Audio
BONUS: A word from the Butler
Transcript
Of course, I might say before your arrival the various household departments would be informed to everything possible for your comfort. Housekeeper would have been notified as to what room you was to occupy. Menus from the chef would be admitted and approved. The butler would be informed as to the wine, glass and china to be used. And there’d be one of the underbutlers detailed to be your personal attendant to take care of your personal needs, pack your bags, pack your clothes, and as your car came around the bend in the drive your host and hostess would be notified who were sitting in the den waiting for you. And by the time that you arrived, at the front door you would see them on the steps waiting to extend a cordial welcome to you. You no doubt would turn and look east and express words of admiration for the beautiful lawn and the trees that you would see. You would then take him into the living room where tea would be served. And after a length of time you would be asked if you would like to retire to your room to rest. Not wishing to do so your host would suggest taking a little walk looking at the view of the river, going back in ample time to dress for dinner. Guests may have been invited to meet you for dinner or possibly the host and hostess might think they’d like to dine alone with you and spend a quiet evening. After dinner you would have a game of cards or sit and talk or read. Before you retired the night before why your hostess would ask you if you preferred to have breakfast in your room on a tray or if would like to come down to the dining room so that it’d be up to you to decide which way about you would naturally understand that your host and hostess would be upstairs in their room for breakfast so you would naturally prefer to stay in your own room. On the other hand, you might want to get up early and say well I’ll get dressed early and come down and have breakfast in the dining room and take a walk before you get around. We’re talking about now if you were alone. Of course, if there was many of you say 5 or 6 gentleman or so why you’d oh yes I’ll come down for breakfast I’ll join you and the next one say I’ll join you, first thing you’re all down for breakfast. On the other hand, one might say, well I’m gonna have breakfast upstairs and another one says, well I’ll do the same and that’s how it goes, so you might all stay upstairs. Just how the thing went.
Description
Alfred Martin, the last butler employed by Mr. Vanderbilt, describes guests arriving for a stay at the mansion.
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