The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-10-31
SERVANTS Of WEALTHY.
SHARP INQUIRY MADE INTO
THEIR ANTEcEDENTs.
Jobs Not to Be Had for the Asking
Doubt as to Authenticity OF
Story Regarding Upton
Sinclair.

New York.-Until more evidence 10
produced as to its truth 1t is better 10
doubt the story that Upton Sinclair Sc
cured employment as house servant
in Mrs. Vanderbilts residence, The
Breakers" at Newport
Mr.. Sinclair would undergo trouble
and hardship, no doubt, to obtain
flrst-hand material for another novel
in which to exploit his particular
brand of socialism, but it is unlikely
that he would masquerade as menial
If he could, and much more unlikely
that he could If he would
Servants for nearly all large domes-
tic establishments are hired by paid
housekeepers who deal generally with
employment offices which are known
to make sharp inquiry into the ante
cedents of the servants they recon-
mend This precaution Is not directed
against ambitious authors eager to
know what life is below stairs In the
homes of the very wealthy, but to pro-
tect their patrons against the con-
stant and skillful efforts of profession
al thieves to secure servants places in
such homes.
The measures taken against this do
not always succeed. English profes-
sional thieves buy or steal the creden-
tials of genuine house servants and
come to this country to work out
schemes with them. They sometimes
succeed.
The big jewelry robbery from the
residence of the Townsend-Burdens
was an inside" job as the police call
It, arranged by a professional London
thief who had secured employment In
the house on stolen letters OF recon-
mendation. But usually the expert
enced employment agents sift out tbs
pretenders and they are helped by
equally experienced housekeepers.
The foregoing suggests another
phase OF domestic employment II
which young men as gently bred al
Mr. Sinclair earn profit and dinner in
vitations. Many hostess has on he
domestic staff young man OF fashion
who performs practically the duties o
butler. But there are few butler
in this country who are competent II
do the work, so these needy younI
men of good social standing step Il
and do It,
All very large suppers served Il
| private houses, and very many of tn
large dinners, are provided by one o
the other of two prominent caterers
The caterer furnishes food, drink, mi
sic, flowers, cigars, cigarettes an
] service The young man stands b.
tween the hostess and the caterer; b
decides a score of details which
butler would decide If the supper wer
home supplied affair; he inspect
the decorations, determines the bran
OF champagne land gets commissio
from the wine agent, he even helF
the caterers steward In managing tn
. actual service, sees that it is promp
smart and that not too much wine
opened for consumption below stair
!, If 1t is a cotillion supper he selecr
= the favors land gets commission
y y or, If it Is a musicale he deals out Il
y managers of the stars employed ar
= gets a commission. The hostess tel
him in a general way what she wants
he sees that she gets it, and that b
= rakeoff does not fail. She rewards hi
by looking to it that he always hi
enough social prominence to insu
him good living at this job.