The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
ALL SWEPT And GARNlSHED.
THISIS THE BUSY TINE FOR THE
HOUSE OPENERS.
Rich Folks Don't Return to Musty, Servant.
less Homes ~ They Did Not Long Ago
Making Things Ready for Them IL .
Profitable Occupation In This Town.

in upon the persons who make living
a very good living too-looking after other
peoples premises. These orders do not
signify that society intends flocking back
to town before October. They mean
simply that the up-to-date method OF
getting a city house ready to occupy in
the autumn is very different from the old
fashioned way.
Nowadays among the wealthier class not
only are the services Of professional
house opener engaged, but the ORDER IL
placed at least a month ahead OF time
Then from the time the opener takes pos
session until the family moves in, two or
three more weeks elapse.
In the old days--not SO very old, either
a family returning from summer outing
descended upon its city quarters without
notifying anybody, Some one OF the party
fished out the front door key from the
hand baggage and the dusty interior was
invaded without ceremony. II no SER
wants were at hand. there was an adjourn
ment to a restaurant, and until the task
~ engaging cooks and chambermaids
was finished, the family practically pic
nicked.
New servants and family servants brought
from the country house to city home were
put to work getting the latter IN winter
trim, and their mistress meanwhile gen.
erallv lost a lot of flesh and nerve force
irving to remember where on earth-or
rather where in the house-the table nap
kins were stored, and whether she had
sent the every day teaspoons to storage
or hacked them away in the camphor chest
o6o,, naripd natarfa mlllaS.
IL he was wise, spent his spare hours at
the club.
Needless to say, Bureaus Of Social Re-
orirements" were then unknown. since
those useful institutions came into fashion
the opening Of the city house has been
managed differently. And there are rea-
Sons for this quite apart from the fact that
neither maid nor mistress need now assist
at the ceremony, chief of which is that SAM
tary features are far more carefully con-
sidered to-day than ever before. Heads
of families have learned, sometimes at
great cost, that taking possession of and
sleeping in a house which has been sealed
up for several months is a very risky UNDER
taking.
Sanitary experts have explained, often
times too late, that cases Of typhoid fever
which have developed just after return
from the country were directly chargeable
to the condition of the city house. This
does not mean necessarily that the plumb
ing was out Of order.
When a city house is shut for long
time every window from top to bottom
ia closed and the water supply is turned
off, There is bound to be some water
left in the pipes, which by remaining there
all summer is certain to become foul. Some
careful householders see to it that after
the water is turned off plumber shall
90 through the house and pour into every
trap a solution Of glycerine and oil to stop
these gases from meanderlng into the
various rooms, but more o1ten THIS pre-
caution is not taken
Even in the most modern city house
cellar deprived of a free current Of fresh
air is certain to become damp and to ex-
hale malarious breaths to the uppermost
part of the, dwelling, Any one who has
entered a long-closed city. house, even
on a hot day knows that it felt damp and
radiated shivers, but few comprehend
that under such circumstances the i'm
posing mansion, with its network of plumb
ing, is far more dangerous than the most
decrepit country house, gulltless OF any
thing resembling modern improvements -
III you want perfectly healthy house,
said a well-kno plumber, never shut
up the cellar, and be careful to flush every
Croton water pipe at least once week.
1t has come to pass, however, that these
and all other problems appertalning to
the opening Of a city house are now loaded
upon the shoulders of professional house
opener, one of whom the other day said
that the remarkable success Of herself
and her kind was due mainly to two great
questions-the sanitary question and the
servant question
When ready TO begin her work the house
opener takes full! possession of the house
keys. These include all the keys OF the
packing trunks ard store closets. Then
she asks for list of the estabishm ents
where are stored the rugs, carpets, hang
In rs, silver and hric-a -brac.
Accompanied by plumber and assist
ant she goes to the house. The plumber
turns on the water and sets it running
through the PIPES. he assistant begin
ming at the top, hrows open all the windows.
II the traps contain the glycerine mixture,
the plumber washes it down with boiling
water and soda.
Next an expert from sanitary company
arrives, by appointment, and carefully
tests the plumbing. II there are any de-
fects the plumber usually employed by
the family is called in to remedy them.
q The furnace. man IS summoned TO put IN
order the heating apparatus, including
the kitchen ranges
When these men have done their work
a force of cleaners enter. Mean while,
except, perhaps, during heavy storms,
every window is left open all day long
regardless Of dust, and a slow fire is kept
burning in the furnace for three Gays or
longer to chase the dampness from the
cellar ard other parts Of the house.
Before the advent of the clear ers, every
inch OF floor and ceiling and wall has been
surveyed by the house opener who gives
particular attention to rooms whose walls
are upholstered with brocades, cretous
ana other fabrics that can't be secured
with soap and water.
She is quite aware that one Of the latest
wrinkles in up-to-date house openn Q
especially II the occupants OF the house
include children, is the employment Of a
fumigator When this idea was first
preached 10 the mistress of Fifth avenue
. house by representative OF Bureau Of
Social Requirements" she exclaimed in
dudgeon:
I'VE have never had any conta gious dis
ease in the house What do you mean?"
When it was explained that textiles Of
all sorts also ornamental frescoes and
carvings, afforded secure lodging for
microbes of all sorts, which il was next to
impossible TO destroy by any other agent
than fumigation, she regained her pla-
cidity and became eager for the smoking
out.
In most cases only the rooms where II Is
next to impossible TO Use soap and water
are selected for fumigation by the pro-
fessional house opener, and sometimes
sba Dnita II Dltount her In nDy caSa her