A Hairdresser's Experience in High Life/Chapter 7
CHAPTER V.
newport—the maid's story.
I will now go back in my narrative to the season of 1850. I was that year at work at Saratoga. The nephew of President Polk coming there with his family, consisting of his wife, two children, a man and maid servant, and the lady wishing to have a maid and hair-dresser, I gave up my situation at Saratoga and went to Newport with them. We stopped at the Ocean House. I found the most of the company there from Saratoga, as it was a habit with many to go the early part of the season to Saratoga and drink the water, after which they sought the seaside to bathe. I found out this season why many of the ladies liked Newport so well; it was because at the latter place the ladies and gentlemen were thrown more together. As there was but a small hall to promenade in at Newport, ladies, gentlemen, children, servants and all were together, while at Saratoga the ladies had two very large galleries and the gentlemen one, so they were never thrown together, except those who had families or acquaintances. This season the Germania Band was there, and I have often been amused, while listening to the music, to see the different dresses, different appearances, and different cliques.
There were five ladies there from the neighborhood of Philadelphia, all of one family. These were all beautiful and very elegant in every respect. Though the ladies did not associate with them much, they were great belles with the gentlemen; they did not care much for the ladies' society, as they knew they were on the strong side. Three of those ladies were married, one was a widow, and the other a young lady.
The widow was a tall, elegant looking lady, with a pure white skin, which was very much envied. She always dressed in the most elegant black silk and pearls, or black velvet and diamonds, while the young lady dressed in white silk, sleeves looped up like a child's, and a sash round her waist. The three married ladies were a good deal talked about. I do not believe there was any foundation for such talk. Like all pretty women, they liked their admirers.
Many of the ladies came together and declared they would not come another season if that family were permitted to be there. The proprietor very readily complied with the wishes of the mass of boarders, and told the ladies they could not be accommodated there another season. They did not return for a season or two, with the exception of the widow. She had always held herself above reproach. She always came there, and at length gained an entree again for them. At this time the widow is reigning at the head of society in the South, while the others are reigning the same in New York, and are married in the highest families. North and South, many who used to think them not good enough to sit at table with, now bend low to them this season. There were many belles there. One in particular was very gay and a great dasher. There was much talk about her, but no one can say whether there was any truth or not in such stories.
It was really a delightful sight on a fine clear day to see two or three hundred ladies sporting in the water, and chasing the waves in their picturesque attire; some with yellow, some white, some crimson dresses on. The gentlemen had their hour, but many were so delighted to see the ladies in their bathing dresses, as they always had seen them so dressed up, they would not keep away, until finally the proprietor placed officers there to keep them off till their hour came.
I, with my little Miss, went in one day with two or three hundred people. My little girl had on a yellow flannel dress, trimmed with red, and my own dress was the brightest crimson that could be found. I was proud to have them admired as the prettiest dresses in the water that season. While in the water, I noticed one lady who had on nothing but a simple nightgown; and on coming out she lost her little house. These little houses are for changing the dress in, and there are three or four hundred of them along the beach. She asked many people, but she was such a comical figure no one would tell her anything of it. She looked to me like a drowned rat. It was plain to be seen she was not much accustomed to the seaside.
On coming out of the water, I saw such an insignificant little creature, such as we call in our city, Count Nobody. He was standing on the cliff, laughing immoderately at this poor woman. I felt so angry with him I could have gone up one side of the cliff and thrown him down the other, but for his insignificance. He was there flourishing with a young lady, while his wife was lying sick at the Irving House, New York. Many ladies, both from our city and New York, knew this to be the case, but, at such places, ladies will receive attentions from men, even knowing them to be broken sticks.
In a few days came off a grand dress ball; I was more than proud that my lady was called the loveliest lady in the room. I was amused watching the maneuvers of a middle-aged widow lady, from our city, of great wealth, elegantly dressed, playing off as a young girl of fifteen, with a gentleman from New York, nearly of her own age, but dressed as a young man of twenty; they were coquetting and flirting all the evening.
The ball passed off very pleasantly, till near the end, when some words occurred between a married gentleman and a young one, about a lady from New York; the young gentleman blacked both the eyes of the other gentleman, which closed the ball.
Among the ladies at Newport, I noticed one whom I had often seen at New York, Saratoga, and other places, and who had always been a leader of fashion wherever she went. With some surprise I observed that this lady was scarcely noticed by those with whom she had formerly been very intimate; and those who had once been glad to receive the slightest token of recognition from her, now swept haughtily by her, without deigning a glance.
Many surmises did I make, to account for this change in the manner of the fashionables toward the lady; but none were satisfactory. Her husband's position was exalted—his wealth was immense. There was a mystery about the matter which puzzled me, and I determined to unravel it. I seized every opportunity that offered for conversing with her former friends; but they always spoke of her with a reserve that left me more in doubt and more curious than before.
