Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21
MRS. vANDERBILT's HOUSEKEEPING
How tho Largest Private Establish
ment in America IL Managed.

How tho Largest Private Establish
ment I'm America IL Managed.
From the st. Louis Republic.
Excepting the White House. in and about
which a large corps Of servants are en-
ployed. the Cornelius Vanderbilts. in their
great New York house. recently enlarged
to occupy one whole side OF a city square.
require the constant attendance Of a larger
number of domestics than any householders
in this country.
In the winter season. when Mr.. and Mrs.
Vanderbilt are at home and entertaining.
twenty-five servants sit down to meals in
their own commodious. cheerful basement
dining room. They live in the house, and
in summer are either put on board wages.
or, II the Newport establishment Is opened,
are transferred there. along with some half
dozen men from the private stables. These
men, who do not live In the house. and
who. with the three florists and one plumber.
are known as the Outside help by regular
servants, brings the list OF steady wage
earners in Mr. Vanderbilts private employ
up to the number OF thirty-three.
Now, there isn't a housemaid, butler.
valet stable boy who does not feel him
or herself in great luck to secure a place
with the Vanderbilts. Employment under
that roof means handsome wages. the most
luxurious living and pleasant work. Mo-
body Is ever asked to bear more than q Just
share Of the daily labors.
On the top floor OF the house are the serv-
ants quarters. There Is nice suite, con-
sisting OF sitting room. and what Is known
as the Office" set aside for the housekeep-
er. Mrs Perkins. She is a clever. capable
person, who has been with Mrs. Wander
bilt a number OF years, and has control Of
all the women domesttcs, except the nurse
and Mrs Vanderbilt's own personal maid
Mrs. Perkins looks after the great linen
closet. She is the head Of the laundry:
every morning inspects the bed room, uraw-
ing room and servants floor. manages the
maids In order and neatness. discharges
and engages them, and keeps all the house
accounts. Any domestic troubles are laid
before her in the ONCE here the maids re-
port to her every morning: here she keeps
her books. and once a week has half
hours interview with Mrs Vanderbilt.
Mrs. Vanderbilt a HOusekeeper.
Mrs. Perkins always has her meals
every respect conducts herself as becomes
the vell-trained English housekeeper she is
Under her direct control are the two laun-
dresses. two chambermaids. and two Iarlor
maids. who know that they must rot only
obey Mrs. Perkins but also have a care for
the keen eyes Of Mrs. Vanderbilt. who
never corrects or forgives twice. She be-
gan her married life with but one maid
of-all-work in a small home. and knows by
exact experience just how homework ought
to be done.
What is known as Mrs vanjerbIlts floor
consists Of the bed room. bath room and
morning room the mistress occupies her
self, and over these and little Gladys alr-
clusion of Mrs. Perkins. Her own maid
Mrs. Vanderbilt changes many times. for
constantly travelling she requires the serv-
ices Of q woman who can stand sea voy-
ages with e9uaniniity: knows the life OF
hotels. and the art Of hasty packing. So
during the winter there Is usually a French
maid employed. and at the beginning Of
spring her place is taken by capable Eng
lish woman. who understands the ways Of
the world over the water.
Mrs. Vanderbilt's Discipline.
From the standpoint of a servant Mrs.
Vanderbilt is regarded as a mistress whose
faults and virtues are equally balanced.
She is unusually severe. but very generous
She pays handsome wages, and her gifts
at Christmas always come I'm the form Of
| q goodly check. On her private cars her
maid has the incest quarters: in the hotel
she Is put up in quite luxurious IA shion.
and in the foreign cities Mrs. Vanderbilt
gives her maid five or ten-doliar bill
extra TO buy souvenirs with as she ex-
plains.
No maid must ever appear before her In
other than a black gown. severely simple
and immaculate apron. She let's that her
children be always most courteous to the
servants. Every week for three days the
clever sewing woman helps 20 over her
own and her daughters warJrobes; a pro-
fesSional packer comes TO prepare the bag
gage when a journey must be undertaken
and Mrs. Vanderbilt is an ideal traveller
One steamer trunk and a toilet satchel is
all the baggage she admits on n SEA VOYAGE
and she never leaves home unattended by
a courier or capable travelling valet.
-Four meals are served i'm the long base
ment dining room. A great gong rings for
breakfast, luncheon, tea and dinner and
no hotel in New York serves such annie
tempting and wholesome meals as the
uninterrupted chef prepares and the soul
lery maid serves on the broad table. with
its nice appointments of linen. glass; silver
and china.
Round the table gather the butl.r. at the
head, the house HOFFMAN, the men who
are called the engineers, ami look 10 the
| care OF the cellar and heating az the house
and conservatory. two electric light men,
the chef, his boy and the sculler; maid, the
head laundress and her assistant, two
, ladies' maids, one for Mrs. Vanderbilt and
one FOR her young lady daughter Gertrude:
the nurse for little Gladys, Mr.. Wander
bits valet two chambermaids. two house
maids, charwonan and sewing woman.
Mr.. vanderbilrs Duties.
To Mr.. Vanderbilt falls the duty OF man
aging the men servants in the house and
stables. He is quite as exacting as his wife,
but always kindly. considera.., and LAYS
high wages. He follows the family rule OF
never piacating or arguing with a domestic
Good wages are given. the work 81 never
hard, ana the hours arc easy; therefore no
| grumbling or luarreis are countenancei 10y
the heads Of the house. Mr.. Vanderbilt is q
great stickler for respect from his servants.
also immaculate neatnrss in their dress
Each hour OF the day rnd evening IS por-
toned out for every employe. When a
| great dinner party is on hand an asslsta Mt
| chef comes 10 the Kitchen and two more
footmen are supplied the butler
Four weeks before the ,i,y home Is closed
| for the summer Mrs. Vanderbilt orders the
reign OF general cleaning. and every week
one of the floors in r.ut in perfect o;lsr
THIN II Is Mr.. Perkins must keep account
of a corps Of woriSrnPn who are sent I'M
from the picture dealers. ulholstersrs
paper hangers and decorators. for by ex-
perts only are the carpets, hangirgs nlc-
lures. furniture. bric-l-:'rac. china glass,
books and a precious collection OF antiques
taken down. cleaned. freshencd and COW
cred.
To the economical hous.keepar. pertains
all this may sound like the most wick ed
extravaganza. AMI yet The hugo house on
the corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-elghth
street could not b. carried in COOL cider
with fewer hands. an ~ stroll through the
great rooms. suites Oh suites. proves that
| only q genius could preserve them In n.
perfect condition with less help. In size
and decoration, "a well Is in 'he number
| Of its servants, this house spproa chcs near
| er to the ordering of Il European palace
| than any other this side OF the Atlantic