Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-12
TONY SERVANTS.
How the Houses of English
Nobility are Managed.
HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS.
Two or Three Times as Many Servants as
There Are Members of the Family,
Each With His Specific Duties.
Some Ludicrous Customers
Copyright 1871
Special Correspondence OF the Gazette.

LONDON, ENGLAND, March 2.--There is
in Great Britain a line of nobility, not
set down in Burke's peerage, as rigor-
Gus in distinctions, as unyielding in
established rights and traditions. as lnlpreg-
nab!e against innovation, and as naughty in
the enjoyment of its caste and privileges,
as that authenticated nobility and ar1stoc-
racy which its different ranks as often rule
as servo. These are the lords and ladies of
that vast and ordinarily mysterious realm
known as the Below Stairs of British
life
They are one and the same in England,
Scotland and Ireland While British poll
ties may boil in Ireland, stew in Wales and
Scotland and simmer in England, the real
United Kingdom, imperturbable to politics.
calm and impressive in the face OF CONNER
cial disaster or social change, is held to-
gether as with ribs OF steel, rivetS of cop
per and cappings of brass by the adaman-
tine solidarity Of this invinciOle nobility
the British danes OF the buster, ladies' OF
lapdog and luggage lords Of the ladle, bar
ons OF bells and boots and peers of the pam
tries and pots.
As result Of several years observation,
/ should say that the chief characteristic of
the British servant, whom We may fairly
call the English servant, is q neYer-failing
consciousness, and insistance upon the cog
nizance by all others, of his, or her exact
place, whatever that place may be. Be-
cause OF this, much else may De condoned.
There IS only one other class Of servants III
the world that gains so much through the
same characteristic in a certain degree of
dignity. This is the Africans. However
much you may elevate and educate
form of service and the old con-
seriousness OF propriety in distinctions in
stantly returns, and with it the fine, though
often pathetic, dignity OF themselves as
sorting the distinction. The true man or
woman OF service possesses a real, If some
times sOTnber, pride in serving a real gen.
tie man or real gentle lady; and while you
may not find the African amiability, in an
apparent unconscious defining Of relations,
in your English servant, it is the one unva-
rying rule of feeling thought and action Of
his. or her, whole life 10 truly serve the
truly noble and considerable and To truly
rule, by endless insistence Of rights, per-
quisites and traditional Gignities,
THE IGNoBLE AND THE PAEyENU.
The number, wages and ways of the ser
wants employed in and about the great halls,
seats, and castles of Britain 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, hiring Of servants, and the pur-
chase of all ordinary necessities such a3
food, except meats, which is invariably the
ceives $50, and an unlimited amount of noble
Safeguarding, per year.
Next in Importance, if not indeed the
first, is the housekeeper. She is usually a
maiden lady Of severe age. or widow
culled from poor relations. She must be
person OF infinite expcdiency, common
sense, experience, and with q soul and
physique of iron. She usually has entire
charge of the detail of all domestic mat
tiers; holds the keys to every private apart
ment and secret compartment; with her
assistants makes. lays and repairs all car
pets; cleans and rehangs all tapestries; fire.
queatly originally enbroiIers the finest of
draperies; packs, unpacks, rehangs and
Grapes all paintings; prepares and marks
with the family crest all linen and laces;
cares for the statuary; and attends to the
interninabie cleaning and waxing of floors.
She recciAes from e20 to eos per year. hay
ing under her from one to two assistant
housekeeperS, whose yearly wages RE from
el2 to el6. In a general way all the female
servants Of the place 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 unfor-
tunate person is expected to educate and
form the manners and morals, TO the age of
twelve, of the children. She must read,
write. speak and teach French and German,
di-U 1D-C " iLiotl uNI AZ l4lI ALlAllLC-lS VI
Latin, 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 the superior, COM
panion and servant OF her charges.
Her compensation is $40 to $50
per annuIn, and many opportunities for
intrigue. In the greatest houses she is
allowed two, and sometimes three, nursery
maids at from .el0 TO SIG each. There is
an upper hcusemaid at GIG; an under
at .el2; and from two to four
houSemaids at go; all really un-
der
CONTROL oP THE HOUsEKREPER.
But the ladies' maids, who are response !
bic only to their miStresscs, hold what are |
as the most desirable positions; |
iusomuCh as, while the most eXacting du- |
ties are required, they receive from $50 TO |
$50 per year; while their opportunities |
for travel and sightseeing are unlimited. |
The lady's maid is usually young woman |
Of excellent education, and genuine accom- |
plishments, and of extraordinary patience |
and tinesse. To follow her in one days |
duties would assure anyone Of all that. Her |
must be taken whilst milady is |
still sleeping, for when she wakens, her |
cup of cocoa must be ready, after which the |
bath is given and milady's hair and toilet |
'done." While the latter is at breakfast |
her chamber must be righted and aired, and |
.le morning OItSSeS UTf3IStu. ler
adyship goes for drive or ride, she must |
be again dressed for the same; and while |
she is absent, the maid, who in most cases
S a thorough modiste, must busy her fin
gers at sewing. 1t is not customary TO give |
her new cloths to cut, but she must be COM
Jateat in all repairing and even in cleaning |
ard remaking O soiled costume. She |
lunches at the same hour with her
mistress, but hurriedly, for, if in the
,ity, she must during this time attend |
o necessary shopping. After lunch hour
Ter ladyship is dressed for going out, or for |
receiving at home Then again comes the
'ound of sewing or mending, getting out
Ter ladyshipS dinner gown, etc, and as
sorting and polishing her jewels for posi-
Die evening wear. Then her mistress must
De dressed for dinner; and after her own
Inner is eaten, the evening costume COM
)lete must be laid out, some finery removed
md bits of fresh lace added here and there:
when she is prepared to fold, seal and post |
such letters as her ladyShip may have writ
Ell just after dinner; By which hour the
,rdeal of placing her titled ward III full !
,Yening costume is Ut hand. This passed, |
he maid may busy herself getting COS
umes for the morrow in order; perhaps
teal out for half hour with the ladies'
maids coterie; but woe be to her
+ she IS not smilingly in waiting. on her
return, with the latter's cham
)er in perfect order for retiring. at which
he assists: and then lies down ike
THE FAITHFUL ANIMAL
he is, in room next her mistress, within |
all of bell, which is liable to summon her