Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-02-08

New York city.
When Mrs. Stevens instituted the
bureau OF social requirements two
years ago, it was a distinct novelty,
and New York people looked askance
upon it. For awhile Mrs. Stevens
found things very slow in the dainty
rooms in Forty-second street, which
she had equipped for her new purpose.
But Mrs. Stevens is not easily daunted.
She knew society needed just such
ConYeniences as she was prepared TO
offer. and she waited and worked until
society came to know it. too.
Today there is scarcely household
of social pretensions in New York city
that has not come to know Mrs. Ste
vens, and to call her name blessed.
She is everything from bootblack to
ehaperon from intelligence officer to
guest, from counsellor to critic, a pro
wider of servants, guests, entertain
ments decorator of people and their
homes, a dispenser of information and
of elegance.
Mrs. Stevens is also an aristocrat:
otherwise she couldn't afford to be a
Bootblack She is a direct descendant
of Gov Stuyvesant, and some of the
families in New York decorate the
branches of her family tree.
Mrs. Stevens entertains very plebian
views about labor, however. She does
not consider that it casts any shadow
over her blue blood, and the blue
blood, she contends, certainly doesn't
Of ln1N IN hn
particular line, it is great help.
If Mrs. Stevens had not been born
and bred a gentleWOman, reared in the
environment which made her familiar
with all sorts of social requirements,
she would not now be in a position to
sell her knowledge.
1T is knowledge of every sort, she
said when seen by a reporter, land
it is not only to people unfamiliar
with social requirements that | am
necessity True, the people who ac-
Quire money and wish to know just
how to spend it, without making
breaks, form a large part of my eli
cntele; but | have also found some of
my best successes in the homes Of
those people of wealth and refinement
who know as much as | about the
niceties of life, but whose duties in
society are greater than their time
and strength can accomplish.
What are they? Why, everything
that pertains to entertainment. If the
hostess who is to give a large dinner
party or reception at night has dozen
~ OF 10
for the morning, luncheon, a stop at
the tailOrS, cards to be left and an
swered and a hundred other duties,
she cannot do her own entertainment
Justice, can she? So she sends for me
| do just as much or as little as she
wishes. If she wishes me to take
charge or everything | do it.
"One thing | have cultivated above
all others is the power of perfect man
agement | like to take complete
charge. | can carry a hundred details
in my mind at once; the decorations,
the menus, the arrangements of
guests. the favors and the wheels that
so round behind the buffers pantry
and in the kitchen, and upon which
the success or failure of a dinner de-
pend.
How much? It does not greatly
matter. If you wish to invest So or
s. 900 in an entertainment | can adj
wise YOU how to get the best and most
for your money.
TO what do | 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
well stop at street corner for the
purpose. | followed my usual custom
and took few lessons in bootblacking
myself. Not that l had any idea OF
polishing boots. but knew I should
have to criticise the boy who did it
for me, and there is little use in find
ing fault if one can't supply the rem
edy.
Il can scrub floor to splendid
whiteness for I've demonstrated it. OF
course it isn't just to my taste, and
did 1t to prove that it could be done
There's a real art even in faor-scrub-
bling. have carpeted rooms and hung
paper
Il 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, l believe l 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
than anywhere else.
"One of my pleasantest duties is
filing the chaperon's place. The
young folks, you know, can stand &
great deal more excitement than the
older ones; and if the chaperon fails
at critical moment it is very COM
ferting to say, Well get Mrs. Stevens,
and lind the services of some one of
their own set at their disposal on
short notice.
Then, the fashions in form and
time of entertaining. attire for foot
men and buffers and many other de-
tails are rapidly changing, and people
fnu it convenient to drop in here and
keep posted to date
Il am a great believer in woman's
work" concluded Mrs Stevens, and
believe if she will apply herself faith
fully and interestedly she has equal