The times., 1899-05-21
and NGW COMES
THE BUTLERESS
She Is the Latest Importation
From London.
With Her Has Also Come the Foot
woman.
Both Wear Nntty Liveries ard Are
Picturesque Additions 10 AmerL
can Establish ments.

a year ago a number of titled English
h usekeepers took wrathy counsel together
with regard TO the bes, measure for pre-
venting the evil ways of the typical man
servant The result was that an impress
sive number of wealthy ladies' declared
that they would employ male buffers. etc.
no longer, but substitute liveried wersen
in their places. The idea was at FIRST
cheerfully laughed at but these soreIy
tiled housekeepers had their way, consult
ed a capable Regent Street tailor, and the
result is goodiy showing OF livericd vom-
en- in many smart homes.
Very recently an enterprisins Lnglish
housemaid, hearing of the discomfort and
desp pair that has seized on the American
housekeeper with regard to her masculine
employees, packed trunk of nice Iiyerics,
imported herself, and sought a place in a
New York mansion. She had not the least
difficulty in persuading the head OF fine
house to give her a position as a butler.
and butler in livery at that. Further
more. she made SO smart an appearance
that her mistress was easily induced 10 put
her other first-floor maids In livery, and
from this initiative the liveried woman
servant in New York is becoming a rec,,g-
nized institution.
So far, TALL slender. rosy English and
Scotch girls monopoiiZe this branch Of the
business, and one woman who has tried
the liveried maid warmly advocates item
for three distinct reasons. First, because
they are so much more bidable and faith
full and respectful than the men; sccondiy
because they are vastly cleaner ana more
honese and less expensive: and thirdly, be-
cause their tidy liveries lend distinction
to their appearance that the regulation cap
and apron can never to domestics serviIg
in the diningroom and hall.
In the New York homes, where women
in these special costumes serve. the butler
wears black coat and skirt made OF fine
French face cloth. escaping the ound all
about, measuring about three and half
yards in circumference at the hem, and
with a strap OF black silk running from
hip to foot on either side. This is all the
trimming. Her coat is an Eton, cut in a
point behind and turning back with me-
dium sized silk faced revers in front from
an immaculate white linen shirt front and
lcw-cut white linen waistcoat a white
collar. white tie and glimpse of white
cuff at the wrist complete the smart cos
tune. With this dress no cap is worn. AMI
the hair is brushed smoothly back from
the face braided and pinned neatly to the
back OF the head.
During the day the butlsress assumes
very fetching colored livery consisting Of
a dark blue or brown skirt with band of
red or yellow material let in about foot
above the hem, a waisteoat buttoning to
the chin, of striped red and white or yell
low and white vesting. and upon this an
Elton OF goods to match the skirt orna-
mented with six gilt buttons and cuffs and
collar to accord with the skirts band.
The footman. who assists in serving
meals tends the drawing-room and an
swers the bell wears a less decorative but
quite as smart costume. II is brown,
blue, or green cloth, having a plain round
skirt with two lines OF color above the
hem, a short close fitting basque resplen-
dent with gilt of silver buttons, white
rundown collar, white cuffs and scrupu-
lously tidy hair. For reception afternoons
and for dinners she gets into as fair and
crisp a shirt as the butleress, with low
striped waistcoat and little Eton jacket
adorned with bright cuffs. collar and but
tons. These women are required to wear
low shoes of pump shape in the evening.
they are always addressed by their sur
names, and they are likely to prove treas
ures OF comfort to the mistress who has
been forced to relinquish the employment
OF grasping, incompetent male servants
save in her stables.