or servant. When he brings your trap to the
door he holds the animals' heads until you are seated, when he touches
his hat and lets go the reins. If he is to sit behind in the trap he
must hold himself upright with folded arms. He alights immediately the
trap is stopped, running all errands, and holding the horses until the
drive is resumed. He sometimes accompanies his master when the latter
rides. He brings his horse to the door and holds it until the mount. He
follows, occasionally, on another horse at a respectful distance. Should
you be wealthy enough to have also a coachman, your groom can act as
second man on the box. A coachman's dress livery consists of a
double-breasted long coachman's coat, top boots, and buckskin breeches,
white flat plastron, high collar and top hat, and brown driving gloves.
When both servants are employed the groom is under the orders of the
coachman as regards the stable work.
_The Valet._--Of course a valet is a luxury. A man can valet himself
very easily, and if the instructions given in the chapters on the Care
of Clothes and The Toilet are followed carefully, I hardly think that
you would need such a personage. A woman can be perfectly trained to
valet a man. Your general servant can also, and is required to fill this
position. If you live at a club the club valet will attend to your
clothes, and perform the duties of a private servant. There are
"valeting companies" organized in many large cities, which take entire
charge of your wardrobe, and again there are valets who are hired by
several men clubbing together, and who are very capable servants. The
individual valet, however, is a very valuable aid to a young bachelor of
wealth, especially if he is a man of leisure, or if he goes out a great
deal in society. A valet's duties are first and principally the entire
charge of his master's wardrobe and toilet, the details of which have
been given in previous chapters. They begin an hour or so before the
master rises, when clothes are to be pressed and put in order, boots and
shoes to be polished and placed on their trees, and the costume of the
day to be made ready. If possible, a small room is provided for him as
his workshop.
At the hour for rising, the valet enters his master's room very quietly,
and, if he is awake, pulls up the shades and lets in the daylight. The
bath is then prepared, and while that is being taken the newspapers,
mail, and breakfast tray are brought in, and th
|