Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07

der whom are o second coachman at e25,
stud-groom at ESQ, and grooms, stablemen
and helpers at from e10 to e20 each; and
one or two 'odd-men" who attend the serv-
ants hall, carry baggage, clean boots and
are sort Of everybodys' men to all below
stairs.
The whole number of servants at one OF
these castles is therefore very large. have
only enumerated those directly serving the
household itself, whose members may not
number half dozen, and in seasons OF en-
tertainment will not average more than two
dozen souls. Yet from 80 to So persons are
required to serve them. Added to these is
an equal number in outdoor employment,
of which I shall speak in the succeeding
article, making total of 30 to IS servants
on the payroll of an Irish estate of average
pretensions; sort of grim compensation IN
expense, however, considering that hnd
the annual revenues derived by these i'm
poverished titled Irish landlords to range
from 100000 to upward of 81, ,0OO, 900.
IRISH CASTLE ROUTINE.
The ordinary daily routine at the castle,
when visitors are not being entertained, is
distinguished by remarkable repose. Milford
and lady, occupying apartments remote
from each other, and always attended by
valet and waiting-maid, who each sleep
within call of voice or table-bell, rise at
about o'clock. After their bath and
toilet, the latter being most informal and
sensible, weather permitting, stroll
through the grounds is taken until break
fast. This is served with all possible cere-
mony between and 10. The only actual
duty, and this is imperative, either master
or mistress ever assumes is approving the
bills of fare, which milady generally con-
sents to perform. These are usually ready
the previous evening. Her maid informs
the housekeeper, who informs the head
housemaid, who sends an under housemaid
to inform the cook that her ladyship is
actually awake. The cook dispatches his
assistant to secure footman. He conveys
the required slips to the butler, who seeks
the maid, and the latter places them, with
pencil, in the hands of her ladysbip, who,
still in bed, inspects, changes or approves
at her leisure; then the bills of fare by an
other circuitous route finally reach the
cook.
Whatever the conjugal results of titled
marital life may be, such a thing as genial,
cordial affection is never exhibited before
servants, children or friends. The associa-
tion at meals, the home life, the conduct in
all places, may be described as a reverend
ing period of sodden stateliness. Between
breakfast and luncheon, which is served
from 2 to in the afternoon, her ladyship
may write letters; pass few hours in her
library, or music room; permit her maid to
call her attention to portions of her trousseau
of the last, or next, season; and finally un-
dergo the tedium of a change in apparel for
luncheon. The while milord has attended
to his correspondence; seen his agent; in
rare instances admitted vexatious deputa-
tion of tenants; and possibly inspected his
gn00tino ano0utoPmontc and tho atud
GRoTEsQUE sTATELINEss.
Between luncheon and tea, either milord
or milady, or both, may take dash within
the grounds in the saddle. seldom together,
always with an attendant; or, still separate,
with footmen in livery be driven in different
directions over the surrounding country, in
coaches, traps, or the elegant castle jaunt-
ing-cars, returning in time for tea at B;
which is frequently taken without change
of toilet. The rigor of dressing for dinner,
and the solemn stateliness of that meal at s
in the evening, are something so indescr1b-
ably grotesque as to comfort a plebeian in
his unaristocratic obscurity; and from the
termination of dinner until the inmates of
the castle retire, the possession of palace
with palatial appointments and an army of
servants, cannot furnish a quietus to the
slow tortures of indigestion, or still the
sluggish artillery of hereditary yawEs. The
distinction between this everyday castle
life and that when the place is thronged
with guests, will be shown in the succeed
ing article.
But whether the castle is asleep in its in
ane home-life, or is stirred by the presence
of many noble visitors, its child-life ever
remains the same. Children are almost ex-
clusively reared without seeing their parents,
save by chance. Their apartments are re-
mote from the remainder of the household.
Whatever their youth, they occupy separate
sleeping rooms, adjoining the nursery which
is usually sitting room, dining room, school
and playroom combined, though they have
the general run of the castle, within bounds.
and always in charge of the governess or
nursery maids.
MILITARY NURSERY RULE.
The regime of meals and their service is as
strict and formal as that with their elders.
and indeed practically never absent from
them. Their study, play hours, meals,
outings and hours for rising and retiring
are as vigorously observed as at military
school. The clothing is wholly prepared
under the direction of the governess. Her
ladyship simply receives reports of dis
cipline and progress. She is in no sense their
mother. On rare occasions, when her lady
ship is alone, or when guests who are close
friends are present, they are permitted to
appear with their governess at the family
table. But these occasions, while re-
garded as rewards, are dismally formal
and austere. Some things these children
gain. The vast grounds are full of sweet
ness, sunlight and song. They are kept in
these every moment permissible from their
studies. 1 believe them to be from infancy
to their departure for school, and sometimes
until their entree to noble society, the
.healthiest children and youths in the world
Something else is gained. As rule. their
compulsory and habitual abnegation before
their elders prevent that insufferable arro-
gance and turbulent, insulting selEcon-
sciousness of the average petted and spoiled
American youth. So, too, if they lose the
society of their titled parents, they gain,
within and without castle doors, if the same
be not always retained, as I have seen in
progress about these unduly grand places, a
democracy of affection and growth of in
nocent love among host of rarely recip-
rocative if quaint and simple folk.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.