The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-02
FASHToNABLELIVfN. INNhW OK
s. ciety Men Say It Costs $4,000 Year to
Maintain Sweli Establishment

What does it cost to live in New York.
to support such an establishment as mar
ried man in society in this city must
have?"
When New York Sun reporter asked
this question recently of several proml-
nent New Workers whose means warrant
their living in any style they choose,
he found that the estimates given not only
differed widely but that in the details
they were lacking, every one of them.
in what the majority of people would
consider the most important items In
no case was an account made Of the
cost Of food and clothing. These things,
that with the most Of us are first 10 be con-
sidered in the expense account make com
paratiyey so small a figure in the cost
Of New York establishment that none
Of the questioned considered them at
all.
IL is an easy matter to induce almost
any wealthy New Workers to make a de-
tailed estimate of the cost of supporting
an establishment and the estimate will
usually be based upon his own expenses.
But IL IS not SO easy TO obtain permits
sion to use the wealthy New Workers.
name. The first man TO whom the ques-
ton was put, for instance, made IL a con-
dition that his name should not be men
toned. IL is seldom that he makes such
a stipulation, too. for ne is interviewed
oftener and with better results than any
other man in the world.
"a gentleman OF fair family" said this
prominent New Yorker "to be in the
social swim, If he owns his own house,
can live handsomely on $4,000 a year,
and can spend double that amount with
out any appreciate difference In the
latter case, he has more servants and
gives more receptions. For $4,000
year he can live just as comfortably In
this city as he could live quietly in some
interior village for 5000 a year. In the
village he would doubtless enjoy better
health.
The servants are important. There
must be a butler with one or two as
slstants; a chef. with assistants, lady's
maid for each female member OF the fam
lily, two laundresses, at least two cham
ber-maids. a gOverness for the children,
a coachman, a footman, tutors for IAN
guages and music and two stabiemen.
The wine ana cigar bill OF course va
ries according 10 circumstances. Wine
is not used so much now as IL was a
short time ago, and fewer gentlemen
smoke. still there must always be the
best wines and cigars in the house. The
church pew costs grOm 500 10 $500, and
the opera box costs s. 900 for the season.
There seems to be a little discrepancy here
between the cost of religion and music, but
l am merely giving you facts without
comment The newspaper bill is unusu-
ally large-in the newspaper bill l in
clude Of course, magazines OF all period
zeal literature. Most men OF affairs take
all the principal newspapers OF the city.
even II they have time only 10 glance AZ
the headings They must know what is
art |
newspapers as an exchange editor, and
consider il part OF my daily business.
For receptions. a prima donna costs
from $50 TO 81 90 a night. / say nothing
about the stables, because a man MAJ
keep two horses or twenty or none with
out affecting his social standing 5000 a
year is a fair estimate for proper es-
taDushment. The expense need not 80
much higher and cannot 20 much lower"
The next wealthy New Yorker 10 whom
the question was pur protested that his
own experience could not be used as al
example. for he lived in a very quiet
and moderate way-yery moderate indeed.
his expenses rarely exceeding $1,000 a
year.
But l have plenty OF friends who
live in better STYLE" said he. ANY
where between $4,000 and 100000 year
consider a moderate expense for a
wealthy family. FOR a moderate sized
house the rent may be estimated at $500,
and that is very low for New York.
There must be man or woman servant
for each OF the children at $50 TO $40 Il
month. a butler at from 500 10 500 a
month, a chief cook at about $40 month.
You see ! am making the whole thing
moderate. You can pay your chef 5000
a year like one of the Nanderbilts, II
you choose. An undertook at $40 a
month. two kitchen girls at about $50
a month each, governess, $40; two cham
bermaids. SD each: coachman, about $50;
groom, $40 10 $50; stable boy, so; two or
more Wallets al so each; a lady's maid
for each woman or girl, at $50 each; two
women for the laundry, at SIS each; two
gardeners, II there are any grounds, one
at SO and the other at $50 month"; two
door-boys at so each, and a boy for
backing shoes.
Then there will be from ten TO twelve
horses, with their feed and anywhere
from two TO twelve carriages 10 keep
I'm order. On this scale. which is a mod
crate one for wealthy family In New
York, you cannot estimate less than |
$4,000 a year. and 100000 is safer"