The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-16
WHITE MARBLE STEPS.
A Social Vanity that Costs PHILADELPHIA
S3,85O,OOO Every Year.

PHILADELPHIA, July l5.-This city has an
Industry peculiar to itself, and II Is therefore
worthy Of honorable mention. Every house has
marble doorsteps, and houses OF any pretension
have marble trimmings OF foundations which
rise above the sidewalk from two to four or I'VE
feet. The industry referred to Ia devoted co
keeping this marble WORK clean. A stranger
would think II a small matter, and that few
whisss OF brush or broom would be sufficient (;
butthis Is 30 far from being the case that great
deal OF hard work is required, and II must be
done In particular and scientific manper. The
reason for this lies in the fact that there is ore
or less iron, or perhaps other minerals, In the
marble, which, continually coming to the sur
face; must be taken out by hard rubbing and
scrnbbinc, and likely enough with tears.
Usually the WORK commences early In the
morning, sometimes at daylight A bucket and
scrnbbinf brush are required, also soap. cloth,
ma some rotten stone; and the lshorer gets
such movement Ia a step-then begins 70
rub on one side. and painfully goes over the eur
face, much MS carpenter would do N It were a
piece Of black walnut to be planned and snoothed
and sandpapered. Nor will ordinary scrubbing
at all answer; for the dlscolored spots are TO be
wutched ana rubbed until they wholly disap.
pear; aud u the spots will not :" out" they must
sidered that there are from two to four, aud
even dozen steps, and, besides, line Of
marble from nrteen 20 twenty-five feet long, II
will be seen that there Is solid honest work to
he done. Sometimes a good half hour Is re-
CURED for two steps alone.
What Is singular about this matter 10, that
such Is the social arrangement concerning IT,
that Ia Impossible to neglect the work, for " II
Ia neglected, the next door neigh Dor, all the peo-
pie In the street. all the passers by will notice
the renissness, Hnd n glance OF contempt will
be cust al the front door, at the windows, and
the whole house, and tho social standing Of the
inmates will be in danger, and perhaps credit
itself will he In jeopardy.
IL Is presumed That the servant girl docs this
work, aud II II certainly true that the operative
looks like servant girl. But the truth Is the
great ma ority OF families own their own houses,
and they do not keep servants, 40 II IA the
woman Of the house who II OUT on her hands
ana knees. and at nm hour when her husband
and children are ei her in bed OF hepugin some
way to get the bres kfast, or, when there is only
one servant she VIII be required at the range or,
N the servant has not done the scruboing well.
temptuOus glances, the lady 81 the mansion goes
out, but nobody ID the wiser, for, dressed In an
old gown, and IN WORKOUT shoes. she knucl<les
down 10 the great social duty, feeling assured
that when, later IN the day, she steps down those
snowy stars dressed In silk ana all her things
In the latest style, and perhaps admired or en-
We'd by every eye, she VIII not be shocked by
sovinR single foul spot And 80 day by day,
month by month, and year by year, this Pha-
delDhia industry goes on.
Now, taking out factories and strictly business
houses, there are In this city not less than
10000 houses whose marble steUs and trim
nhngs must be rubbed down every day. The
value 81 the work performed and OF the ma
teria used will average fully 10 cents for each
house-thouRh I'm many cases the work - richly
worth Is ceDts-therefors the daily Investment
Is $1,000 equal to $40 year certainly an
enormous sum, considering that 1t COntriDu ties
TO neither food, clio hing religion. nor politics.