Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-12-15
PETTY GRAFT IN PRIVATE LIFE.
In the Home Servants Profit by Be
traying Trust Placed In Them.

IL has long been considered a tru-
ism among a certain class that pub
lie ONCE rs private graft. and there
has grown up a custom OF expecting
public dishonesty. of accepting bril-
berry. as the usual thing In public SER
wants and honesty as the unusual.
until the same view has become
prevalent with regard 10 private SER
vice. So widespread has private bril-
berry become that one of the Shan
leys, the ramifcations of whose fam
lily tree are only rivalled by those OF
the Simpsons. estimates that II
amounts to $50. 900. 900 a year. and
It has at last been necessary to place
law on the statute books Of this
State to prevent this sort of thing.
/ The SAKE law went into effect on
September /.
In the inquiry into the death of
Mrs. Jane Stanford. one OF her ser
wants testified to receiving commits
sions from various tradesmen more
than $4,000 year. One OF the per-
quisites OF being housekeeper or
butler In a wealthy family Is the
commissions to be made from the
tradesmen. Wine merchants say that
even more avaricious than club stew
ards are some buffers OF private fam
HES. and one well known family In
New York was nearly exterminated
by poison before the buffers butcher
was chosen. At one time the entire
family with the exception OF one son,
was III with ptomaine poisoning. The
head OF the house tells now with con-
siderable zest how spoiled food came
on the table. meals we're UNBEATABLE
and the family had to take to dining
out. That particular butler was dis
charged, but the next one selected
his own tradesman and no questions
were asked
The lady's maid also finds means
to augment her income. Madam's
last seasons dresses, OF course, de-
scend to Clarinda, but there are pur-
chases to be made. There are the
milliner and the dressmRker. the
hosier and the glover. II might not
be thought that ladies' tailors Of great
names would stoop to such things.
Nevertheless, It Ia true that ladies'
maids draw the commissions for In
fluencing their mistresses In the pro-
per way. This is a work of diplom-
acy and deserves good pay. for most
women think they know without any
telling who is the best dressmaker or
milliner. In the matter Of gloves
and hosiery and various other toilet
accessories II is easier to earn the
pay Many of these things are left
entirely to the maid, and she has lit
tie else TO do than to collect the COM
mission.
Take the janitor. for instance.
Most persons move into new apart
ment in a hurry. With rush and In
a general turmoil and turgid whiri
of mishandled lares and penates the
family lands In It's new abode tired
and hungry. fortunate II there 10
other light than taliow dip-for
the octopus takes It's time about
turning on the gas-and appeals to
the janitor for succor in the dire ex-
tremity. He recommends a certain
butcher, baker and grocer. II 1t SO
happens that the hardened mover
has got In with fair degree OF COM
fort and proceeds to ind his own
tradesmen without consultation with
the autocrat, that individual will af-
ter a brief interval suggest the men
who may be found satisfactory to
deal with And 1t will be generally
found conducive to the peace OF the
tenant to agree with the janitor and
avoid discussion.
The janitor frequently goes to the
tradesman and demands a commits
sion on the business of every one In
the apartment house. He does not
ask this as favor. He demands 1t
as right and states It as a sine qua
non of the tradesman entering the
building. This commission Is usually
10 per cent. OF the amount of the
bill. 20 enforce his demand the jan
itor has every means at his disposal.
There are poster rules for delivering
goods. and 1t will be often found that
the messengers Of tho rebellfous
tradesmen are harassed in every pos
sible way until upon some pretext
they are forbidden entrance to the
building. II the tenant be recalci-
trant. his food disappears, the milk
Is sour, the meat tainted, dinner Ii
late because the groceries are not de-
livered. All sorts Of methods are at
the disposal Of the janitor. until both
tradesman and customer give In. the
specified man employed and ths
commission paid. and evsrytAing =
lovely.
A valet In court PROCEEDINGS ths
other day testified that q tailor had
offered him $50 year II - vs~lA
double the amount Of clothes 70 -
ordered BY his employer. aAd ths
tailSr assured bin this souA be sAs-
uy brought about b. ~ valst ski
fully rubbing the knees q 10 en-
ploysrs trousers and the elbows Of
his employers coats With . nttls In
strumsat of roughsnAd weod, vhiaA
would speedily make the garmsaks
look worn and thYsadhaye- The tail
or supplied thu yslek with the tnSkru-