The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
THEE RODYGUiRDS.
Rich American women who Are Surrounded
by Personal Servants.

IhElh HBN.
Rich American women who Are Surrounded
by Personal Servants.
Formerly, when the world was young, a
lady's maid who had graduated from an Eng
lish ducal establishment or n French chateau,
could shed quite radiance enough upon the
social career Of any grand lady and prove an
open sesame to the world which has money to
burn. Then, in time, n private secretary was
added to ones household and the radiance and
tho splendor grew. Now, however, things are
quite different, and among your personal possess
sinns, which you keep near you when at home
and when you travel carry with you like your
luggage, you must number, in addition TO the
maid and the secretary. a physician in regular
standing and q French professor.
Thus it has been decrccd by the queens Of
American society that, like the queens who
truly sit upon thrones, holding sceptrcs in their
hands, they must be surrounded by n body
GUARD. Queen Victoria has her two East In
dian attendants in picturesque dress, who are
constantly within call, and Consuelo, Duchess
Of Marlborough. has an endless number of vas
sails, but only one constant attendant, the MI
bian boy picked upon her travels. But it is in
America that the new fashion originates-in
Washington, with Mrs. Westinghouse. This
lady lives in as much splendor and grandeur as
a crowned head, who, indeed, has crowns her
self and to lend. should any stray queen come
a-borrowing.
Mrs. Westinghouse entertainments are the
wonder OF. Washington; and all the appoint
ments of her establishment are upon n scale of
almost barbaric magnificence. She dimes upon
nothing less costly than gold and crimson vel
vet, nor wears anything less splendid than satin
and point lace. She has a retinue of thirty ser
wants and a b~odyguard numbering four indi-
viduals. When her court moves from one
n,aSo tSs an nb1Hici6 let f f%n r who Will nIo Gr go who mo
private secretary and the French maid are al
ways within call. 49,
a within for personal vassa!s. She keeps n sec
rotary. French and German maids, a nurse for
each OF the four young Goulds. and last, hut
most important. II trained nurse with n diplo-
expenses paid. She is employed as tho com
mandcr-in-chie of the nursery army, that there
may he skilled knowledge always at hand. but
her office is almost n sinecure. as the Gould chill
dren are q, remarkably healthy lot. When the
Goulds sailed away TO foreign shores last sum-
mer nineteen scrvitors followed in their wake.
Trained, nurses arc lMHuries which thrive in
keeps one near her, who, except to a few init
mate friends; PASSES as her secretary. Miss
she is obliged to guard 1t carefully. Other i'm
bodyguard are the two detectives who guard
''Lyndhurst,' Irvtngton.on. hudson. Guests
who pay visits for the first time are warned in
advance not 10 be alarmed at the ccRSClcss
tramp. When TIE establishment moves to
town, as was the case this winter for the first
detectives come here on guard. and when
Miss Gould travels thoy form part of her
suite; She is petite and unassuming, and
quietly dressed, and no one would ever
dream from her appearance in the street that
she was. worth a thousand dollars. sny much
less millions upon millions. vet she hardly knows
what freedom of movement Is. for she never
ventures out of doors unaccompanied,
The Elbridge T.; Gerrys. Other members of
properly employ u bodyguard, do not indulge in
the luxury, beyond a private secretary or a valet
numbers thirty five servants, Of whom all are
Welsh, except the, two maids, and il Is said
family in America. The virtues of the Welsh,
man or woman, as servitors have never been
eXEloitcd to any great extent. although II mum
Der OF New York families employ this national.
ity and say that they thus secure perfect ser.
vice. No intelligence office supplies these ser
e cnhsS' co Hna ae @ Sfn 0 the eFS %eIsH e shuGeSh a So
In the Gerry establishment the master and
mistress are quite considerable of their servants;
men have u day Of rest. for If a carriage is
needed one is hired. SO well ordered is the
in New York. Newport, .Staatsburg or Delhi.
Beyond a French maid, Mrs. Aston ha5 no
occasion, the maid sleeps when her mistress re-
turns late home, she is allowed to sleep on and
Mrs. Astor packs away her tiara and her dia-
mond necklace and her famous stomacher.
Mrs. Charles II. Yerkos keeps, among othor
household possessions. a designer, who plans
all her gowns TO whom almost IA royal in
come is paid. Tho person is both an artist and
a dres shaker. and II 1t should happen that six
months passed without Mrs. Yerkos's visiting
Paris. all the latest modes would be brought to
her attention and consideration by the designer,
who is sent on u tripto Paris for his purpose.
Perhaps 1t is hardly fair to give the name OF
the blonde lndy-a society woman-who pays n
salary of 50, 900 to n woman who Is n skilled
dermatologist, who also understands chiropody
and hair culture and gives her undivided time
and attention to her employer.
Mrs. Judge Andrews Is n fine %llnguist, and.
to Keep herself in practice, sho employs more
maids than amy other woman In town, French,
Spanish, italian and German being repre-,
scented.
Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, when in Scotland
has n host of retainers, all dressed In pic,
turesque highland costume, who march round
the house Mt sunrise every morning to awaken
the family and play away at tho bagpipes dur
ing meals.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett has Just
taken her departure to her London home. ani
with her went tho usual rctjnue-a mnid ser
want, n man servant. II secretary and n physi
clan. Upon this lady always attend mucl
pomp and circumstance.