New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-25
MRS. HICKS-LORD'S BEQUESTs.
FOLLOWING AN ENGLISH CUSTOM IN REMEMBER
ING HER FAITHFUL SERVANTS.

FOLLOWING AN ENGLISH CUSTOM IN REMEMBER
ING HER FAITHFUL SERVANTS.
While it is whispered that Mrs Hcks-Lords Will
OF disappointment to her direct heirs
because OF the fact that her estate Will not realize
by several hundreds OF thousands OF dollars what
she was popularity supposed to be worth. there are
at least two people to whom the provisions OF the
will open out prospects OF lifelong competence ana
comparative wealth These two are Marie Miller
and Thomas Dyer. Both were colored servants to
Mrs. Hicks-Lord. the former having been the de-
ceased woman's maid for about thirty years, WINE
Dyer. as a butler, had been in the employ OF the
family since ISL From inquiries made yesterday
IT learned that both had well-founded ex-
pectations that they were likely 10 be remembered
In the will but 1t was not until Messrs. Remsen ana
Parsons OF No 50 Wall-st the executors. maze
known the contents Of the last document OF Mrs
HcksLord that the qualification Of the two ser
wants was complete To the maid was left the
annuity Of $500 an income OF 500 week, while
Dyer. who entered the service of his late mistress
the age Of nineteen. Is to receive 80 week as
long he lives. The executors directed 10 pay
these annuities from the income derived from the
property belonging TO the estate at Nos. 10 and y
West Fourteenth-st II is said that this property
Is heavily mortgaged. but that the rentals which
viii come into the hands Of the executors, VIII be
more than sufficient to meet the requests.
To the view OF the average American employer OF
domestic labor, this recognition by Mrs Hicks
Lord OF long and faithful service the part OF her
servants would seem unusual But Mrs Hicks
Lord in her active life spent many years in Europe
and il is probable that in her residence abroad she
may have become imbued with the prevalent Gus
tom Of rewarding long years Of domestic service
by willing substantial requests. In England and
other countries servants who have passed the best
part Of their lives in the employ OF a family are
Invariably provided for the death OF the head
OF the household. And similarly do the big mer-
chants OF London and the successful business men
OF the country. with very few exceptions. leave
gifts their employees. the value OF which Is deter
mined on the thoroughly mathematical basis OF so
many years salary 10 be awarded according TO
length Of service In the firm.
In England alone II is popular knowledge That
fully one-half Of the great throng OF hotekeepers
and tavern-keepers are retired buffers or mousse
keepers Cpon the authority OF many notable
writer's of English character. the one ambition or
this class Of people IL TO become at some time the
host OF some hotel tavern. and the death OF
master or mistress with consequent remembrance
in the will often provides the money 10 realize their
ambition
Marie Miller who IL a good-looking colored WON
an entered the employ Of Mrs. Hicks-Lord when
she was fifteen years old, and for thirty years she
had given faithful service TO her mistress Inc
fsthfulness of the butler was scarcely less remark
able Both accompanied Mrs. Hicks-Lord In her
travels and ministered day and night 10 ner COM
fort and every want. Both grew from little more
than children in her service