Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-02
4 $4,000 Hnuscl,ccncr,

Inc most carefully ordered mousse
hold in New York, writes correspond
ent of the Chicago Record, is that Of
Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt, who lives
in one cf the Fifth avenue palaces.
built by the late commodore for his ION :
and daughters. Mrs. Vanderbilt is, her.
self, a fine housekeeper, but it is years
since she has done anything in the way
of ordering new supplies or directing
the management. During the years
since she has given up the task of regu-
lating her home affairs all has been i'll
the hands of a French lady, Nine. Boil
liet, by name, who is directly response
bic Tor everything in the house and is
intrusted with the entire management.
Her title is that of directress, and her
salary is placed at the figure Of s., 900
year. But it overlaps that sum by many
hundreds.
One of Nine. Bolliet's duties is the
hiring Of the servants in the Vanderbilt
household. Mrs. Vanderbilt does not
know them all even by sight. But
Nine. Bolliet knows them, hires them
and is responsible for them.
Every morning directly after break
bast Mrs Vanderbilt goes to her library
and is closeted for haitian hour with her
directress, and all things are planned
for the day. If any servants are to be
hired the directress mentions it. Then
follows little talk about the appoint
ments of the table at coming dinner;
and the most Mrs. Vanderbilt does is to
suggest that such and such caterer or
such and such florist will be able to
find something beautiful and new. The
directress makes note of the
preferences of Mrs. Vanderbilt and sees
that the orders are sent out for GER
tain number of ''covers" on certain
night or certain set of decorations.
When there is ball planned the di-
rectress consuits the florist personally,
and, if necessary, arranges a mee.ing
with him for Mrs. Vanderbilt; and
when there are new robes needed for
the carriages the head of the stable re-
ports it TO the directress, who has n
standing order to buy more whenever
more are needed And thus all is man
aged. Each department has its own
head, and the head is responsible for
all the workings OF that department and
must report to the directress, who in
turn attends to their wants and on rare
occasions consults Mrs Vanderbilt
Sometimes the directress must act al
her own discretion, unaided for several
days by Mrs. Vanderbilt's counsels, for
it must be remembered that in the
height of the season society woman
has all she can do to attend her recep
tions and balls and dinners and to make
her calls, without listening to a word
about household affairs. And ut such
times the directress is supreme.
All of the Vanderbilt servants are OBJ
tanned from the congregation ola little
French church on Thirtieth street, the
pastor of which is personally responsible
10 the directress for the honesty OF those
he recommends.
The wages range fram $50 month
upward and the average is about $50
month. which, of course, includes
board and fine room, as well rs good
food and a parlor in common with the
other servants.
Nine. Bolliet is French woman with
the typical French face and French
manner. She is rather short, quite
slender and rather dcmonstrative in
manner. Ifanything goes wrong she
gets furious and acts as if she would
like to stab the wrong-doer.
Madame's maid, madames carriage,
madame's private table and madame 5
suite of rooms are all institutions Of the
household and are as we'll appointed as
are those of Mrs Vanderbilt and only a
little less elegant.