Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-12
SERVANTS IN NEW YORK.
Ten Domestics the Average Number,
but % in Large Establishments

In the good old days, when genuine
republican simplicity reigned in New
York. the wives of the most wealthy
nabobs in the city conducted their
households with the aid of five SER
wants at most; nowadays ten domes-
ties arc essential in anything like a
smartly managed house, twenty-five
the rule in one of the lesser town pal
aces, ana there are at least seven
houses on upper Fifth avenue where.
including stable and house help. the
list of employees numbers nearly fifty
busy men and women. Just take
look at the windows of Cornelius Van
derbilt, Gerry and Astor houses and
any shrcWd woman will calculate that
ii would need the exclusive laborS OF
at least one woman to keep the sashes
as crystal clear and the lace hangings
as frostily white as they always are.
What with the increasing size of the
houses. the amount of lavish enter
tanning done. the quantities of silver
ware steadily in use, the masses of al
most priceless bric-a-brac to be cared
for and bowers of expensive plants to
bcstended, ii is no idle waste for a
fashionable hostess to call number of
expert domestics to her aid.
The great ladies of New York, as it
stood half century ago. would, how
ever, wonder at some of the servants
now set down on the domestic pay roll.
For example, Mrs. Burden, Mrs.
Twombly and their friends not only
employ housckeepers. but also what is
known as Il confidential maid.
This woman waits on nobody, but
usually get $50 per month. and her
business is to keep the big. richly
stocked linen closets in order. dust the
precious bric-a-brac. see that no
moths get into the invaluable rugs,
prune. wash and water the house
plants and with her own hands wash
and put away all the costly glass and
china used at every luncheon, dinner
or supper party. The amount of eX-
element and actual cash her efforts
save in a splendid New York mansion
more than justify her wages Besides
the confidential maids in these big
homes, where so much money is Law
ished in decoration, SO much plate used
and jcwelry worn. it is necessary to
keep Il door man. He is one of the
three men usually employed in a fine
the second is his assistant in waiting
at table, rubbing plate and valeting the
gentlemen, but the third employee rare
ly leaves the front door. and he is per-
sonally responsible for the safety Of
the valuables. Three times in the night
he patrols the entire house, and all
day he is on duty, but especially is he
alert when an entertainment is being
given, and a crowd Of guests offer OPP
portunities for the entrance of sneak
thieves.
Added to their actual usefulness in
the house. these male domestics are
considered excessively. modsh and or
namental, and it was Mrs. Pierpont
Morgan who set the now prevailing
fashion of three men in attendance on
lat home days and made it obligatory
for the front door bell to be answered
on the instant. At Mrs. Morgan's
great Madison avenue residence, a
touch at the bell swings back imme-
diately two massive oak doors, and be-
hold. a stately footman stands at
either side of the entrance, the butler
in the middle bowling ever so slightly,
ready to conduct and announce the
caller at the drawing-room door
Among fashionable domestics the Pier
pont Morgan, the Gerry and the John
Sloan houses are regarded as offering
quite the most desirable positions in
New York. They are the Mecca of the
ambitious, and in the event of large
entertainments in these houses, it is
no uncommon sight to find handsome
footmen posted at nearly every door on
hn Erc.t go 81
in the royal European palaces.