I found this curious piece about Lizzie on some website. It said:
"She supplied cold drinks for workmen around her house and gave them time off with pay when the heat was unbearable."
I've never read this anywhere. I read that she had a temper tantrum of sorts with a workman. Cold drinks, maybe. But Andrew's daughter giving time off with pay? Me no think so.
Ah, a chip off the old block! I have never heard of anything like that Augusta. It wouldn't surprise me if it were all true because I feel that Lizzie could be generous at times.
-1bigsteve (o:
"All of your tomorrows begin today. Move it!" -Susan Hayward 1973
The story appears in Radin's book, p229 (paperback edition). Radin went to Fall River and interviewed many people who had known or had stories of Lizzie.
"... The son of a house painter, whose services were used by Lizzie for many years, quoted his father as saying that Lizzie always supplied his workmen with cold drinks, and if the weather was exceptionally hot, she would ask that they stop work, until it became cooler and would pay the bill for their full time. Neighborhood boys, contrary to the legend, found her an easy mark; she always bought church raffle tickets and other things from them. Toddlers who lived in the area were sure of getting cookies whenever they wandered over to see Lizzie. One was Victoria Endicott Lincoln, who later became a noted novelist. ..."
de Mille recites a story about Lizzie at Maplecroft completely the opposite:
"... It was only servants or workmen, hired occasionally for alterations, who got in and were able to report what went on. The accounts were meager. One of them once, though, witnessed a curious scene in connection with the laying of some bricks on a back terrace. Miss Borden returned from shopping to find them cemented contrary to her instructions. She wheeled on the laborer and without a moment's warning flew into such a white fury that she seemed almost out of her mind. Her language and the violence of her physical demeanor were horrifying. The workman left and refused to return. This incident was undoubtedly of significance chiefly because of her history. No workman would have paid much heed to the bad temper of an ordinary cantankerous rich old spinster. ..."
I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world
And fool enough to think that's what I'll find
So there really is a source for this. I did think of Lizzie's being known to be generous, but paying workers on time off sounded like quite a stretch. I wonder if they meant her regular servants?
Radin's account rings true. DeMille's sounds suspect of a legend. I don't think she made it up, but reading her book (which I love) it looks like she interviewed some real lulus. (Remember the taking-the-underwear-off-the-corpse one?)
There were two people I remember who looked back fondly about Lizzie and giving kids treats. One was the daughter of a man who was there on business (something like jewelry or clothing, I'm thinking), who said Lizzie gave her chocolate. And there was a guy who told as a little boy she gave him muffins and they were the best he ever had.
I think she might have beena chip off the old block in terms of that she would get her money's worth, but I don't think she was a chip off the old block in terms of she didn't mind spending the money to get good help. I don't think she minded spending the money if she was getting good help. And I do think she was a bit more humane than Andrew.
I think she might have thrown temper tantrums if the work was not done right. After all, if you are spending lots of money, you'd like the job to be done right.
Suicide is painless It brings on many changes and I will take my leave when I please.
I think you are spot on, Snokks with your assessment of Lizzie. I think Lizzie was willing to spend money for something of quality and lasting value. Like her dad she was aware of the value of a dollar but unlike Lizzie, Andrew didn't seem to want to part with a dollar unless he had to.
My grandmother knew that it is cheaper in the long run to spend (invest) more now than try to save pennies and end up getting something that will fall apart. I think Lizzie had the same frame of mind when it came to money.
-1bigsteve (o:
"All of your tomorrows begin today. Move it!" -Susan Hayward 1973
Snookums - Right - we didn't hear of Andrew sending kids he knew to college. And being kind to animals. But keep in mind he was not a total Scrooge, as we have learned by some of the purchases we know he did make.
Lizzie did throw at least one temper tantrum aimed at a worker who did not do something according to her specifications. If I remembered the source, I'd cite it.
Your grandmother was so right, BigSteve. You get what you pay for.
It seems that people that have money are much less tolerant of shoddy work than people that don't have it. And much more likely to give someone the rough side of their tongue when something is not done to specifications.
Lizzie may have given the workman a hard time about something done incorrectly, but he was probably more likely to exaggerate the incident because of who she was.
I know if I'm paying for something to be done, I want it done right!
giving time off with pay? Me no think so.
