The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-28
FASHION IN BRITAIN.
Englishmen in America and Americans In Eng
land International Receptions
Pashionables Apathetio a. q Body
selashness and Preoccupation-A
Young Ladies' Day-Health
of Queen Victoria.

turned from somewhat extended tour In the United
States, and an American who Is "dOin2' England
this year for the first time II was very curious and
not little instructive listen to what each had to
say upon the same subject My countryman was loud
In his praise OF the kind and reception he had
met with in America but your fellow citizen
seemed to be In despair at the very little prospect
there was OF ever penetrating the interior OF family
life-of ever being welcomed as guest to anything
save formal stifr dinners aud parties I'm England
The Engishman told me that he had left England for
the United states about year ago armed with but
three letters OF Introduction. One OF them was to q
merchant in New York, the second TO a well known
literary man in Boston, the third TO Senator at
Washington. "Anything," he said, 'like the
hearty, friendly welcome l received not only from
these gentlemen but also from their friends and
the friends OF their friends shall forget. Be-
foro had been week at New FORK was on friendly
conversational terms with almost many people
knew in London, and not day passed that ala
not receive an invitation-often two and three-to
dinner. am quite sure that had ! remained six
months instead OF one In New York. 6nd had been
able to eat two dinners day, need never have
dined at my own expense.n
"But, /" he continued, and think remember the
exact words he used, "but 1t was not merely the
hospitality OF all that met with that delighted me
so much; 1t the wit, the evident desire make
themselves pleasant and friendly to a stranger,
which animated every one l came across. / am
neither wealthy man nor statesman, nor an emil
nent literary individual. The good people OF New
York never heard my name before, and the chances
are they will never hear 1t again. But they knew
and could see that was one of the same speaking
from the east side OF the Atlantic, and they de-
termined to make my sojOurn agreeable to me. And
this was not only the case with those to whom
brought letters OF introduction, but also to quite as
great an extent with those met at their houses
Mr.. A. and Mr.. b. and Mr.. @. would meet me at the
house OF Mr. d., TO whom l had brought letter OF
Introduction or to whom had perhaps been intro
duced at the house OF Mr. T., whose acquaintance
had made through Mr.. f., to whom had brought
letter from Europe. 1t was quite enough. A and II
aud O asked me to their houses aud introduced me
| to other friends, who asked to theirs and who
were oil Of them always ready to do me any kind
ness"
| NEW YORK SOCIETY.
"And how" asked my countryman, ibid you
| like society IN New York;"
across in any part of the world The ladies' are the
brightest, most sparkling conversatonalisrs ever
! met with. There Is nothing OF that vapdness Of
| tone which prevails In London from month after
| the commencement OF the season unt the end. Tlle
lively witty and earnest style OF talk In New York
Or Boston drawing room used to remind me of soci-
ETY. In good English country house. except that the
| men do not conilne their conversation, as is too
often the case with u.s. to horses, dogs, hunting and
! shooting. The ladies all wonderfully well
dressed, and seem with their French millinery to
| have imported French good taste into the States
The only thing could never understand is what be-
comes OF their Old ladies' for they all look young
| that matron OF fifty Is sight unknown"
Such were the opinions OF London fashionable
| man (member of noble family, and one who has
| for quarter Of century moved IN the very best
| circles OF England, France and Germany. He has
lately made tour OF some months In your country,
and thus he records his opinion OF society in the
| West.
| THE AMERICAN IN ENGLAND.
The American gentleman sitting on my other side
gave, however. very different account OF tile nos
pltaiity or people in this country. He told me he
| had come to England armed with more than dozen
letters OF Introduction. Two OF them to cabi-
| net ministers now in office; one to very leading
man in the literary world OF LOndon six seven TO
members OF Parliament; two 10 peers with large es-
Establishments in town. three or four to city mags-
trates, ana so on He had as he said, certainly been
asked out TO dinner and had also accepted invita-
tons to few balls; but there his intimacy with
Englishmen and women seemed to cease. .'The
reception meet with at one house." he said, "is so
Exactly xe what meet t Wa at snotaer that i
formula, laid down by law for the manner and the
amount OF kindness which Is TO be offered to
strangers. wise man always tries when in Rome
10 do as Rome does and, therefore, | have
followed to the letter what Is this custom on these
the month send my letter OF Introduction to Lord
A. or Mr. b.; endorse 1t III letter from myself
Langham Hotel, where ! am staying. About the 7th
or Sth OF the month-certainly not sooner-I find
Lord AS or or Mr.. BIS card left for me at the hotel
1t would not be deemed the correct thing at all n
was IN too great hurry to respond TO this civIy
therefore don't go TO leave card ut Lord AIS or
Mr.. b. % until the 18th or 18TH The chances are, ten
to one, that find the owner OF the house out and as
for asking for Lady A. or Mrs. b. If did 80 the
fOotman or han porter would deem me mad /
therefore hand In my pastebOard and am of. About
the 18th OF 10th OF the month receive formal nvi.
carG-asking me to dinner on tie 2stf or both. Here
then am whole month IN London before come
face to lace with the gentleman to whom 1 have
brought letter OF Introduction. Why, In New Ork
or Boston l should have any Englishman who
brought me letter OF Introduction TO dine with me
In fuunn ufnrtr hnrr IN .o,
have known more than half my friends rs well as l
DINING IN "GooD SOCIETY,"
"But," he continued, ''what is the dinner at Lord
AS or MIR. b.. when do get thereS l am taken
up stairs my name Is called out. Lord A. or Mr.. b.
their manners, acknowledged to welcome me- |
am introduced to Lady A: or Mrs. b., and to one or
two others OF the assembled guests. We go down to
dinner; everything very grand very formal, very
vapid. The host certainty tries to be civil to
me, and for that evening ne makes OF me than
OF any OF his other guests. The hostess Is not gra
clous. get very excellent dinner. and am asked
the other ladies' or the party and more pariicnary
the younger ones-have as a rule, the most often |
sive manner OF silently staring at me all the time
am speaking; and II an American lady Is present |
they look at her as II they expected her to with
her toes or utter an Indian war whoop between the
courses.
The dinner goes on through an infinite number OF |
dishes which are hardly touched. We come down
to dinner at quarter before nine p. NJ and leave
the dining room-gentlemen and ladies together--a |
few minutes after eleven O'Clock. After dinner |
conee ana tea are served. III IL Is during the Lon
don season the party breaks up before midnight for
the ladies have nearly all to go 10 balls or other
semblles-perhaps TO more than one-he gentlemen |
are due at the House oil Commons, are going to
hear-that IL II they too old to dance-the chit.
chat or the day at their respective. clubs. |
| make my bow to Lord A. or Mr. B. and to the |
lady OF the house, and there ends as It begins, the
civility that get from the letter OF introduction.
have been four months In London. l brought as |
told you, score or OF letters OF Introduction,
some OF them to the very first people in the land,
and have been TO some twenty very formal din |
ners to half dozen formal concerts to two three
lawn parties ana to some eight balls or even
Ing parties, or ''at homes.u
ISOLATED.
such was your countrymans experience of an |
American coming to London armed with good intro |
ductions and only fear that what he said Is but
too true English fashionable society," as at present
constituted seems to be mpenetrable from without.
IL does not seem 10 desire for the admission behind