The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-02
AMERICAN MONEY
MAY WOO LONDON
Mrs. Potter Palmer and Mrs.
Frank Mackey Lavish
100000 FOR THE SEASON
Historic Houses Are Rented and Plans
Are Laid to Aetonlsh Brtishers
of Uppertendom-social
Activities Expensive.

HStlNiucS ENpCuSiNes
Special to the Chicago Record-He-ald.
London.-Mrs. Potter Palmer and Mrs.
Frank Mackey of Chicago are planning
a London season of notable splendor and
lavish expenditure. Both have rented fine
mansions in order to entertain on a grand
scale.
Mrs. Palmer was early in the field
and made particularly good stroke by
getting the Duke of Abercorns historic
town residence on Greene street, close
to Hyde Park.
Mrs. Mackey has for the coming sea-
son the home on curzon street of that
other famous Anglo-American, Mrs.
Adair
Lady Cunard, who was Miss Burke Of
Chicago-she married the son of the
founder of the steamship line-has taken
for the London season Is Mansfield street.
which is owned by one of England's
wealthiest provincial bankers, Mr.. Cur
ney of Norwich The distinguishing fea-
ture of this mansion is it's ceiling decora-
tons by Angelica Kaufman, which are
said to represent that artists finest
work.
What of the Cost?
The question that naturally comes to
ones mind is, How much does 1t COST
There are several ways of getting rid
of money and most of them are known
to Americans. but the London-h ouse-for-
the season enterprise is about the most
expeditions of the lot.
II cannot be done for less than $4,000.
Well informed persons say the season
probably will cost Mrs. Palmer and Mrs.
Mackey from S1500o0 TO 5000, 900 EACH Both
women are going to do the thing Just
as well as 1t can be done. Other American
hostesses. such as Mrs. John Jacob Astor,
the Duchess of Roxburgh and Lady Bate
man, Che former Mrs. Knapp proba-
bly, will get off for something like
100000.
About the lowest price for which one
can get fashionable house for the sea-
son Is $500
Nominally one can secure for $500 a
mansion containing, say, ten bedrooms,
three reception rooms, ball room and
stabling for five or six horses.
House Bill Aloe $37, 1000.
The word 'nominally' is especially good
in this connection, for the sum mentioned
applies to the house just as II stands, with
furniture, of course, ard does not include
linen, plate, servants or horses and car
riages. All these are costly, and to pos
sess them and do anything like the sort
of entertaining that is expected from
Americans in the West End Will make the
cost of keeping up an establishment of
the size mentioned not less than $4,000
a month. That foots up $4,000 for a mod
est season.
Mrs. Palmer starts Off by paying this
Duke of Abercorn $4,000 for the use of
his house mot including plate and linen.
Hampden House, as It is called, was built
In 1728 and derives its name from Viscount
Hampden, who for many years inhabited
II. Viewed from OUT de it is low and
rambling and none the more impressive
for being built of ugly red brick 1t Is
a spacious place, however, and with its
gardens. occupies nearly an acre OF
ground. 1t bed rooms number twenty-five,
and there are ten sitting rooms, state
drawing room and a ballroom.
Famous for Art Works.
Hampden House contains also the finest
individual collection of paintings In Lon
don. Many of the works of art are price,
less and they will remain In the mansion
during Mrs. Palmers occupancy. The
house Is famous, too, for the beauty OF
Its art panelings.
Mrs. Mackey's house contains twenty
five bedrooms, splendid ball room eight
reception rooms and especially commod-
fous quarters for the servants. There Is
stablng for nineteen horses. The house
and furniture alone cost Mrs. Mackey
$4,000. She supplies her own plate linen.
servants and horses and carriages.
Nowadays the American hostess In
Mayfair usually solves the help diff
Guilty by engaging a butler of experience
and making him responsible for getting
the others. The correct number Is about
fifteen, and their wages. including tho
bttl no ba
months.
Plate and linen can be rented for the
season for $500 but 1t is more swagger
to buy them outright. so most Americans
do so and spend $4,000 in the process.
Houses and Autos, Too
You cannot have less than five pairs OF
horses and as mony vehicles, but 1t il
quite the thing TO rent these. The cost
for the season, including the maintenance
and services of coaehmen, will be $4,000.
An automobile will cost $4,000 or more.
All this, Of course, is outside the actual
entertaining. which is the thing that eats
up money fastest
In order to get at the cost OF entertain
ing during London season the question
was put to one Of the best known "house
agents" they are called in Mayfair
ITO do the thing with the lavishness
which tradition demands" said this per-
SOHdBtf VIII CoSlt 1T ~ CONSERVATIVE eSL1-
mate. from $4,000 to $4,000 That is. of
course. exclusive of louise rent. On house,
hold expenses for family OF, say. four,
with occasional guests, fifteen servants
and incidentals. not counting special en-
but including lights, flowers
anu wines, a hostess would spend some-
thing like 5000.
Dance Item SpoiIs $40 600.
There must be at least three balls or
lances. These are expensive in London
There would be from 800 to 1900 guests To
provide music, supper and sometimes
breakfast dancing favors and any special
for the sake OF original
ty, II would be necessary to spoil $780,
00
Then there are twelve reception days
one each week-at. say, $500 each. That
would pay for the music, flowers and tea.
Two musicals are usually given. With the
best talent they will cost $1,000. Four state
dinners are customary; the expense for
them would be $4,000.
5000, are the things that are expected.
at Henley, the Derby. AS
cot and New Market are optional. Like
wise you needn't be presented at court
unless you please. but If you are 1t will
another sl0oo."
"Bit" for the Press.
But perhaps the expenditure that comes
rent London houses is the amount OF
money II takes to get ones social activi-
ties noticed" in the newspapers. To