The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-02-13
SERVANTSOFW WEALTHY.
SHARP INQUIRY MADE INTO
THEIR ANTEcEpENTs.
lobe Net to Be Had for the Asking
Doubt 40 to Authenticity Of
Story Regarding Upton
Sinclair.

New York.--Until more evidence 10
produced as to its truth 1t is better to
doubt the story that Upton Sinclair Sc
cured employment as house servant
In Mrs. Vanderbilt's residence, The
Breakers" at Newport.
Mr.. Sinclair would undergo trouble
and hardship, no doubt, to obtain
first-hand material for another novel
In which to exploit his particular
brand Of socialism, but 1t is unlikely
that he would masquerade as mental
If he could, and much more unlikely
that he could II 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-
slant aAd sSillful 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.
tails 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 TownsendB Burdens
was an inside" job as the police call
It, arranged by 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 the
pretenders and they are helped by
equally experienced housekeepers.
The foregoing suggests another
phase of domestic employment in
which young men as gently bred as
Mr.. Sinclair earn profit and dinner in
vitations. Many hostess has on her
domestic staff young man OF fashion
who performs practically the duties OF
butler. But there are few buffers
In this country who are competent to
do the work, so these needy young
men Of good social standing step in
and DO It.
All very large suppers served In
private houses, and very many Of tho
large dinners. are provided by one or
the other of two prominent caterers,
The caterer furnishes food, drink, mu-
sic, flowers. cigars, cigarettes and
service. The young man stands be-
tween the hostess and the caterer; he
decides q score of details which a
butler would decide If the supper were
home supplied affair; he inspects
the decorations determines the brand
Of champagne land gets a commission
from the wine AGENT, he even helps
| the caterers steward In managing the
actual service, sees that 1t is prompt,
smart and that not too much wine ID
opened for consumption below stairs,
II 1t is cotillion supper he selects
the favors land gets commission)
or, II II Is musicale, he deals out the
managers of the stars employed and
gets a commission. The hostess tells
hiai In 4 general way what she wants;
he sees that she gets 1t, and that his
Takeoff does not fail. She rewards him
by looking to 1t that he always has
enough social prominence to insure
him good living at this Job.