Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-02-05

ion, is one Oh TIC OlO'OiN Wv
New York city
when Mrs. Stevens instituted the
hureau of social requirements TWO
wears ago, it was a distinct noVeIIy'
end New York people looked askance
upOn it, For awhile Mrs. stevens
found things very slow in the DANNY
rooms in Forty-second street, Whlch
che had equipped for her new purpose
But Mrs. Stevens is not easily daunCeu
She knew society needed just such
oonveniences as she was prepared 10
offer and she waited and worked until
society came to know it: too,
p Today there is scarcely hOusehold
of social pretensions in New York city
tba+ has not come to know Mrs. Ste
vans and to call her name blessed.
She is everything from bootblack TO
chaperon, from intelligence officer 10
quest. from counsellor to critic, pro
wider of servants, guests, entertain
mants a decorator of people and ther
homes. a dispenser of information ana
of elegance. ..4oo+.
Mrs Stevens is also an arlstocraC'
otherwise she couldn't afford to be
bootblaclI. She is a direct descendant
of Gov. Stuyvesant, and some Oh the
families in New York decorate the
branches of her family tree
Mrs. Stevens entertains very pleDlan
views about labor, however. She does
NOT consider that it casts any shadow
over her blue blood, and the oIue
blood. she contends, certainly doesn't
hurt the quality of the labor. IN her
particular line, it is great help.
If Mrs. Stevens had not been porn
and bred a gentleWOman, reared IN the
environment which made her familiar
with all sorts of social requirements
she would not now be in position 10
sell her knowledge.
1T is knowledge Of every sort, she
said when seen by a reporter, ana
it is not only to people unfamiliar
with social requirements that L am a
necessity. True, the people who &C
ouire money and wish to know just
how to spend it, without making
breaks form large part OF my Gil
entele: but | have also found some OF
NV hest successes in the homes or
those people of wealth and refinement
who know as much as 1 about the
niceties of life, but whose duties III
society are greater than their time
and strength can accomplish.
What are they? Why, everything
that pertains to entertainment. Ii the
hostess who is to give large dinner
marty or reception at night has a dozen
teas on for the afternoon, musicale
for the morning, a luncheon, a stop at
The tailor's, cards to be left and an
swered and a hundred other duties,
she cannot do her own entertainments
iustice. can she? SO she sends for me
I do lust as much or as little as she
wishes II she wishes me to take
charge OF everything l do it.
.'One thing I have cultivated above
all others is the power of perfect man
2opment. I like to take complete
charge. [ can carry a hundred details
in nv mind at once; the decorations,
the menus, the arrangements OF
guests. the favOrs and the wheels that
go round behind the buffers pantry
and in the kitchen, and upon which
the success or failure of a dinner de-
pend.
How much? 1t does not greatly
matter. Ii you wish to invest S. or
$4,000 in an entertainment l can ad-
wise you how to get the best and most
for your money.
To what do l attribute my success?
To being able to do all the things that
order other people to do. [ believe |
have tried everything.
Mrs. Stevens laughed and looked
less businesslike.
Il can even polish boots. When de-
cided to supply that accommodation
for my women patrons, you can't very
we'll stop at a street corner for the
purpose. [ followed my usual custom
and took few lessons in bOOtblacklng
myself Not that I had any idea OF
polishing boots, but knew | should
have to criticise the boy who did 1t
for me, and there is little use in find
ing fault if one can't supply the rem
edy.
I can scrub a floor to splendid
course it isn't just to my taste, and l
did it to prove that it could be done.
There's a real art even in floor-scrub-
bling. / have carpeted rooms and hung
paper.
L believe the only thing that has
ever brought me up with a real sudden
turn is a shirt bosom. [ shall never
attempt to give instructions in that
line [ bow to the woman who can
Iaunder a shirt.
Yes, I believe I can aid people to
get into society If they had plenty
Of money and go about spending it
right it isn't any harder in New York
rhan anywhere else.
One of my pleasantest duties is
filing the chaperOn's place. The
young folks, you know, can stand a
great deal more excitement than the
elder ones. and if the cbanpr0n fails