The Washington times., 1894-05-13
HIGH LIVERS IN NEW YORK
What It Costs to Keep Up the Pace
That Kills.
THE PENALTIES OF STYLE
The Same Comforts Can Be Enjoyed in
Quiet Village on IS, 1000 Year That Cost
$4,000 Year in Our American Metropo-
lis-some Of the Many Items.

What does it cost to live in New York, to
support such an establishment as q
married man in society in this city
must have? When q. writer in the New
York Sun asked thisEq question recently oi
several prominent NEWCOMERS. whose names
warrant their living in any style they choose,
he found that the estimates given not only
differed widely, but that in the details they
were lacking, every one OF them, in what the
majority of people would consider the most
important items.
In no case was any account made OF the
cost of food and clothing. These things, that
with most of US are first to be considered IN
the expense account, make comparatively SO
small a figure in the cost of New York es-
tablishment that none of the questioned con-
sidered them at ali. 1t is an easy matter TO
induce almost any wealthy New Yorker to
make a detailed estimate Of the cost OF sup
porting an establishment, and the estiraate
will usually be based upon his own expenses.
But 1t is not so easy to obtain permission to
use tie wealthy New Workers. name.
The first man to whom the question was
put made it a condition his name should not
be mentioned. 1t Is seldom that he makes
much a stipulation, too, for he is interviewed
far oftener and with better results than any
other man in the world. "a gentleman of
fair family said this prominent New Yorker,
ito be in the social swim, If he owns his own
house, can live handsomely on $50, ,000 year,
and can spend double that amount without
any apureciable difference. In the latter
case he has more servants and gives more re-
ceptions. For $50 600 year he can live just
as comfortably in this city as he could quietly
in some interior village for So. 900 year. In
H-i1looa ha yyouil douhfleea pniOv heffer
health.
The servants are important. There must be
butler. with one or two assistants; chef,
with assistants; a lady's maid for each female
member of the family; two laundresses, at
least two chambermaids, governess for the
children, a coachman, a footman. tutors for
languages and music, and two stablemen.
The wine and cigar bill of course varies
according to circumstances. Wine is not
used so much now as 1t was a short time ago,
and fewer gentlemen smoke; still, there must
always be the best wines and cigars in the
house. The church pew costs from $500 to
$500, and the opera box costs $4,000 for the
season. There seems 20 be little discrep-
Rncy here between the cost of religion and
music. but l am merely giving you facts
without comment.
..The newspaper bill is unusually large-in
the newspaper bill include, of course, mag
azines and all periodical literature Most
papers OF the city. even if they have time only
to glance at the headings. They must know
what is going on. For my own part read as
many newspapers as an exchange editor, and
considered it part OF my daily business. For
receptions prima donna costs from $500 to
$1,000 night. / say nothing about the
Stables because q man may keep two horses
or twenty, or none without affecting his
social standing; $4,000 4 year is a fair esti-
mate for a proper establishment. The ex-
pense need not 90 much higher. and cannot
go much lower"
The next wealthy New Yorker to whom the
question was put protested that his own ex-
perience could not be used as an example,
for he lived in very moderate and quiet
way-very moderate indeed, his expenses
rarely exceeding S25,000 a year. But
have plenty OF friends who live in better
style" he said Anywhere between $50. .000
and 500, 600 year 1 consider a moderate
expense for q wealthy family. For a moder-
ate-sized house the rent may be estimated at
$500, and that is very low for New York.
There must be 4 man or woman servant for
each of the children. at $50 TO $40 month; a
butler at from 500 to 5000 q month"; a CHIEF
cook at about $40 month.
You see / am making the whole thing mod
crate. You can pay your chef $4,000 year.
like one of the Vanderbilts. If you choose.
An undertook at S75a month. two kitchen
girls at about $50 month each: COVER
hess, $40; two chambermaids, $40 each;