The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
CLARABELLE'S E'SSUNDAY TALK
The Biggest Landlords in New York, and
Why Their Houses Are Never Vacant.
Rich--A Dancing Masters Essay on Modesty
"A Sample Of Fun" at an Arion Ball.
Special to the 1ndiapapolis yournar.

dences into stores: but If the Astors decide that
they can stand it to look from their parlor win
dows right across the street into tradesmens
shops. suppose their fashionable neiehbors can
not prevent 1t. Anyhow, the Astors not
only the biggest, but about the best, landlords
in town. Their estate includes vast number
of once fashionable houses which have been con-
verted into boarding establishments. and ara
slowly being altered into stores. These stand
out prominently. and catch the eye of the
stranger at once. The iron fence in front of
them always looks newly painted, the gate
swings easily, the brick brown-stone wall
seems to have been erected only yesterday. and
the doors are MASSIVE and highly
polished. Often the neighboring houses
shabbygenteel and wear air of apology.
The same contrast that exists between them
and the Astor houses the exterior is to be
found on the inside. Many careless tenants
have played havoc with the beautiful in
teriors of many of these houses, and the owners
have been less willing to make repairs now than
when they themselves occupied them. The
Astors, however, have steadily refused to rent
to tenants who could not bring the best refer
ences, and they have kept their houses in the
best possible condition. A lady who occupies
one said to me- ''The Astors are the model
landlords of the city and have that reputation
among all classes of tenants. They are never
harsh in regard to payments OF the rent. but,
on the contrary, always ready to make
things easy for tenant who proves unfor-
tunate. The only thing they insist upon is that
the tenant shall be cleanly and prompt in re-
porting any injury to the house. Instead os
delaying in making repairs they are only too
anxious TO be informed of the necessity for
them. No improvements desired by a tenant
are too costly for them and they seem to take
great pride in making their houses as comfor-
table as can be- When l first
moved into this house 1 noticed some
things that thought l would like to
have changed. l hesitated about asking.
though. because they had just had the house
overhauled from top to bottom. / wasn't given
the chance. The first time their agent came
around to collect the rent he wanted to know
whether anything was desired, and the very
next day the worknen were here. The second
year of my stay wanted some alterations made
to suit my dodgers, and had not the slightest
difficulty in obtaining them, although they cost
more than whole years rent of the house.
That was.the more strange. too because they did
not add to the value of the house at allie The
same spirit shown by the Astors in regard to
these houses is true of all their property. have
been told by their agents that their property
never lies idle, because of the great demand fof
houses owned by them. The agents like It. too
because they have no difficulty with tenants who
well treated. house belonging to the
Astors will find tenant when adjoining houses
are advertised at much lower rent. I know.
that would not give up this house for any one
the block at half the rent am paying.
If were to move out to-day, there would be
half dozen applicants for the house to-morr
So you see it pays q landlord to be liberal
Thousands of people. especially outside OF
New York. imagine that whenever one of the
city's financial princes gives reception or ball
at home, where elaborate feast must be pro-
vided for several hundred guests, he must call
into service one of the famous public caterers
This is error, for of the chief cooks in
the mansions of the miliionaires have enjoyed
enviable regulations, in various parts of Europe,
and have been drawn hither only by flattering
offers. Let glance at few of them for
proof. Cornelius Vanderbilt, for example. pos
sesses the most complete and expensive kitchen
in the city, and he swears by French cooking.
His chef is Mr.. Fred Hemmerle, who graduated
in Paris and bears with him the recommends
ton of the Union League Club. His salary is
$3.50 a month-probaby the highest paid by any
private family. John Jacob Astor also leans
toward the French, and his cuisine is presided
over by Joseph Pacteau, who receives about
800 month. Since the death of Mrs.
Astor. NJ Pacteau has had an easy
done. Elliot Shepard, of Cornelius Wander
bilts brothers-n laws employs NJ Mathies, a
frst-class artist in the kitchen. Mr.. Sloan, an
other brother-in-law, has certain colored man
who enjoys an enviable reputation, and who
until the death of William H. Vanderbilt, was
in that gentlemans service. Mrs. Turner. of
Paris; ID. o. Mills has NJ. MERCER; August Bel
mont has F. Cuppinger; ex-Judee Waterbury
has M. Valtat, who came to him from Ogden
Goelet; William b. Astor has M. Gustave Be-
rand: Whtelaw Reid has M. Gaillet, and Mrs.
Langtry has constantly with her. at home and on
the road-since she possesses her own car-Con-
staut Mizirard. who is one of the best known of
local chefs. All of these presiding officers re-
ceive salaries ranging between SO and $l00 a
month, and when 1t is remembered that this Is
in addition to their living the sum Is considera-
BILE. One more importations made every
year by rich New Yorkers travelling abroad
Good living comes high but they must have it.
One of the principal dancing masters in town
was shown by clipping from London
paper. in which it said that fancy now
obtains among fashionable women over there for
old time dances done in slightly shortened skirts
and with rythm of bodily as we'll as foot move
ments He was asked what old dances these
are that thus revived. II don't know" said
he because, as rule, the old dances were
very stiff. formal, and you might say, statu-
esqus, The minuet, of France, consisted in a
mere courtly walk or parade through lot of
and reached its height in England less than a
hundred years ago. What it you can see in
any back-country village in New England or the
Middle States, whore square dances and the Vir-
ginia reel are accompanied by vivacious dancing
during such movements as balancing to
cor corners, hands all around around right and
formed. this makes square dance picturesque,
and the ladies used to lift their skirts modestly
and daintily while performing these steps. Old
prints reveal to us the fact that women never
looked prett1er than when thus exhibiting the
graces of their drapery. well as of their feet.
But this custom will not be revived here; not
by the women of this generation The modern
young lady is very prude in this matter of
disclosing the movements of her feet Her
mother was so before her. But the difference,
IN my judgment between this generation and
the last, Is that the matrons were consistent
The age they lived in was modest IN all things.
Nowadays, 1t is battling to who deals
with ladies', as do, to determine what rule
governs their modesty. / have young women
come to me to learn to dance part of their
preparation for the stage They expect to play
Rosalnd. or some other part in which tights
form a conspicuous part OF the costume yet
know great deal better than
to ask them lift their skirts to
fhai- shn 70 &haix