The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04

iably cooked that the cool shade of the dining room
III birmingham, or the still cooler shade OF
the nne old trees, lends a Zcst 10 the
enjoyment, and that the change out OF London, in
TINS ever-not weather. IL not the least pleasant OF
the other pleasant accessories OF the feast, Talking
nght laughter and joking are heard on every
sde. Everybody knows more or less OF everybody.
NO Iady OF doubtful, or rather OF not doubtful repu
talon finds her way into these grounds. No person
can enter unless introduced by member, and In
slant expulsion from the club would ne only the
least punishment which he would have To undergo
VINO introduced any woman that was not m every
possible way correct. Nor Is there anything obcc.
uonabe In the way OF drinking az these uncheOns.
Heavy drinking, as rule, has long ago gone out in
England, and least or ali could men who intend TO
shoot indulge IN strong liquors before dong So
Champagne cup, caret ditto the mixture Called
"Budmington," and other cool, but not heady
"drlnks," aredhe order OF the day.
SPORT
Luncheon from first to last takes up perhaps an
hour, and then the business of the day begins. The
ladies resume their seats In that immense semi
circle Of chairs, little behind the shooters The lat
ter are ranged IN two or threes behind the traps,
nom which the pigeons fly when the said traps are
open, But, strange 10 say amidst all this meeting
OF the upper ten, professional betting men, those
who II mistake NOT are In America called sports
men" are admitted. little distance or from the
shooters there is place set aside for the betting
ring, who are there as loud as ever shouting the
odds and dong their best 60 make money one from
another by betting ''gun against blrd,n or
the reverse, all the day long Still more
curious is the fact that these vugarIans-for vulgar
United into the grounds OF birmingham by paying
for the same. They may not NIX with the goOdiy
call for the cool drinks They are there solely and
wholly to make money. II an arisIocratic shooter
want to lay, or to take The ODDS, to md out what
the odds are, ne goes TO the corner where the
betting men are herded together like many
fccted animals and gets what he wants, just as he
would go to his bootmaker or tailor II he wanted
pair OF boots or coat. But beyond this no inter-
course whatever takes place between the crowd of
lords and gentlemen and the 'ring.n Why the latter
should be admitted at all exceeds my comprehen-
SON. confess.
LORDS AND COMMONS
Vn-flQ IL Gnt h.ln nfahh no uynn
twelve members oil the House OF Peers ana as many
Of the House OF Commons. Each one shooting has
SIX pigeons to ire at. These Dut, time,
In trap--the latter being 100 yards from the
shooter. When the shooter Is ready the string IL
el ' 3aa aR opens ms hna up ines i% the pgeSn and
good; II he falls outside OF that he Is not counted
shot.
or course an immense number OF badly wounded
birds 40 fall, both within and without the ring. For
one pigeon killed outright III least hair dozen are
lett to die in agony on the ground, where they are
often lett for hours. This 1t is that constitutes
the cruelty Of the sport, and which makes 1t
dinicult to say how amy civilized man, to say no.
SIT and enjoy the sight OF so much suffering. And
most curious OF all ~ This IN England-in England,
where we preach against the barbarity OF Spanish
bull fights and have society for the prevention of
cruelty TO ANIMALS, which we support ut an enor-
nous cost by public subscription. But the fashion,
able ladies' at birmingham seem utterly to ignore this
part OF the proceeding. have seen at least score
OF birds lying nutLering in mortal agony on the
grass at one ana the same time. Rlit, notwithstand
Ing tins, you would imagine, TO look ut hear the
ladies' present that nothing Whatever oul OF the way
was going on.
The shooting at birmingham Oh great days (Which
occur about twice II week during the London SEASON.
lasts from about three T.. NJ. 10 SIX p. NJ, even
Iatcr. me grounds are open every day, and many
quiet little luncheon and even dinner parties are
frequently formed by members to go there out of
the crowd and heat OF London. But on such
slons US there are great shooting matches 10 come
of general scurry from the place takes place about
six p. NJ, Tor 1t Is then time To return to London
anu dress lOf Gunner party, WHICH Is 10 he IOl-
lowed by the opera, which Is to be followed by the
evening party az Lady Thlss house. ana the latter to
he again followed 10y the ball al Lady That's resi-
dence, and 80 on until five O'Clock next morn
ing. There Is no slave IN all The world hall so
don season. How, In the name OF all that is won
derful, tue delicate women We meet IN Society do
.nrSS " pr me ssy an e ,ner
with the exception OF Sundays. she had
| 90 so at an earlier hour for the next ten days.
Surely such work must undermine the strongest OF
constitutions. 1t Il lucky that the season only
| lasts three months. otherwise the pace would xiii
hall our young and all our not very Young women
| belonging to the upper ranks of society
| ROYALTY FROM AsCoT-wHAT IT COSTS.
The Ascot week Is now over. About an hour age
| saw the Prince and Princess OF Wales returning
from then annual soOurn In the neighbOrhuOd OF the
course. what curious customs the English court has
Here Is the heir 10 the British throne, who, accord
ng 70 custom goes every year 60 1--WE near Ascot
bly, during that time. For Tins purpose he always
hires furnished house liz the Vicinity and he re-
quircs large house IL not every one
| that WIN do Tor him. 1nis year, at
| an expense Of e1,O0O sterling for the week,
| he rented a honse called Cooper's Hill Hail.
the property OF Mr.. Albert Grant OF financial ceebri-
ty And YET the magnificent castle OF windsor per.
fectly furnished and utterly empty The Queen being
| In Scotland, Is within mile OF this house. | must
say 1t seems hard upon the Prince that her Majesty
puts him 10 these very unnecessary expenses. A
still more curious fact Is that among the plate at
Windsor there Is magnificent silver gilt set, made
for George w. when he was Prince OF Wales. ii was
paid FOR by the nation, cost close upon quarter
million sterling, aud has the crest OF the Prince
Wales upon IL, 1t has been used since George
". became king In 1920, and yet the Queen
has again and again refused to allow It
10 be given to the present Prince Of Wales. Some
how or other George Nv. wiled il To the CROWN for
there was no Prince OF Wales after he became King
and the Queen VIII not part with IL to her son--nOt
even to allow him TO IL. The consequence that
the Prince had some years ago to procure full set
OF plate for himself at a cost OF some ESQ, 900.
DRESS STYLE
As regards fashions I'm dresses I have nothing TO
record this week. New fashions there are or at least
novelties, In plenty. But London Is full the heal
so great ana every one Is so very busy that really
have not time 10 look up my inf0rmants upon this
subject.
On Friday next her Majesty gives grand break
fast at Windsor.