The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-01-04
LIVING IN NEW 20 RK,
"hat fashionable Dwellers There Pny for
Their Establishments.

what fashionable Dwellers There Poy for
Their Establishments.
Several wealthy New Workers have
been lately interviewed as to the cost
OF living in their city. Their replies
40 not include the cost Of food and
clothing, for these expenses are rather
the least that Il fashionable New
Yorker has to meet. "a gentleman
OF a fair family" said one of these
tnen, "tO be in the social swim. il he
owns his Own house, can live hand
'omely on $50, 900 a year. and can
spend double that amount without
any appreciate ditfe. cncc. In the
latter case he has more servants and
gives more receptions. For $50, 600 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
ladys maid for each female member
of the family: two laundresses, at
least two chamNermaids, a governess
for the children. a cOachman, a foot
man, tutors for languages and music,
and two Stablcmen.
The wine and cigar bill of course
varies according to circumstances.
Wine is not used SO much now as it
was a SHIRT time ago, and fewer gen.
tlcmen 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 S.. 900 for the season. The news
paper bill is unusually large-in the
newspaper bill l 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.
"tor receptions, a prima donna
costs from 5000 to 81, 900 a night. l
say nothing about the stables, be-
cat"e a mar may keep two horses or
twenty or one without affecting his
social standing: O.000 a 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 W experience could not be
used as IN example, for he lived in a
very moderate and quiet way-very
INC l%eratc, indeed, his expenses rarely
exceeding SO, 900 a year.
"But | have plenly Of friends who
live in better style" he said. "Any-
where between $50. 600 and 800. 600
Il year | consider moderate expense
for Il wealthy family. Fora moderate
S zcd h ,uSe the rent may be cstima-
ted at $500, and that is very low
for New York. There must lie Il man
or woman servant for each of the chill
dren. at $50 to $40 a month; a butler
ut from 500 to 5000 a month: chief
COOK at about $40 a month. You see
| am making the whole thing mod
crate. You Il pay your chef IS, 900
a year. like one Of the Nalderbilts, if
YOU choose. An undertook at &15 q
month. two kitchen girls at about 800
a month each: Il gOverness, $40: two
cham. ermaidS, $40 each: %cOachman,
about $50; groom, $40 to $50: stable
Toy. $50; two or nor Wallets at $50
each; Il lady's maid for each woman
or girl. at $50 each: two women for
the laundry, at S25 each; two garden.
ers, if there are any grounds, One at
$50 and the other at $50 ii month;
two door boys at $50 each, and a boy
for backing shoes.
chen there will be from six to
twelve horses, with their feed, and
anywhere from two to twelve ar
riages to keep in order. On this scale,
which is a moderate one for a family
in New York, you cannot estimate
less than $4,000 a year, and 500, 900
is safer"