The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-01
THE SPECIAL sTEWARDEss.
Duties of a Woman Who Accompanies a Rich Family on an Ocean Liner.

From the New York Press.
 The very latest thing in expensive trans atlantic travel is special stewardess. Ihe first woman to initiate this service on the ocean liners sailing out of New York IS Mime Aubertin, who went as special stewardess on W. K. Vanderbilts yacht Valiant when Miss Consuelo, now Duch- ess of Marlborough. was taken on her first trip to Egypt and the Nile. o. H. P. Belmont was a guest on this long voy- age It resulted In a divorce that made Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt Mrs. o. H. P Bel mont.
 A. stewardess on millionaires yacht can scarcely be called special stewardess. because all she has to do is to look after the wife or daughter Of the owner and their guests. But stewardess who can go on an ocean liner as nrst- class cabin passenger, getting her re- turn trip ticket and $35 week just to see that the family of some rich passenger receives every attention. independent Of the ordinary service of the ship, IS special stewardess. It goes without say ing that the regular ships stewaroess has no use for the special A rich iam ily on a voyage means liberal ups. ana when the services of the ships stewardess are not required she is not paid anything for them above the comparys salary.
 Mime. Aubertin's work stops with the shore. She has earned her living on the sea since she left a French convent when unite a young girl and married cher on the French line of steamers to New York. In order to be with him. she sali- cd as stewardess He died. leaving her with two boys One of them is now cher at a popular Frepch cafe in this city The other son served on the battleshp ln- diana during the Spanish war ana no" occupies some shore position with the United States government.
 When she reached Southampton, Mme- A,bertin had crossed the Atlantic three times within seventeen days. She reach- ed this city last Friday week from Cher bourg, where she had gone with family intending to winter in the Mediterranean. She had just time at Cherbourg to step from the incoming to the outgoing steam or and was back in New York within twelve days from the time she left 1t. Then, the day after she arrived nere' she was off again on Cunarder for Liv- erpool. A New York family has en- gagged her services for trip to the Ser mudas. upon which she will start soon after her return from Liverpool.
 Mime. Aubertin estimates that she mas travelled at least 5O0Oo0 miles by sea since she made her first trip on the French liner. She has sailed on every hhe cross- ing the Atlantic
 .sE,ven where there are two or three shinss stewardess on a large liner" said Mime. Aubertin just before she sailed iron, here the last time. they can not attend to all the requirements of fairly full passenger list A special stewardess eoes to the cooks pantry and gets her uistress's meals as soon as the gong sounds. or, perhaps, a little before. If she wants to avoid confusion. The family she is with get their meals hot and on time. When I go with party I go on board ship the day before sailing and see that the cabins are in good order, with plenty of bed covering, sofa cushions and that sort of thing I am on board early on sailing day to see after the luggage that must not be sent to the hold. Un- mack the steamer trunks in the cabins and look after flowers that may be sent to the ship. get good seats at the dim ing saloon table. and arrange for con- venient hours for baths. I get the steam CT chairs in good position on deck.
 During the voyage, I get the ladies mn in time for their baths. and help them dress for breakfast. and the morning stroll on deck. I see that they get clam broth. or something of that kind between meals. If they are seasick, attend to, them. My duties end when the family is safely off the ship to the railway station. Then I plan for my return to New York as quickly as possible
 q have served as stewardess on many of the crack yachts of New York million aires, sometimes for the full term Of commission and again for month or so while the owner. or lessee. was entertain ing. But prefer transatlantic or south ern line steamship work. Women on a private yacht are sometimes very exact ing and are apt to ask more of stew ardess than comes in her line of duty"
 Vnnr ELECTRIC bill is.