To become the butler of a well-appointed Gilded Age household, a man had to meet certain criteria. According to Mary Elizabeth Carter, a writer of books on household management at the beginning of the 20th century, an “undersized” man could never be a butler; “First requirements…are height and bulk.” Literacy and good grooming were required as well. And the butler had to be properly attired. But not too properly! His outfit must betray some deliberate error in fashion, such as an out-of-place tie or mismatched trousers, lest he be mistaken for the gentleman of the house. Finally, his facial expression should be blank and his manner should give the impression, no matter how busy he may be, that he has nothing to do. Bannister, the van Rhijn butler played by Simon Jones in HBO's “The Gilded Age," seems to have all of the nuances mastered! #NewportMansions #gildedagehbo #gildedage #gildedagemansions #gildedagemansion