Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-12


o. the household. Two instances might
be told of the success Of this plan.
One summer, just before moving to her
Bar Hsrhor house, Mrs ScheffeHn had
engaged young tootman. had herself
apportioned his work and gone over It
with him. and he appeared to be quite
satisfactory.
After q very short time the move was
made TO Bar Harbor. and Mrs. Schef-
felin. happening to be indisposed asked
the butler TO show the new footman his
work in the country house Things did
not go as smoothly as before. and she
began to wonder II the man was in
efficient after all.
Before many days passed the young
man himself came to Mrs. Scheffelin
and asked, as a favor, typewriter slip
defining his work. such as he had had
in the town house, saying that he did
not understand just what his work was.
When the slip was given and explained.
as had been done before. all was smooth
again.
Imitation is the sincerest flattery and
Mrs. Schieffelin was genuinely pleased
to have prominent woman come to her
when she was about to establish a very
large house and ask for the loan Of her
famous slips. After careful study they
were returned, and forthwith the much
larger household. which had been or
ganized almost entirely. on their model.
proved thorough success.
.. A Notable Feat.
Another woman who does not reiegate
to any one the supreme authority in her
household is Mrs. Whitelaw Reid Her
recent feat Of coming from England for
two months, opening great house and
royalty, would do credit to a |
general in the executive and organizing
ability shown.
OF course, Mrs. Reid brought the five
most important servants with her from |
England: butler who for resonrcef,il- |
ness, probably has few equals. a house.
keeper and three others. The organization |
81 Mrs. Reids household is very similar |
to those already described. though on G |
much larger scale.
or course, the keynote OF Mrs Reids |
household Is northumberland |
nent on a scale so large that II nigh. |
we'll be termed regal, and entertainment |
u character usually official. The feat |
referred to, that OF opening a house |
which she had not occupied for seven |
Years, impressing upon Il anew her own |
PERSONAL atamp and giving II the air Of 1
occupancy, was done with apparent ease.
OF the royal visit Mrs Reid had exactly
me weeks notice. and during that week
lrmies OF workmen invaded the house.
decorating bedrooms. making needed |
alterations In the drawing rooms and the |
lining room and In every way putting
he house In good shape. The entertain
nents OF that visit Included two dinners
4 fifty covers each. ball. luncheons and
cas-. All was arranged under Mrs Reds
PERSONAL supervision s..
In her housekeeping. whether In the
'arious American homes she has had or
n the wonderful Dorchester house In
london. now the ambassadors official
esidence, Mrs. Reidfs personal attention
o detail is always apparent. Her first
let in the morning 10 to receive and pass
lpon the menus submitted by the chef,
After this follow consultations with the
'utler and the housekseper, and then
matters Of personal business with her
ecretary.
The problem which the millionaire
ousekeeper has to face IL the keeping,
ot Of one house, but Of several. She has
er town house and her country houses
wo or three. or more. The problem Of
eeping the country house differs little
rom that Of the city house. excepting in
he procuring Of supplies. II 10 the change
rom one house 20 another that makes
he matter complicated and difficult at
INES.
Take. for instance, O great country
ouse like that Of Mrs. John Hays Ham,
iond OF Gloucester. a house which will
e opened only for a definite portion OF
he year. How does one organize such
n opening? Mrs. Hammond Is one Of
he women Of whom one reads not infre-
uently that she has gone down to open
or country house: and II is literally true. Z
Iany times. however. It Ia not feasible
,r the mistress herself to go. as life OF
ressinE social affairs leaves one not I
ute free agent d
Then the housekeeper and q few house q
aids are sent down. perhaps conveyed I
y the butler, who win In person superin- I