New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-07

cially in New-York. No people in the world are so
extravagant and prodigal In their sty.e OF living
are New-Yorkers and this reckiessness In regard
to cost is not confined to the smart set alone.
Each year people are disposed to stay later In
the country. finding It hard to themselves away
from the glorious autumnal foliage. and hazy days
when horseback riding. driving. golf. tennis even
Just living take added attractiveness because
they must soon be given up for conventionalty
About month before the homecoming the house
keeper goes to the city house and begins getting
things in order In the spring the rugs have all been
taken up and sent 10 the cleaners TO be thoroughly
beaten and cleaned. sprinkled with camphor or
moth preventive. and rolled on heavy poles 10
keep them straight and free from wrinkles. Some
people prefer leaving their valuable rugs and cur
tains and furs with dealers In those articles VINO
insure them and take all responsibility for reason
able sum. After the house has been cleaned from
cellar to garnet land It IL surprising to see the
amount OF dust that accumuates In house during
a few months even though some one has been left
In charge who is supposed 20 open and dust 1t at
least twice week) rugs and carpets are put down.
curtains and porteres hung. pictures uncovered
bric-a brac and silver taken out OF tho fate ana
cleaned and put In place Then the furnace or
steam pipes and plumbing must be put IN order. IL
the furnace has not been lighted two or three times
during the summer II should be- 10 dry IL out IL
is very likely to have accumulated dampness' ana
when lighted will I'LL the house with heavy foul
smoke that permeates everything, and WIZ stay IN
the rooms for days. spite OF much airing. AS the
water has been turned off all summer IL VIII De
great good fortune H. when 1t Is turned on there ID
not stoplage or leak found IN some oo"er vi
bathroom.
For women who 10 not employ n housekeeper
there has come within the last few years boon In
the form OF a professional houee-cleaner she ~
a responsible woman. well recommended VINO taxes
the entire charge OF opening and closing city ana
country houses in the spring and fall. she taxes
her staff OF cleaners carpet-se"ers' etc.' anu
becomes responsible for the care OF the house ana
everything In it from the time she takes possession
OF IL until she turns II to its mistress In per-
feet order She Will also hire any servants that may
be needed and can usually do It satisfactorily as
she makes a business OF 1t. giving personal ihVeS-
tgatlon TO references and requirements
In fashionable household there are OFTEN
employed about twelve or fourteen servants These
include a butter. second and third man. parior
maid. ladys maid and valet. two chambermalds' TWO
laundresses cook kitchen maid and useful man.
butler Ike the good little boy, should be seen
but not heard" His actual work Is Ilsht Du' ne
has a heavy responsibility. as he is generally III
trusted with the keys OF the wine cellar. ana mas the
care OF the silver and OF the china. when IS oi''h
almost as valuable as the silver. and more difhcult
10 replace lie must that his dining-room Is
kent in perfect order. and that tho men under him
lnow their duile, AMI perform them properly
The second man. under butler as ne Is so'"'''"eS
called. often acts valet TO the gentlemen o' inc
house lie usually serves the lunch alone ana al
wav. waits On the table with the butler, ana some
times the third man or paror maid as We'll IL inc
family "a large one and likes 70 be served quickly
Tn. hu,lor does the carving and never allows his
assistanfs 10 ser.c the wlne-uDon this point Oo'h
master and man very particular, n gooi o"''er
would consider hliuscf In lasting disgrace II certain
wines should D.. served with other than the dsHes
70 which thcy belonged The dress suit ~ the butter
Is not, as A rule Furnished him. as are OK course
the l!yories - the other men. These three receive
r.s.ec,ivey about $50 81 and SIS a month
Tho p,r.or maid must also be responsible person.
O., he ,s tr care ~ the drawing room, reception
room AMI library. AMI a. these rooms are often hei
with rare ani almost Invaluable ornaments
ou,uy u them -o ;ran and tccaicy fashioned mat
"a breath % wind would blow them over y there
must be 70 .mshlng y feather duster among these
treasures Upon some must be used chamos. ana
mn, other, ~. nnc~' soficet SILK busters AMI all
mus, p. handled Win greatest care. The parior
maid wears black dress and plain linen collar ana
cuffs with small cap AMI white apron. She some
times helps IL the buffers pantry after dinner ana
10 her lot alsj falls The peasant duty OF arranging
the flowers throughout these rooms anu often III
tie dnlng-room
Tho .,coni chambermal. after assisting the first.
has the care u The servants rooms. which If IN
iself M ugh, task az the provision made FOR the
comfort, Of the servants IN these luxurious American
homes Is again a matter OF surprise to foreigner"
and revelation the serving c.ass who have never
known any more comfortable sleeping apartments
than dark badly ventilated attic. approached by
ladder where three and four wcmcn must sleep In
ore ROOM n IL may be called room. the fourth
noor OF the house IL generally given over 10 the
servants although u Is considered safer to have
the butler sleep near his pantry. and one man IN
the basement. In most cases each maid mas room
10 herself carpctel and furnished to be In Keeping
with the rest OF the house. with beisteals OF white
enamclcl iron with braSs furnishings. a WISH
stand and bureau. and wardrobe when there are
M, closets for their clothes. These. with white cur
ta,ns and n rockins-chair. are far ana away more
comfortable rooms than are to De iouhn !" 'N'
thousand boarding houses where one pays 40 ana W
a week 4 bathroom on this Moor. arrangei win
two or three basins and hot and cold water. IS ior
the servants exclusive use.
Most fashionable people employ a chef although
some prefer a woman who Is often ms good COOK
as n man and In many ways more desirable. 40 they
keep better order IN the kitchen. and as rule are
not so extravag,nt as men. professional woman
cook can often command $50 month when a
chef Is employed he eeiom sleeps In the mousse
but comes fl the morning in time to prepare inc
family breakfast. the kitchen maid having cooked
the servants breakfast and having everything hs
nearly ready as possible :or his majesty when he
arrives The life OF kitchen maid under chel IS
not cnvable one: as he does nothing but COOK sue
must do everything else prepare the vegeta pies.
scrub the floors and tables, and clean the cooking
utensils Woe betde her II she brings that gentle
man "A saucepan not spotlessly bright she may D,
thankful II she does not have It thrown at her head
accompanied by "A volioy OF French oaths. whlcn
happily she does not understand. Yet any klri VINO
has ambition 70 become nrst-cass cook VIII Put up
with Almost anything from chef because OF what
she can learn from him. chef receives not l,ss
than y7J a month. and half as much more rom
the enormous commissions he leNes upon ali the
tradespeople with whom he deals. Not one escapes;
not even the iceman. OF course, THIS comes out o.
his employers pocket eventually Not long ago a
fruit dealer wrote to the lady OF the house mat ne
would not be able TO supply her with fruit any
longer, as her chef had extorted larger ana atsst
commissions from him until he had no proht iei'
for himself ..,,,,.
The monthly expense OF keeping up fashionable
household Of say six IN family. u never less man
s. 900 a month Of which fully 500 Is paid IN servants
wages. This estimate does not Include the stable
expenses as they always distinct from the
house service The cOachman. VINO Is gehera'ly
married man has very comfortable apartments over
the stable and boards the grooms. The stables are
often several blocks away from the house In streets
where property IL less valuable and they are con-
nected with the house by telephone