Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07
IRISH CASTLE LIFE.
What it Costs to Keep Up an Aristo-
cratic Establishment.
SERVANTS AND THEIR SALARIES,
Grotesque Stateliness and Military Rule
in Hall and Nursery.
WHAT YOUTH GAINS By STERN STYLES

castles ana great country residences OF 4Io-
land varies little from that in England.
Occasionally one of these mammoth establish
ments is kept up wholly as the headquarters
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 rentals wrung from
the wretched holdings by agents even more
heartless than the celebrated "'Yallow
Sam Carson" in the pathetic tale of ''The
Poor Scholar" Many occupy their estab-
lishments the year round; for in ireland, as
we'll as in England, the nobility live
at their splendid seats in the country.
They would scorn to do else. Their
ethics are exclusively devolved from
their fondest dreams to which they cling, that
they are still feudal lords For such to re-
side in town is to descend to the utter de-
basement of burghers. With a great ma
jority the London ''season" largely controls
their residence and its period here and else
where. Of this exclusive class, not far ex-
ceeding 1000 heads of houses, practically
owning and deriving the revenues from the
entire landed possessions of Great Britain
and ireland, the Irish nobility, with which
I include the English nobility owning great
estates in Ireland, constitute far more i'm
portant factor than has been generally sup
posed.
IRISH CASTLE LIFE.
In the main, castle life in Ireland begins
with the grouse shooting season in August,
and lasts until the following. May. With
those "in the world" the period is much re-
duced. Many forsake the estates in Febru-
ary for the "frst swim" in the metropolis.
There is delightful though quiet social
period in London preceding Easter. But
Just before Easter Parliament adiourns,
when back come the lords and ladies; or
trip to the Continent is taken. After Easter
the full London tide sets in. When the
season" is at an end the guns of the titled
sportsmen commence ringing in the North,
and the house-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 almost tell the story OF their
masters. First and foremost is the steward,
who is responsible to Milford and lady for
the entire establishment, the servants, hir-
ing of servants, and the purchase of all Or
dinary necessities such as food, save all
meats, which is invariably the perquisites
of the cook. The steward receives ESQ, and
an unlimited amount of noble blackguard-
ing, per year.
Next in Importance, if not indeed the
first, is the housekeeper. She is usually a
nf
culled from poor relations. She must be a
person of infinite expediency, common
sense, experience, and with a soul and
physique of iron. She usually has entire
charge of the detail of all domestic matters
within the castle. She receives from ego
to e25 per year, having from one to two as
sistants, called assistant housekeepers, whose
yearly wages are from e12 to e16. In q
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
AN UNFORTUNATE PARSONAGE.
The next of these in grade is perhaps the
governess. This necessary though un-
fortunate person is usually decayed lady,
or an extraordinarily ambitious one of the
Becky Sharp" genus. 1t is she who is ex-
pected to educate and form the manners and
morals, to the age of IA, 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, com
panion and servant of her charges. Her
compensation is e40 to EGO per annum, and
opportunities for intrigue. In the greatest
three, nursery maids at from e10 to e16
each.
There is an upper housemaid at GIG; an
under housemaid at e12; and from two to
four assistant housemaids at e10; all really
under control of the housekeeper. These
bear much the same relation to the castle
regime as do the chambermaids to that of
our best American hotels. But the ladies'
maids, who are responsible only to their
mistresses, hold what are regarded as the
most desirable positions; insomuch as, while
the most exacting, and often the most shame
lessly servile, duties are required of them,
they receive from ESQ to ESQ per year; their
opportunities for travel and sightseeing are
unlimited; and the
ADVANTAGEOUS SECRETS
their close relations to their noble mis-
tresses enable them to possess, are supposed
to give them extraordinary substantial BEN
efts. All lower female servants hold them
in deadly hatred; the while longing for their
places as almost equivalent to the honors of
royalty ITSELF The female servants also
comprise head laundress at ESQ, and two
or three assistants at e12 each per year; an
assistant cook, who must be equal in ability
to the chef, and who receives 920; two addi-
tional assistant cooks, or kitchen maids, at
e14; and two scullery maids at e12.
The head butler is a sort of generalissimo
of the male servants of the household. A
majestic bearing is fortune to this fellow.
He is the general-stand-around-an and look
awful of the castle; but must have an eve to
the welfare of the guests and the character
and behavior of his interiors He is also
the head waiter. He attends to the table
and its proper setting and service at all
times; presiding at the carving and other
mysteries at the sideboard; for all of which
he receives e75 per year. The under butler,
at e35, has entire charge of the silver. 1t
practically never leaves his hands or sight;
as he not only delivers to, and receives
from, the hands of the butler all pieces
used, but Washes polishes, and sleeps along
side their receptacle cases in the pantry.
During seasons of unusual entertainment,
he also assists the head butler at meals.
There are generally also first, second and
third footman. These receive about the
same wages as the under butler. They clean
milord's clothing, which valet scorns to
do save when his master travels, assist at
meals as walters, wash glass and silverware,
are regarded as general help under the
buffers and are, properly speaking, only
footmen when on duty as such with the car
riages.
MILoRD's MEN IN WAITING.
Among the other male servants is
milord's valet, with well-known duties. A
bright one receives e7O per year and will
easily manage to secure as much more
Then there are the head cooks, to none of
whom are paid one-tourth the price given
by the American nouveau-riches to their
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