Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-28


would be held accountable In paying or
tho servants Madame Bollict is given
power Of attorney. ana can make out
checks and sign them, II Mrs. Vanderbilt
IL too busy 10 do so. All wages are paid
ia actual money. as most of the servants
are foreigners. and could not handle
checks md Sc At times the directross
~ in possession Of a considerable fortune
IN reaCy monty.
In IA household OF the size and prcten-
lions Of the Wand erbilt home there are
countless avenue OF work, and many
different departments that must b. daily
inspected. FOR the mistress TO do this
would be impossible; and even the di-
rectrcss can not assume the task per-
sonally though responsible for all.
Every morning directly after breakfast
Mrs. Vanderbilt goes 10 her library, ana
IN closeted for half an hour with her
directress. and all THINGS are planned Tor
the day. IL any servants are to be hlred
the directre;is mentions 1t. Then follows
p little talk about the appointments OF
the table at Il coming dinner, and the
most Mrs. Vanderbilt does Is 20 suggest
that such and such caterer or such and
such a florist, will be able to ina some
thing beautiful ana new. The directress
makes a note cs the preferences OF Mrs.
Vanderbilt. and sees that the orders are
gent out for certain number OF covers
ON "A certain night, or a certain set OF
decorations
When there is a ball planned the dircc-
tress consults the florist personally. and.
II necessary arranges a meeting with him
for Mrs. Vanderbilt ana when there are
new robes needed for the carriages the
head of the stable reports ii TO the direc-
tress. who has "A standing order to buy
more whenever more are needed. And
thus all IL managed Each department
has it's own head, ana the head is respon-
sihle for all the workings OF that depart
ment, and must report TO the directress.
who IN turn attends 10 their wants. and
on rare occasions Consults Mrs. Wander
bilt.
Sometimes the directress must act at her
own discretion. unaided for several days
by Mrs. Vanderbilts councils, for II must
be remembered that in the height OF the
season a society woman has all she can
do TO attend her receptions and balls ana
dinners and 10 make her calls without
listening to a word about household AZ
fairs. And at such times the dlrectress IL
supreme.
THE VANDERBILT LINEN-ROOM.
Az an example OF the absolute order
which prevails in the house, and when
makes the salary which the directress re-
ceiyes no more than ordinary compensa-
ton for q lady to pay with an abundance
of money, may be mentioned the planning
of the linen-room. This room is square
light apartment IL feet by 10, bigger IMAM
most parlors, and lighted by two large
windows Opening or this room are sew
eral smaller rooms. each one OF them
devoted to some special article. one has
table-cloths, another has towels ana Il
third sheets and piiiow-cases. The large
room Is solely for sorting and repairing
and marking.
The table-cloth room is very pretty TO
look at. and would drive to envy the
lovers Of nice napery. IL Is small
square room. lined with shelves, which
reach all the way from the floor TO the
ceiling. The shelves are broad and nave
compartments. each one OF which Is the
width OF a table-cloth folded in about SIX
folds. In these compartments are dozens
and dozens OF boxes. perhaps hundreds OF
them, and In each box there Is table
cloth neatly folded and elegantly laIn-
dered. There is fine French polish upon
the surface, as though just from the shop
and the folds are put in with machine
like precision. The table-cloth boxes We're
al made TO order by the man who makes