In the meantime, I had become well acquainted with her maid, who, I knew, had been with her a long time, and was much attached to her. It was, however, not until after much solicitation that I prevailed on her to tell me the story.
"It has been more than fifteen years," she said, "since I first became acquainted with my mistress. She was, at that time, scarcely eighteen years old, and was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen; but, in her countenance, even at that age, could be detected traces of that pride which has ever been her ruling passion. Her mother had died when she was a child. Her father was engaged in a large, and apparently very lucrative business. He had in his employment, a young man some twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, who frequently had occasion to call at the house, to bring letters, messages, etc., to Mr.———. This young man was tall and well-formed, and although his features were not at all regular, still he was very handsome. When he was in conversation, there was a peculiar fascination in his manner, which it was almost impossible to resist.
"I had been engaged in the house some months before I observed any alteration in the manner of my mistress. Whenever James came into her presence, with any message for her father, she always had many questions to ask him, and seemed anxious to prolong his stay as much as possible. When he had gone, she would sit for hours without speaking a word; but I could plainly see there was a violent struggle going on within her breast.
"I had conceived a great affection for my young lady. Although she had the reputation of being proud and selfish, to me she had always shown the greatest kindness, nor had I ever heard from her lips a harsh word. I determined to watch over her, and, as far as was in my power, avert the misfortune which I thought threatened her. It was with much pain that I first observed the change in her conduct toward James. Formerly she had spoken to him haughtily, and had treated him in the same manner she would any other menial—for he had a position in her father's warehouse scarcely above that of a common porter; but her manner gradually changed and softened toward him, until she treated him more respectfully than any visitor that came to the house.
"James was not slow in detecting this change in my mistress, and divining the cause. His visits to the house became more and more frequent; and, always under some pretext or other, he endeavored to see the young lady.
"I do not think he ever had an opportunity of conversing with her alone, until one morning I started out to spend the day with one of my relatives. It so happened that I returned early in the afternoon, and having walked some distance, I sat down in a small room adjoining the parlor, to recruit myself. I had scarcely seated myself, when I heard a voice, which I knew to be that of James, but I could not catch the words. Then louder, and as if in anger, I heard my mistress say, "'What do you mean, sir, by addressing me in this manner. Why this effrontery that makes you so far forget my position and your own? Think you, for a moment, that I, the daughter of wealth, can listen quietly to such language from a common laborer?'
"'You are mistaken, Miss. I addressed you only in terms of respect, and if one, whom you sneeringly call a common laborer, acts in your presence as an equal, it is because your manner and words, for months past, have warranted him in so doing.'
"'You are becoming still more insulting, sir. It is only your vanity that has made you so misconstrue my actions. But it is beneath me to explain. Leave the house, sir, and rest assured my father shall know of your conduct.'
"'I will do as you command, regretting exceedingly having given expression to those feelings which I have long cherished, and dared to hope would not meet with the scorn you have shown. But you will find, ere long, wealth does not separate us so widely as you think,' and so saying, he went out.
"I caught a glimpse of his countenance, as he turned to shut the door, and saw on it an expression of triumph which I had scarcely expected to find there, and could not divine the meaning of.
"Scarcely had the door closed, when I heard my young lady sobbing violently.' Why am I so unfortunate?' said she. 'Why should this man, so much my inferior, have inspired me with such feelings? Thank heaven my pride sustained me, and prevented my lips from expressing the love I have so vainly struggled against. But,' and her voice expressed the gladness with which the thought inspired her, 'what did he mean by saying our positions were not so different as I thought? Can it be possible he is not what he seems? I pray to Heaven it may be so.'
"I was much grieved to be a listener to this conversation, but had been, for some time, dreading such an occurrence. Still I was glad that she had so controlled herself in the presence of James, and had given him not one word of encouragement. Yet I wondered what his last words, coupled with his look of triumph, meant. Alas! they were too soon to be explained.
"That night Mr.——— did not come home until late, and sending for his daughter, told her that all his wealth was gone. Some large speculations, in which he had engaged, had turned out disastrously, and he was ruined. Not one dollar had he saved from the wreck; and in his old age, he must go out to seek a living for her and himself. He had many friends in New York, and did not doubt of success, but that she would have to live according to their altered circumstances.
"In a few days the furniture was all sold, and we started for New York, where Mr.——— had secured a situation with a large and wealthy firm, to the father of the junior member of which he had been an early friend. He now lived very plainly and comfortably. It was, however, a great change from our former life, and my young lady would often sigh for the luxuries of her earlier days.
"We had been in New York about a year. During this time, Mr. D., one of my master's employers, had been a constant visitor at our house. He was a fine looking man, in the prime of life, kind and courteous in his manners, and was possessed of immense wealth. From the moment of his first visit, I saw that he was enamored of my young lady. She, dazzled by his wealth, had accepted the offer of his hand, and they were soon to be married.
