Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-12-28
LIVING IN NEW YORK.
What Fashionable Dwellers There Pay for
Their Esta blishments.

What Fashionable Dwellers There Pay for
Their E,ta blishments.
Several wealthy New Workers have
of living in their city. Their replies
do not include the cost of food and
clothing, for these expenses are rather
the least that a fashionable New
Yorker has to meet. "a gentleman
of fair family" said one of these
men. ito be in the social swim, it he
owns his own house, can live hand
somely on $50, 900 a year, and can
spend double that amount without
any appreciate difference. In the
latter case he has more servants and
gives more receptions. For $50, 900 a
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 doubt
less enjoy better health.
The servants are Important There
must be a butler, with one or two as
sistants; a chef, with assistants; a
lady;S maid for each female member
Of the family: two laundreSses, at
least two chamhermaidS, a gOvernesS
for the children, cOachran, foot
man, tutors for languages and music,
and two stablemen.
"The wine and cigar bill of course
varies according to circumstances
Wine is not used so much now as it
was short time ago, and fewer gen.
tlemen smoke; still, there must al
ways be the best wines and cigars in
the house The church pew costs
from $500 to $500, and the opera box
costs SIS. 600 for the season. The news
paper bill is unusually large-in the
newspaper bill | include, of course,
magazines and all periodical litera-
ture Most men Of affairs take all
the principal newspapers of the city,
even if they have time only to glance
at the headings They must know
what is going on.
For receptions, prima donna
costs from $500 to 81 900 night. |
say nothing about the stables, be-
cause man may keep two horses or
twenty or none without affecting his
social standing: $4,000 year is a
fair estimate for a proper establish
ment. The expense need not go much
higher and cannot go much lower"
The next wealthy New Yorker to
whom the question was put protested
that his own experience could not be
used as an example for he lived in a
very moderate and quiet Way-very
moderate, indeed, his expenses rarely
exceeding 1926, 900 a year.
But ! have plenty of friends who
live in better STYLE" he said. ANY
where between $4,000 and 800, 600
year / consider moderate expense
for wealthy family. For moderate
sized house the rent may be estima-
ted at 81, 500. and that is very low
for New York There must be man
or woman servant for each Of the chill
dren, at $50 to so month; butler
at from 500 to 5000 month; a chief
cook at about $40 a month. You see
| am making the whole thing mod
crate. You can pay your chef IS, 600
a year, like one Of the Vanderbilts, il
YOU choose. An unde ~-cook at S75 a
month, two kitchen girls at about $40
month each; governess, $40; two
chant ermaids, $40 each; coachman,
about $50: groom, $40 to $50; stable
boy, $40; two or more Wallets at $50
each; lady's maid for each woman
or girl. at $50 each; two women for
the laundry, at $50 each; two garden
crs. if there are any grounds, one at
$50 and the other at $50 month;
two door boys at $40 each, and boy
for backing shoes.
Then there will be from six to
twelve horses, with their feed, and
anywhere from two to twelve car
riages to keep in order. On this scale,
which is a moderate one for family
in New York, you cannot estimate
less than S75, 900 year, and 800, 0OC
is safer"