Etiquette of Gilded Age Hired Guests

To be sure, the hired guest is probably allowed his or her dinner or supper without any deduction from the stipulated rental, but the temptation to carry off the spoons or to “prig” a stray bit of jewelry should be guarded against. — This is delicious. None but “parties” of culture and refinement would possibly consent to hire out at the rate of ten dollars a night to make anybody’s “events” pleasant and enjoyable. And none but refined and cultured “parties” we may add, would be willing to call in the aid of an employment bureau to meet and entertain their guests. It would be sad indeed if the hired guests should chance to be more refined and cultured than those who hired them.

Above, a gilded age, 1888, Gotham ‘Versailles’ pattern spoon - Photo source, Etiquipedia private library

Not long since there was printed in one of the New-York newspapers, was an entertaining account of an establishment at which evening costumes for gentlemen and ladies were hired out by the night at a stipulated price. It was said there were several such “magazines” in the City from which young gentlemen and ladies were supplied with elegant attire of faultless fit and warranted to be made in the latest fashion. The only puzzling feature of this novel business was the precise character of the persons who could possibly be the patrons of depots of fashionable clothing kept for rent. 

It seemed incredible that, in even and so crowded and heterogenous a society as that of New-York, there could be found persons— men or women — who would have the audacity to venture into private houses wearing borrowed clothing. Of course, there are persons who walk about in dress coats or in WORTH'S gowns who are incapable of refinement, or feeling any stings of mortification under any propagation short of being ignominiously kicked down the stairs. But how many people are who are willing to go into society with borrowed garments, could possibly get into society was a puzzle. There, however, were the two facts: the clothes were hired out and there were mysterious persons who hired them.


The missing link has been supplied. An alleged newspaper of this City has gone into the business of supplying what may be called a long-felt want—ladies and gentlemen to attend parties, receptions, and other entertainments. It must be very vexatious for a lady, when she has been at the trouble and expense providing a dinner, supper, or music for dancing, to find her table half-filled or rooms empty. There was once a lady who came hither from a western city bent on getting into “first-class society right away.” She had (or her husband had) a great deal of money. So she set out to give a magnificent entertainment. The evening came and with it the supper, wines, flowers, lights, silver, and everything but the guests. The richly decorated lady and her husband received nobody but the hired servants, who stood around and giggled at the sight. This has not been an uncommon experience in New-York, it is said. But it need not occur again. 

The “Employment Bureau” of our society newspaper, addressing itself to families “who are about giving receptions, dinner parties, or other entertainments,” proposes to furnish “persons who will make these events pleasant and enjoyable.” It is further said in the delightful circular published by the Bureau that “these persons will not be professionals, but parties of culture and refinement.” This is delicious. None but “parties” of culture and refinement would possibly consent to hire out at the rate of ten dollars a night to make anybody’s “events” pleasant and enjoyable. And none but refined and cultured “parties” we may add, would be willing to call in the aid of an employment bureau to meet and entertain their guests. It would be sad indeed if the hired guests should chance to be more refined and cultured than those who hired them.


The novice in New-York society, who finds some difficulty in the way of securing the attendance of nice-looking and agreeable people and entertainment, will hail the Employment Bureau as a sweet boon. For it is stipulated that these social supers shall dress elegantly and mingle with the guests, while able and willing to play, sing, and converse fluently, tell a good story, give a recitation, or anything to help to make the evening pass quickly and pleasantly. And all this for ten dollars! From what mine of intellect and refined culture does the Employment Bureau draw its supplies? The late lamented BROWN, it is well known, used to keep lists of eligible young men for evening parties, for which he furnished animated lay figures for dancing and for wall-flower purposes. But the Employment Bureau goes beyond BROWN, and guarantees persons who can sing play and converse well, tell good stories, give recitations, and do anything tolerable and desirable and polite society. 

Moreover, these persons will be furnished to order “young or old, male or female,”  and all for the moderate price of ten dollars per evening each. The compensation is too low. To be sure, the hired guest is probably allowed his or her dinner or supper without any deduction from the stipulated rental, but the temptation to carry off the spoons or to “prig” a stray bit of jewelry should be guarded against. The Employment Bureau, however, guarantees its employed guests to be “strictly honest and desirable persons.” We have sufficiently indicated the class of persons, male and female, for whose benefit the magazines of second-hand fashionable costumes, to be let, are maintained. On the one side is society famishing for entertaining guests; on the other are impecunious persons of culture and refinement. The Employment Bureau and the second-hand clothing depot furnished the connecting link.


Of course, like other beneficent institutions, the scheme of hiring out guests is liable to abuse. Even though they may be persons of culture and refinement, they might possibly take a glass of wine too much, and, in a moment of natural enjoyment, “give the whole thing away.” Then, again, their frequent appearances and reappearances in New-York society, provided the Employment Bureau should be extensively patronized, would eventually arouse suspicion. A very great lady, who never wears less than fifty thousand dollars worth of diamonds when she goes a-visiting, is continually accompanied by two elegant and “stylish” young fellows who appear to be basking in the sunshine of her smiles, but who are only hired detectives guarding her ladyship’s gems. It would be dreadful if the Bureau’s young men and women should eventually be rated as mere detectives. 

The same journal that offers to furnish elegantly dressed, refined, and cultured guests for parties, also invites attention to its facilities for informing patrons of art where art-works “can be purchased at reasonable figures, thus avoiding the extortion and prices charged by dealers.” Surely, talents like these will be able to protect society from the exposure of sham guests, as well as from the possibility of somebody's asking: Are you one of the Employment Bureau's young men? — New York Times, 1882

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