The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-22
HER OPINION OF BUTLERS.
Suggested by the Armenian servant Question
NnM ReIny ARitated In ROstOn.

The woman who always talks about servants
had no, been able to yeti in a word but she pricked
up her ears when the word Armenian was
mentioned at the other end OF the lunch
table. Then she leaned forward and put a Wig
orous oar into the conversation.
Isn't that Boston woman absurd. she said,
- talk about Am ,ricans employing Armenians
and by that she means Armenian men to work
a. domestic servants in american families?
Personally, | would never have a manservant
Of any kind. He nigh, be the most experienced
butler in the world. lie might sci a table and
preside over dinner with more efficiency than half
a dozen women, but he could never CONF into
my dining room and have charge 81 II. | have
had my experiences with him Even with the neces-
sity Of having a butler il one wants 10 BE- fashion
able | gave up the attempt in disgust. They
are too untidy, II | could keep a maid following
him around, seeing that the plates really were
clean when they were put ON the table and watch
ing 10 discover il the dirt really was washed of
and not merely smeared over with a damp napkin
! should b. satisfied to have a man 10 control
the dining room. but II needs somebody to act the
i can always tell when | see the silver in my
friends dining rooms whether they employ a man
or a woman. When IL is dull and clouded instead
Of bright and shining and the china has a damp
gre asy rather than a clean dry look | know that
10 be the work Of a butler went through il all.
| tried a Frenchm an irst and he was the cieanest
Of the lot / felt perfectly satisfied with him
until one day ! found a collar and cravat in an
unused soup turcen, | don't know how much
more Of his wardr ,be he kept in the dining room.
but know ittook him some time to pack his clothes
before h. left the house that day and ! had a vague
unea Siness for months afterw ards rs to the dis
position he had made Of his wearing apparel in
my house.
Thu next man had was a negro; he had been
trained in the South, was very efficient. and
was not 10 b. judged so far az cleanliness went
in The same way that the others were. The French
man was clean for a manservant, but the negro
was absolutely clean. He kept the glasses shin,
ing ns brightly as silver and there was a delightful
sense Of security 81 long as he was about. he
had no style aud looked rather ridiculous in his
blue livery, but would have had him yet If he
had not proposed 70. the waitress. She was q
Swede and accepted him promptly; ! explained
o. them that I couldn't prevent their marriage
but | could refuse ~ allow anything OF the kind
while they were in my service So they went.
Ills English successor had a splendid recon-
mendauon, He was a solemn looking person
that gave an al. OF distinction 10 any dining room
My husband always objected 10 him because he
said he felt as if being waited on by a bishop
Every time, his brother came he declared that
lac felt as If he had come to confirmation and was
dreadfully afraid that he would ask him some
thing out II the catechism, | never minded
those things about him, but the silver and china
were always dull and smesry' 10 q most unsatls-
factory degree; He had to 20 after | found a
tried 10 explain with far too much emphasis and
an alcoholic insistence on his correctness that the
soap was nothing but tea leaves and any lady
accustomed 10 anything would know that
Il should have gotten along very well with the
young lrlshman who came next because he WAS
polite and fresh-faced, II II had been possible TO
convince him that grease spots were in the least
way detrimental 10 the neatness Of his appearance.
| had given up relying on him for the cleanliness
Of the dining room and he seemed 10 take that as
permission TO look as dirty himself as he wanted to
] remarked Al break fast that his livery was untidy
and he would politely agree. At lunch he would
swear that the grease spots had all been removed
although they were as much In evidence as ever.
They were there still al dinner time or al all events
there were more grease spots Whether he ever
took them of or not, never discovered, but il
scarcely seemed possible that he could
80 rapidly. New liveries did nothing To- relieve
the situation, so ! gave up struggling with men.
Whether II he Chinaman or Japanese or any
other male servants so highly recommended, IL
Is a certain thing that none Of them except in the
case Of the negro ! had would be as clean as women.
The neatness that ought TO be a part Of the dining
room is too fine for them 10 realize. II they can
take n damp towel and make things look moder.
a'ely tidy they are satisfied and exIsrt that every.
body else Will be, for II is impossible for them 10
realize that what they have done IL not al that
Is needed. II Is easy 10 tell In restaurants when
men or women are employed In the kitchen as IL
II always from the women that the best in the
way Of neatness and cleanliness come. shudder
To think of what an American might do. but |
doubt that he could be worse IN the detail Of cleanli-
ness than the highly recommended English butler,
who Is no doubt eX cellent II his kind. but the kind
is poor