The sun., 1897-12-05
THE PASSING OF THE BUTLER.
Maids An Neat Costume Replacing Hin IN
Small Eatablinhmentp.

A1AAeb AA Noob NOntu"o EsopIbchhB AAlo N
Small Embellishments.
Some Of tho best-known people in town, who
have for years had their butler and second man
always serve at table. now have In their places
four or six well.dressed waiting maids, who
have most admirably taken tho mems places.
The Mattresses are all dressed alike in black cash
mere gowns, or sometimes dark blue, made per-
fecty plain; white collars and cuffs, small tie ut
the throat, large white muslin apron, made full
with broad bow and ends behind, and straps
over the shoulders, and on their heads small
muslin friled caps, with black velvet bow. 1t
amounts to sort OF uniform. They are noise
lessly sbod and move about the table in tho
most systematic and charming manner. They
are light OF foot and most attractive to the eye.
Women who command the position of first.
class mattresses must learn the profession, for
profession 1t is. They have first to learn to hold
themselves erect. to move quickly and quietly
and not to break. In fact there are many re-
quirements for the expert waitress to become
proficient In that before being able to hold such
place the women must 60 through long siege
OF not only hard work but hard study. There
are classes here in New York and elsewhere
where women go to acquire good taste and
knowledge In tho decoration Of the din
ner table: not only the floral decoration
but the proper and symmetrical arrangement
of tho silverware. glass. and table napkins,
This sort of thing has become an art. So It is
that as women are proverbially gifted with
moro taste and discretion in these matters than
men. they are supplanting them in the dining
room.
or course. in many houses tho gentleman of
the house prefers q butler and men servants
about him at dinner: but when his wine cellar
becomes suddenly depleted, and there are now
and again quarrels between the men in tho
Ta nfr ,tab lfpipr h.
his wifes advice and do away with tho mon in
his household entirely. A rich man in town.
who keeps up. very swell establishment, and
whose wife gives the best appointed dinners
imaginable. is quoted as saying:
Il have had my butler for dve years and the
second man one year. know very little about
the domestic arrangements In my household. 1
while at table BY my men servants My wife
homo about II o'clock we found the house in
an uproar. The, butler and second man had
They got to fighting in the buffers pantry. ana
rshtsped to the house were
spot, and since that have had our meals seryed
6 by four ES OF the best trained mattresses I ever
hoIse e sh R1ys man in tho
oi course the butler WIN never disappear
entirely: In some families he is an absolute
servants, for indoor service will soon have to
take a back l, seat and pretty maids with caps and
ago large luncheon party was given uptown
by tho wife of one OF the most promi-
who pridcd herself upon entertaining in
the most approved manner. Three very
pretty waitressgs, with dark bluc cashmere
gowns. turned down white collars and whte
CUTS, aprons and caps. waite on tho table. 1t
was luncheon of twenty OF the most fashion
able women in town. and great was their sur
prise when they found themselves being waited
upon upon v Sy women. omen The change was commented
graduated on her independence. She was tho
nrst woman who had dismissed her butler and
engaged maids in his place.
The same rules which applied to the butler
now apply to the head waitress. She governs
IN her own department and has all tho other
mattresses under her control. She is the ono
VINO lakes the orders from tho lady OF the house.
VINO b IS the keys of the wine cellar and serves
tho wines at dinner.