The evening times., 1898-04-04
THE KQUIPHGE
OF GRAND DANES
Retinues of America Eclipsing
the Old Worlds Grandeur.
EvoIutiOns as Time Rolls on I'm the
Attendants Necessary for Society's
Feminine AdOrnment.

Formerly, when the world was young
writes Diana Crossways, a lady's maid
who had graduated from an English du-
cal establishment or 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. a private secretary was
added TO ones household. and the radi-
ance and the splendor grew.
Now. however. things are quite differ
ent, and among your personal possess
ions 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 secre-
tary physician in regular standing and
French professor
Ihus. ii has been decreed by the queens
of American society that. like the queens
who truly sit upon thrones holding sceD-
ters in their hands. they must be sur
rounded by a bodyguard. Queen Vic
torla has her two East Indian attend
ants in picturesque dress, who are con-
stantly within call. and Consuelo. Ouch
ess of Marlborough. has an endless num-
Der of vassais. but only one constant
attendant. the Nubian boy picked up on
her travels But is is in America that
the new fashion Originated-in Washing
ton. with Mrs. Westinghouse. This lady
lives in as much splendor and grandeur
as crowned head. who indeed. has
crowns herself and TO lend, should any
stray queen come a-borrowing
sc L.. 4
with whim for personal vassals. She
keeps a secretar. French and German
maids. a nurse for each of the four young
Goulds, and last. but most important. a
trained nurse with a diploma the kind
which receives S25 week and all OK
penses paid. She IS employed as the
commander-in-chief of the nursery army
that there may be skilled knowledge al
ways at hand, but her office is almost a
sinecure, as the Gould children are a re-
markably healthy lot.
When the Gouds sailed away to for
eign shores last Summer. nineteen sery-
ltors followed in their wake
framed nurses are luXuTieS which
thrive in the Gould families. Miss Helen
Gould always keeps one near her. who
except to a few intimate friends. passes
as her secretary. Miss Gould's health
Is never of the most robust. and she IS
portant members Of this young million
airess' bodyguard are the two detectives
who guard her residence.
Inc EldTidEe t. GeTryS. other members
or the royal American family who might
very properly employ a bodyguard. do
not indulge in that luxury beyond q pri-
Vate secreatry or a valet or two and two
rehch maids Their menage numbers
thirty-iive servants. of whom all are
said that the Gerrys are better served
than any other family In America The
virtues of the Welsh. man or woman as
serNitors have never been exploited 10 !
any great extent, although number OF I
New York families employ this national /
ty and say that they thus secure perfect (
service. No intelligence office supplies /
-hese servants. but they can be procured |
through society connected with the 4
Welsh Church.
Apropos TO the Gerry establishment the /
master and mistress are quite consider
ite Of their servants: Sundays the horses
and the groOms and eoachmen have a
lay of rest, for il q, carriage is needed .
)ne is hired. So we'll ordered is the
household that any moment any one Of
he four Gerry homes is ready for oc-
'upancy. either in New York. Newport.
or Delhi.
W always look upon Mrs. AStOr as the
queen of American society and her royal |
bearing today. in spite of her years. is
he best evidence Of her title which she
Won so long ago and has held without
or dispute: here.;if in any house
lold, we might expect somewhat i'm
'osing grandeur in the matter of vassals
The opposite is the case. Beyond
French maid Mrs. Astor has no personal
ervants. and if. as happened upon one
occasion, the maid sleeps when her mis-
ress returns late home, she is allowed.
o sleep on and Mrs. Astor herself paCka
way her tiara and her diamond neck !
ace. and her famous Stomacher
Mrs. Judge Andrews is a fine linguist
md to keep herself in practice she en-
oys more maids than any other lady in
Sew York. French, Spanish. Italian. and
ierman being represented.
Mrs Andrew Carnegie, when in Scot
and, has host of retainers. all dressed
n picturesque highland costume. who
march around the house every morning
t sunrise to awaken the family and play
way at the bagpipes during meals
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett has just
aiken her departure to her London home.
nd with her went the usual retinue-a
laid servant, a man servant, a secretary, |
nd a physician. Upon this lady always
ttapd much nor71Ir and circumstance