"When the appointed time arrived, my young lady went to the altar a not unwilling bride, for she loved position and wealth; and had never been contented with her lot since her father's failure; but I knew, from observing her closely, that she had never felt any love for her intended husband.
"After the ceremony had taken place, we removed to a new and splendid mansion, in one of the most fashionable quarters of the city, and lived far more magnificently than ever before. The winters were spent in a continual round of gayety in the city, and during the summers we visited the fashionable watering-places, at all of which my lady was greatly admired and courted for her beauty and wealth.
"A few years passed in this way, when one evening I heard Mr. D. remark that he had engaged a new coachman, who would come the next morning. I did not think anything of this circumstance until the next day, when, imagine my surprise and alarm, on recognizing in the new servant, no other than my old acquaintance, James.
"I was very curious to see the effect his appearance would have on Mrs. D. She knew nothing of it until in the afternoon, when he drove to the door, and she stepped out to get in the carriage. At the first glance she recognized him, and for a moment I thought she would fall, but recovering, she straitened herself up, and getting into the carriage, without another look, the door was closed, and I heard the carriage rattling over the streets as they drove away.
"That evening Mrs. D. told her husband she did not like the new coachman, and would rather he would get another, but Mr. D. had taken a fancy to him, and asked his wife to give him a trial of a few weeks. I supposed she disliked saying anything to her husband of her former knowledge of the man. A few weeks passed, and my lady said nothing more to her husband concerning the man's dismissal, and I noticed that she appeared more fond of riding than heretofore, and no matter how disagreeable the weather, never missed a single day in going out, when she was not unwell. She now began frequently to complain of sickness, and was continually sending for medicines, or such delicacies as sick people generally crave, and James, although a man servant was kept in the house, was always sent on these errands, and would take the things, himself, to her room.
"It was now a season of the year when the business of Mr. D. required that he should be absent from the city a great portion of the time. Mrs. D. during his absence, was generally confined to her room, and one night would let no one sit up with her during the early part of the evening, but James. This caused a great deal of talk among the servants, and it soon began to be whispered about among the neighbors, until it finally reached Mr. D.'s ears.
"No one could tell by his manner that he had heard the slightest rumor against his wife; if possible, he seemed more kind to her than usual. 'He was compelled,' as he said, 'unexpectedly, to leave New York that evening, on important business;' and bidding his wife affectionately farewell, he left the house.
"Again was Mrs. D. taken sick, and James was sent for to sit with her, to be ready to go for anything that was wanted. About eleven o'clock, I saw Mr. D. going up stairs; how he got in I know not—the doors were all locked—but that matters not, there he was; and I watched him with anxiety as I saw him stop at his wife's door. It was locked. He broke it open with one blow. I was fearful of the consequences. Mrs. D. was lying in bed, and near her sat James, reading. My master, much to my astonishment, simply ordered him down stairs; when he went out, the door was closed, and I could hear nothing that passed inside.
"The next morning, James asked me to see Mr. D., and request him to give him a recommendation. Mr. D.'s countenance did not change in the least (and I watched him closely), as he replied, 'Tell him if he is here at breakfast, I will give him one.' I delivered the message to James, and his face grew pale as he listened to it; he left the room, and I have seen nothing of him from that day to this. Mr. D. has treated his wife since with the greatest attention before the eyes of others, but alone he never exchanges a word with her. Notwithstanding the care that was taken, the thing leaked out through the servants, and is now pretty generally known."
I listened to the girl's story with some interest, but with very little surprise, for I had seen and heard of so many more marvelous circumstances, that I was prepared to believe that ladies could be guilty of almost any species of folly. When she had finished, however, I no longer thought it strange that her mistress should be treated so cooly by her former associates.
During this, my first and last visit to Newport, very many strange and peculiar things came under my notice. Among them was the following incident, which, although it occurred in the hight of the season, was known to but very few of the visitors.
A young lady stopped at one of the fashionable hotels, with her mother, father, and another lady about her own age, a cousin. One evening, the latter complaining of being unwell, retired early, and left this young lady in the parlor with her father and mother. They sat up quite late, and when the young lady started to go to bed, instead of going to her own room, through a mistake she went into that of a stranger a flight lower. Without striking a light, she undressed herself, and sat down on the edge of the bed, and commenced telling her cousin something that had occurred down stairs after she left. Wondering why her cousin was so silent, and thinking she was asleep, she put her hand on her face to arouse her, when, to her horror and dismay, instead of the soft face of her cousin, she felt the bearded lip and hard face of a man. On her attempting to leave, he had the impudence to kiss her; she screamed, and rushing from the room, sought her father and mother, to whom she told the circumstance. They concluded their best plan would be to leave; and so, early the next morning, they started for Niagara Falls. Going by the way of Boston, they made a short stay in that place. They arrived at Niagara, and found the gentleman had reached there before them. He sought an introduction to the young lady, courted her, and the next season they were married and occupied the same room.