Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-06
LIMERICK, Ireland, March 9.

 wants. their Duties and Pay-Regime ofthe Life of the Children of the No- bility.
 LIMERICK, Ireland, March 20. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 High and low life among the aristocracy in the castles and great country residences of Ireland varies little from that in England. Occasionally one of these mammoth estab- lishments is kept up solely as the headquar- ters of game preserve. In rare instances their owners fear their outraged tenantry to that degree that they never appear upon the Irish estate, contenting themselves in their London town-houses, or at Continental re- sorts, with the immense ntals wrung from the wretehed holdings by agents even more heartless than the celebrated "sYallow Sam Scholar" Many occupy their establish ments the year round; for in Ireland as well as in England the nobility live at their splen- did seats in the country. They would scorn to do else. Their ethics are exclusively evolved from their fondest dreams to which they cling, that they are still feudal lords. For such to reside in town Is to descend to the utter debasement of burghers. With a great majority the London s'season" largely controls their residence and it's period here and elsewhere. The ''season" is controlled by Parliament, which practically depends on sport. The aristoeratic fashionable world is formed and it's movements controlled almost exclusively by those connected with the Houses of Lords and Commons, these con- prising largely the nobility. In other words. the intangible awful formulated thing known as the great fashionable world centering in London is after all simply the country no- bility and aristocracy congregated for brief season in London. London does not make this fashionable world. Those of the coun- try make it in London. Their town houses. for the entree to which fashionable todies will resort to inconceivable humiliations, are the merest temporary lodging houses of hated city lifs. Of this exclusive class, not far exceeding a thousand heads of houses, practically owning and deriving the revenues from the entire landed possessions of Great Britain and Ireland, the Irish nobility, with which include the English nobility owning great estates in Ireland, constitute far more important factor than has been generally supposed.
 In the main, castle life in Ireland begins with the grouse shooting season in August and lasts until the following May. With those lin the world" the period is much re- duced. Many forsake the estates in Febru- ary for the first swim in the metropolis. There is delightful though quiet social pe- riod in London preceding Easter. But just before Easter Parliament adjourns, when back come the lords and ladies; or trip to the Continent is taken. After Easter the full London tide sets in. The Park is thronged the Row is filled with magnificent horsewomen and gallants; iuncheons, din- ners and balls are innumerabie; and the Queens drawing rooms command the nobili tvs presence. Then comes Whitsuntide, when Parliament again takes a short recess, and London is again deserted by the aristoc- raoy. But all the nobility of England, Scot land and Ireland that make any pretensions whatever to correct form are back in Lon don by the latter part of May. From this time late dinners and later balls follow in bewildering succession. The stiaing air of Parliament and court is continually breathed. Fashionable event and affair, originated by the sristocraoy, and to which the aristocracy are truly slaves, compel the limit of physical and financial endurance. Derby day, for which Parliament always adjourns, is fol- lowed by commencement at Eaton, and these by the great cricket matches between Lords and Commons, Harrow and Eaton, Cam bridge and Oxford. Then come the wonder ful garden parties of Chiswick, the two great breakfasts of the Prince of Wales, and the distinguished parties of esrls, dukes and duchesses, followed by Ascot week, and the court balls aud great balls and banquets of ion hoa fhn ffop noon teas by the Queen in the gardens Of Buckingham Palace; until the military fetes and the last fete chsmpetre at Wimbledon have arrived; and the tdone" and jaded ar istocracy seek the spas of the Continent in atonement for their sins. The 'sseason" is as an end. The guns of the titled sportsmen commence ringing in the North, and the home-life at the castles of Ireland begins.
 Risking paradox, high life at Irish castles begins and ends with that of the lowly. The number, wages and ways of the servants al- most tell the story of their masters. First sible to milford and lady for the entire estsb lishmenr, the servants, hiring of servants, and the purchase of all ordinary necessities such as food, save all meats, which is invari- ably the perquisite of the cook. The stew ard receives eighty pounds, and an unlimited amount of noble blsckguarding, per year.
 Next in importance, If not indeed the first, is the housekeeper. She is usually a maiden lady of severe age or a widow culled from poor relations. She must be 8 person of in
 finite expediency, common sense, experience, and with soul and physique of iron. She
 usually has entire charge of the detail of all domestic matters within the castle; holds the
 keys to every private apartment and secret compartments; with her assistants makes,
 lays and repairs all carpets; cleans and re- hangs all tapestries; frequently originally embroiders the finest of draperies; packs,
 unpacks, re hangs and drapes all paintings; prepares, marks with the family crest, and guards, all linen and faces; cares for the statuary; and attends to the interminable cleaning and waxing of floors. She receives from twenty to twenty-five pounds per year,
 having from one to two assistants, called as-
 sistant housekeepers, whose yearly wages are from twelve to sixteen pounds. In general
 way all the female servants of the castle are amenable to the head housekeeper, who is at no time of the year away from her post. The next of these in grade is perhaps the governess. This necessary though unfortu- nate person is usually decayed lady or an extraordinarily ambitious one of the Becky
 Sharp" genus. It is she who is expected to educate and form the manners and morals, to the age of fourteen, of the unbearable
 little whelps of nobility, who are as unlike your "little Lord Fauntleroys" of fiction as the late "Mr. Crowley" of Central Park, New York, was unlike the dear gazelle of Moore. She must read, write, speak and teach all modern languages, and be able to instruct in the rudiments of Latin, Greek, the sciences and philosophy. She must sing and teach vocal music, and play and instruct upon the piano and harp. In fact she must be one of the most accomplished women in the world; at once the superior, companion and servant of her charges. Her compensa- tion is forty to sixty pounds per annum, and opportunities for intrigue. In the greatest | houses she is allowed two, and sometimes three, nursery-maids at from ten to sixteen