form of apprenticeship, to help them determine whether or not service is a good career.
Pages also work in settings such as hotels and casinos, where they are used to carry messages to and from the hotel and within it. Like past pages, they typically wear official uniforms to make them easy to identify. Pages who work in the hospitality industry often do so for a short period of time, as these jobs don’t have much of a chance for advancement. As a courtesy, these pages are often suggested by the recipients of their messages.
The concept of “page” as a carrier of messages lives in the concept of “searching” for someone with a message or a request to show up in a certain place. While such messages are transmitted electronically today, they would once have been delivered by real pages.
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