Chapter 6, A Sequence of Servants Summary and Analysis

Thurber recalls "the immortals" among the 162 servants that his mother employs during his youth. Dora Gedd wounds a lover in her bedroom and is shooting up the downstairs when police arrive. Gertie Straub comes home drunk, disturbs the sleeping family, and claims to be simply dusting. Juanemma Kramer has a great fear of being hypnotized because she is so susceptible. Belle Giddin scalds a finger on purpose to help decide which 50¢ painkiller works best. Vashti has a gift for finding lost objects and is in a love triangle with a chauffeur and a stepfather who turns out to be imaginary. Fiancé Charley, who wants to kill the stepfather, abandons her.

Mrs. Doody goes berserk and decides that Father, as the Antichrist, is chasing her through the house. Mrs. Robertson, a former slave, recalls...