The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-01

eiIo Nld CeIdlle 10 inllddy Tor approval.
Milady is slipping her chocolate in bed.
one listens to the menus and rarely
makes a change. Then the chatelaine
reads the lists of expected guests and
| deslgnates the order in which they are
| 10 be seated at table. If it is to be
large dinner the whole affair will be
IN the hands of caterers, who will fur
| nish food, not only for the guests, but
for the entire household. The house
walters will play the part of Wallets to
guests, leaving the dining-room in the
hands of the caterer and his walters
II there is to be music milady may
give list of preferred selections, but
this task also may devolve on the
chatelaine.
| Inc rest of the morning is spent by
the chatelaine in inspection of the
linen closets or in overseeing some
| particular piece of work. If milady
| lunches en- famille, the chatelaine
| keeps her company. The earlier hours
| of the afternoon are devoted to neces-
/ sary shopping. She, of course, dimes
in her own sitting-room, and has the
evening for making up accounts, or is
| free to follow her own devices.
Her Duties When the Family Fits.
These are the everyday duties of a
chatelaine, but each season of the year
entails its own peculiar responsibilities.
| me spring and fall migration from city
TO country house, or the reverse, is an
anxious time for her. She usually pre-
cedes the family by a week, in order
that everything shall be thoroughly
house-cleaned before their arrival 1t
is only the millionaire who escapes the
discomforts of that trying time. The
chatelaine is up to her ears in it for
a week, but when the family appears
every room is spotless, with renovated
furnishings and fresh papering. The
chatelaine has made several flying trips
some weeks in advance so as to give
the necessary orders to unholsterer
and decorator.
If the millionaire decides on a cot
tage in Canada or England for the
summer, the chatelaine always makes
one of the party. She takes with her
one or two tried servants, and the rest
are engaged with the house. The lat
ter are often at first FESTIVE under
alien rule, but the tact and firmness
of the chatelaine usually conquer their
| prejudices and in week or two the
whole menage is moving as smoothly
as if all it's components were Ameri-
can born and bred.
Meanwhile the American homes of
the millionaire are being thoroughly
renovated. 1t is rule that, as soon
as the family leaves a house, it shall
be given up to painters and upholster-
ers. The chatelaine gives her orders
before sailing, and they are being car
ried out by the corps of servants left
! in possession. Even at that far dis
lance they feel that the eye of the
! chatelaine is upon them, for her let
| ters and cables continue to give direc-
| tons.
! She Superintends the Xmas shop
| ping.
| The approach of Christmas doubles
| the cares of the chatelaine.
! Not only is the holiday season seized
upon as a pretext for elebarote enter
| tanning, but it is the gift season as
we'll The custom of promiscuous Civ
/ ing of Christmas presents has grown
to such alarming proportions that the
millionaire and milady are glad to
shift the greater share of the respon-
/ sibility to the shoulders of the chate-
| laine. Her lists have been in prepar-
alton for months, and, as the great
| day draws near, every available min
| ute must be spent in shopping. There
| is the list of those to whom money is
to be given, embracing, besides the
! servants, many other beneficiares in
! the shape of retired or married serv-
ants and needy persons. Then there
! dinners are to be sent. Every married
( man-servant receives a turkey for his
/ family, but the greater number on the
/ list belong to the class of worthy poor.
Besides these, and far outclassing
| them in length and Importance, is the
list of general gifts. Each servant
receives, besides money, clothing,
candy, nuts and fruits. The clerk
! who puts up the groceries or meat,
the boy who delivers it, all expect to
be remembered, and the chatelane
must see to it that none is disappoint-
ed. She has charge of miladys dona-
| tions to homes and various charitable
organizations. She must keep a list
/ of persons to whom flowers or Christ
mas greens must be sent. The chate-
/ laine of an Eastern railway president,
/ whose home was situated in a suburb,
was expected to buy presents, not only
for the various employees in the small
station, but also for the conductors
and brakemen running on that partic-
ular suburban branch. No wonder
that the orders of such chatelaine to
fruiter, grocer and confectioner should
be of astounding magnitude. Even
with this unusual press. of work the
house must run smoothly, and be be-
decked in the usual Christmas trim
mings. The chatelaine certainly
earns the check which is her part of
the gifts.
|, The chatelaSe is at all times the
channel through which miladys small
er charities flow All mendicants go
! to her, and she forwards such APP
peals as she thinks most worthy. To
her the servants who wish rest or a
holiday come. If their families fall in
to distress she assists them from a
regular bank account at her disposal
for the purpose. If a servant falls
sick, she looks after her. She has a
medicine chest and understands the
application of the simpler remedies.
If, in her judgment, a doctor is need
ed, she calls one. If the patient proves
dangerously i'll, she is removed to a
| hospital, but in all cases the bills for
medical attention and medicine are
paid by her. 1t can, therefore, be
seen that the chatelaine has immense
opportunities for doing good. So re-
sponsible a position requires a woman
who is quick in reading human nature
and in grasp of details, and firm and
just in her decisions.
She is COnfidnnt of the Children.
for the chatelaine on account of the
unexpected situations which she must
| meet with prompt action, When Mrs.
Cornelius Vanderbilt gave her fete at
Beauleau, there was a hitch in the
| arrangements, so that the afternoon
rehearsal of the theatrical performers
was delayed by an hour How to
amuse them during the wait was the
question. 1t did not lie in the province
! of the caterer. Instantly the ehatelaine
/ Of hars ri