New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-06
LYNDON.

LONDON Aug. %, 1906
Tho long vacation has fairly SGT in in london. The
Houses Of Parliament in charge Of some dozen police
mon The Clubs are the hands Of painters and uphol
sterrs corner only of the diniagroonS and Libraries be-
,pr kent opcn for the few officials who ls to keep the
Goyenaent machine going, for casual members passing
though rrost Babylon their way from the continent
or the seaside 70 county houses, and for the few Ddon
ble Cockncys who be happy for more than 10
DAYS AZ a time away from 1cir beloved home. Noun
t,us" said Charles Lamb, are good to look ct but
street. to live in and the feeling is certainly shared by
eonsid ,rble number OF Engshmen of the literary and
professional classes who have been stranded earyin life
in London, and have sought their way there with some
success.
remember whom youngstor spending two days In
August with Thos Ingoldsby, then in the hight of his
popularity at his house in Amen Corner, the dnsiost
auieest nook in the city. II any reader OF The TRIBUNE
of an antiquarian turn o mind should chance to visit the
old country il will 10 we'll worth his while TO poke about
round 81 Paus churchyard entl be has realized this
dwcling-pace of digailed cathedral clergy II
larc court shut ont from tho roaring outside world by
heavy gles at which Of the Cathedral servants,
ma II rerecr cod a. poor Barham remrrkcd, acts as
CcrbeTus | well remember my own sensation
Of wonder when l entered those gates, how
e1y hunaL being could live there during those bright
Ariums DAYS and my resolve that not oven the teupia
Ton OF HetNnE l1nON hlu run az uiifAOtf thN
treat ihad been aured by should keep there bcyo0d
a. hoar The guests came Eve or six in ALL aud the con-
vcsaton turned the imPossibiity of really enjoying
life fs more than ecek Of the sound Of Bow Bells.
The csag mai riy OF the guests including Barham wero
strongly Of this opinion. fc' years later was almost
as much estonishcd to hear 1ackcray mautuning the
same thesis He fastening back ffcU Boucgne, aud
we met in the train. len hm soRs f'enty miles from
town his spirits rising every mnrie looked forward
to his plunge under the great smoke canopy AMI months
enjoyment Of empty Lonssa thought him at the tine
rather crazy OF the he hal forgotten 10 explain w Arte
mus Ward does " this is meni ronieal"
Understand the feeling better nOw in fact hayeprhaps
somettle touch of it myself II Is perfectly compatible
with an intense enjoyment Of the many woys of holiday
making which in vogue among US. some OF which
are almost peculiar, fancy, branch o. the great
family OF English peakers. For instance the pursuit Of
mounain-climbIg-Aps If they can get at them, Welsh
and Cumberland mountains for want OF Alps-as 1t Is
practscd by constantly increasing number Of young
Engshmen Seems TO have no attractions for more than
stray Amer on here there and is considered proof
unacy by Continental natos. At the other ond Of our
holiday stands country house life which, in the de-
yeop2nt at least which has attained, is also 50
far as know, peculiar 10 England. In every English
eouSsy and all through Scotland, there certain num-
bero horgea houses which ere opened generally in the
Itun by their owners TO succession of guests who stay
ron tho average four five DAYS the intimate friends Of the
host and hostess remaining, perhaps for fortnight The
details Of life at county houses vary of course according
to situation. In Scotland and the north of England,
grouseshoong and Devastating prevail from the 18th of
August. Everywhere partridge shooting is part of the
play from the LIST Of September, and wherever there is
good salmon or trout stream in the neghborhOod, man
OF two Of the party will surely found for whom the
anglers craft has inesist Die attractions. There are
neghbofhoois and houses agIn in which there
FOR cricket rife shooting But nowhere is sport Of any
kind more than feature OF eornty house life, except in
ont Of the way highland lodges at ow residences of
hopeessy demoralizod Nmrods, whore the herd to-
geher and give then selves up to simple life of destruc-
ton.
Ordinarily the manner Of life is somewhat in this
wise Breakfast from to TO- the guests dropping down
and grouping themselves they please generally at three
or four different tables At 400 II, the shooting and
fishing parties start the ericketmatch begins; in the
mean time the men stroll about the grounds with cigar
visit the stable and the Kennels or join the ladies' who
draw or work. read the papers, gossip in the draw
ingrooms or on the carpets and cushions the lawn
under lime chestnut trees. the day is warm enough
Then croquet parties generally going laziy and ft.
ngy until the next general gathering at for luncheon,
meal which the sporsmen, however, take under hedge
or behind haystack Afterward the ladies drive ride,
or continue croquet with such of the eschew
shooting until between 5 and g. when there is tea for
those who like It, in the house the lawn. Probably
The sportsmen viii be home before the pleasant lettering
t tea is over and by this time the morning papers have
nrriyed and perhaps guest aad there is talk of
anything that has happened in politics society Dinner
at or tbereabout, and afterward, in houses you
win have music in Others cards. in Others dancing until
the ladies' like to retire. Then the adjourn to the
biardroom cigars and seltzer water, mixed Ah more
or less shorty or spirits Billiards last long any
likes TO play every dropping of at his own time
But though the general features Of the life alike in
all houses each has more or its speciality
There are few merely fne houses STILL at which
but the creme de Ia of society $50 called found
At present these are addicted to horsescing than
any other pastime, aud, as am credibiy informed, to
earnest rompng in the evenings much after the fashion OF
CompiegDe, from which the custom comes. II report
speaks truly, however, they maintain their e1cusveness
at the pce Of tremendous dizziness In the plessantest
large houses society is always dashed with an infusion,
less strong according 70 the taste OF the hosts OF
foregners literary men, politicians Travellers artists In
general the neghborhood is carefully tended for political
and social purposes great folks however exclusive
they m be in London having most decided notion OF
remaining the heads in every of their corners
ofEngland So you have constant succession Of tbe
squires and parsons ard their wives and daughters, who
ertlcise the Londoners aad criticised in their tn
This couyus gentum is often very attractive; indeed
where and hostess take pains in grouping their
visitors it is difficult to imagin. more fascinating life
Once or twice have this well done thateyeD sport
has been at complete discount two men for very
shame having just responded to the keepers summons
for on hour two, huiDg back by luncheon time to
Bejoin the society.
The system has its faults no doubt 1t is too luxurious
heino maid without question of