The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21
4 VISITING HoUSEKEEPER.
Novel Occupation Discovered by n Young
Woman with Musical Ambition.


Miss Dorothy Higgins ia the old fashioned
name OF n young woman who last summer dis
covered a new occupation for women. That is,
II the adjective new" can ever be used con-
necting women with housekeeping. But Miss
Higgins's method has many novel features and
she speaks Of her experience very pleasantly.
Il came from my home in the West winter
before last to study the violin" she says.
Like many other girls OF limited means. l
have an unlimited ambition. and some day
hone to become an artist. At the end OF the
season. as my funds were low. l must admit /
was disheartened Just at this time l CHANGED
to meet on the cars q woman whom l had
known during the winter. and she inquired
about my summer plans. For once in my life
j was candid about my poverty. and told her OF
my failure to make engagements.
"Dea me!' she exclaimed. why don't
some Of you girls try to do housekeeping that
way? That is. divide your time around among
several houses. II you would only come in for
a few hours, order the meal, direct the SER
wants, aud do all that sort Of thing, there would
be no difficulty about getting employment. l
have Just been calling on a friend who has q
cottage near my own in Newport. We are
neither of us wealthy women. but we have no
end OF social obligations. We don't feel that
we can AFFORD a hOusekecper. and yet we are
actually ~dreadlng our summer move because
S ws Eho% So now m we o eHffa o efsrs to- II VIII re,
between us who understands how to do such
things. to take them off our hands. we would
gladly employ them for the summer at least
That remark was, an inspiration, and be-
fore 1left the car ! had engaged to call on my
friend and seriously discuss the matter. To
make a long story short. l engaged to divide
my time between four homes In Newport for the
GUNNER. acting as visiting housekeeper. Now.
l had a. good head and considerable Knowledge
about the keeping OF q small house those were
my stock In trade and / meant to succeed.
After tho moving Wul nNnr and aanh hNItGa-
hold settled down and running smoothly. I
made out a regular programme embracing my
time each morning / held Consultation With
the mistress of each house. Learned their
give me an idea how they wished their ideas
carried out. Then | made an inspection OF the
t en- closets. storer92ms cellars; &c;: rave out
and chamhermaids; took an inventory OF things
to be purchased and then went to market.
OF course. ] mean i did all these things In
each house before going to market. because
nne visit had to suffice. and you can easily see.
my other duties 10 finish my marketing at the
proper time;
wants dreaded. for I required, that they have
their morning,s work completed. and went
! had written out my orders for the servants on
my first call. on my second call l required
they proposed to carry them out. This was tho
time when all my tact. good humor and firm
HtsS was TtlulTtu, LOT ull tTTOTS anu ulIIlCultlp9
with the servants had to be settled In the man
running of the household machinery. Onca q
month | paid all wages and outstanding bills.
went over and balanced my accounts, then
turned over my books to my employers for in
spcctlon.
Those were my regular duties, hut It was
my irregular duties which gave me tho great
est amount of work and, | must admit. some-
times annoyance. Under the head of Irregular
duties | place the various entertainment
given by, my employers, OF course. In four
homes. during n season ut Newport, there
were OF necessity many entertainment each
week. sometimes luncheons, sometimes din
ncrs and not quite so frequently a breakfast.
All Of these required extra work. to say moth
ing Of the extra amount OF thought about the
plans, &c, On all extra occasions | made II q
point TO be present and personally superintend
and direct the servants.
" II was a lot of trouble, perhaps you will
think, but 1t paid. for ! had the satisfaction of
knowing that all my plans were we'll carried
blush for the way In which everything was con-
Quoted. The most substantial proof of their
satisfaction with my work came only the other
day. when thew all wrote urging me to continue
with them on their return to their homes in
New York. ! was really sorry to say no, for /
had enjoyed the work and been much benefited
by the change, but as l said at the beginning,
! hope some day to become a great artist. I
cannot give up my violin. / have earned
the winter and complete my course under my
present teacher. But there Is one thing Of
which ! am certain-I am giving up a very
comfortable salary and pleasant duties which I
hope some other girl will drop into and follow
up the occupation OF visiting housekeeper."