Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15
.PRINCELY LIVING.
he Domestic SerYics IN a Manhattan
Island Palace.
TRAINED ENGLISH HoUSEKEEpER.
The Manner and Disposition of MIRA Cor
nelius vandcrbiirs Thirty-Thrce
Servants In Her Now Home
Correspondence OF the plspatch.)

large corps OF servants are cmpioycu,
the Cornelius vanderbilts In their great
New York house. recently enlarged 20
occupy one whole side OF a city square,
require the constant attendance OF
larger number OF domestics than any
householders in this country.
In the winter season. when Mr.. and
Mrs Vanderbilt are at home and enter
tanning. twenty-five servants sit down TO
meals In their own commodious. cheerful
basement dining roos. They live I'm the
house. and in summer are either put on
board wages. or " the Newport estao-
lishment is opened. are transferred there
along with some half dozen men from the
private stables. These men, wo do not
live in the house. and who. with the three
florists and one plumber. are known "S
the Outside help by the regular ser
wants brings the list or steady ""se-
earners In MIR. Vanderbilt's private en-
ploy up TO the number or thirty-three'
Such POSITIONS COVETED.
Now. there isn't housemaid. butler.
valet or stable boy who does not reel
him or herself In great luck 10 secure
n place with the Nanderbiits. Employ
ment under that roof means harisoIne
WAGES. tho mos; luxurious living, ana
nlcasant work. Nobody is ever asked to
bear more than just share OF the ddliE
iabors. -
on the top floor Of the house are inc
servants quarters. There Is nice sun
consisting of sitting-room. bedroom ana
what is known as 1.-THE Office set aslde
for the housekeeper. Mrs. Perkins. she
neTg0n.
has been with Mrs. Vanderbilt
number Of years. and has con-
troll of all the women domcstics, except
rho nurse and Mrs. Nanderbilts own per-
sonal maid. Mrs. Perkins looks after the
great unen-closet. She is the head OF the
laundry: every morning inspects the Ded-
room. drawinG-room. and servants hoor'
manages the the maids IN order ana neat
ness. discharges and engages them' ana
keeps all the house accounts. ANY 10
mestic troubles are laid before her In the
office: here the maids report 10 her every
morning; here she keeps her BOOKS ana
nnce a week has haIf-hours htefNie"
with Mrs. Vanderbilt.
Mrs Perkins always has her meals
Reryed In her own sitting-room. ana IN
every respect conducts herself as becomes
the well-trained English housekeeper she
lie Hinder her direct control are the TWO
Iaundrcsses two chamber-maids, and TWO
parlor-maids, who know that they must
moi only obey Mrs. Perkins. but also nave
n care for the keen eyes OF MIS-. Nahuer-
but, who never corrccts or ioTgNes
twice She began her married lie WIN
hut one maid Of all work In small
home. and knows by exact experience just
how homework ought TO be done.
What is known as Mrs. Vanderbilt
iioor consists of the bedroom Dalh-fooh'
and rnoruing-raom the mistress occupies
herself. and over these ana niue Dlauys
nursery she has fun charge, quite 10 the
.xelusion of Mrs Perkins. Her own
maid Mrs Vanderbilt changes many
times. for constantly travelling she re-
uuires the services of woman VINO can
stand sea voyages with euuaIihlitS,
knows the life Of hotels ana the ART OF
hastv packing. so during the winter
there Is usually a French maid efnpioyeu'
and al the beginning of spring her place
Is taken by a capable English woman.
who understands the ways Of the world
over the water.
MRS. VANDERBILTS DISCIPLINE.
From the standpoint of the servant
Mrs Vanderbilt is regarded as mis-
tress whose faults and virtues are equally
balanced She Is usually severe but
very generous She pays handsome
wages. and her gifts at Christmas always
come IN the form of a goodly check. On
her private cars her maid has the incest
quarters: in the hotel she is put up IN
quite luxurious fashion. and In the Tor
eign cities Mrs Vanderbilt gives her
maid a FIVE or ten-doilar bill extra 10
buy souvenirs with" as she explains
No maid must ever appear before her
An other than a black gown, severely SIM
.Iafa aNAHfG
that her children be always most cour-
teous 10 the servants. Every week for
three DAYS the clever sewing woman
helps 10 over her own and her daughters
wardrUbes: a professional packer comes
10 prepare the baggage when a journey
must be undertaken. and Mrs. Wander
bilt is an ideal traveller. One steamer
trunk and a toilet satchel is all the bag
gage she admits on a sea voyage, and she
never leaves home unattended by a cou-
rier or capable travelling valet.
-Four meals are served in the long base
uent dining room. a great gong rings
for breakfast, luncheon, tea, and dinner
and no hotel in New York serves such
ample. wholesome, and tempting meals
as the white-capped chef prepares, and
the scullery maid serves on the broad
table with its nice appointments or nnen'
glass silver and china.
Round the table gather the butler at
the head. the house footman, the men
who are called engineers and look TO the
rare Of the cellar and heating of the house
and conservatory, two eiectric-light men,
the chefs, his boy, and the scuilery 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.. Vanderbilts valet. two chamber
maids, two housemaids, charwoman,
and sewing woman.
MIR. VANDERBILTS DUTIES.
To Mr.. Vanderbilt falls the duty OF
managing the men servants in the house
and stables. He Is quite as exacting as
his wife. but always kindly considerable,
and pays high wages. He follows the
family rule Of never placating or arguing
with domestic. Good wages are given
the work Is never hard. and the hours are
easy; therefore no grumbling or quarrels
are countenanced by the heads of the
house. Mr.. Vanderbilt is great stickler
for respect from his servants, also i'm
maculate neatness in their dress. Each
hour OF the day and evening is portioned
out for every employee. When great
dinner party is on hand an assistant chef
comes 10 the kitchen and two more foot
men are supplied the butler.
Four weeks before the city home i
closed for the summer. Mrs. Vanderbll
orders the reign Of general cleaning, ano
every week one OF the floors Is put IN
perfect order. Then 1t Is Mrs. Perkins
must keep account OF corps of work
men who are sent up from the picture
dealers. upholsterers, paper-hangers, anc
decorators. for 10y experts only are the
carpets. hangings, pictures, furniture
bric-a-brac. china. glass. books, and
precious collection OF antiques, taker
down, cleaned. freshened. and covered.
TO the economical housekeeper. perhaps
all this may sound like the most wicked
extravaganza and yet the huge house OF
the corner OF Fifth avenue and Fifty
eighth street, could not be carried on II
good order with fewer hands, AID a
stroll through the great rooms, suite or
suite. proves that only a genius could az
ford 10 preserve them in as perfect condi
tion with less help. In size and decoration
as well as in the number or its servants
this house approaches nearer TO the or
dering OF European palace than any
other this side OF the Atlantic.
The Haunted Valley:
CApGN FRIDGE w VA