The Portland daily press., 1874-05-15
'ERMs $500 PER ANNUMIN ADVANCE

demi-monde. Married society in London is
not severe and faultless enough TO throw
many stones in the direction of their houses.
"a uisIingulshed lady, the other day, gave
unper .er party to young beauty.~whose rela-
t'ons WIN her lord are generally believed 10
pe le:al'y incomplete, and in reply to an ex
preston OF astonishment, said Il have been
tIa, ,'1E receiving Lord A., Sir =. c., &C.,
marr;.,,o mase We naIoiy the face to demand the
e certlficates OF my guests.''
N EAAMPLE WORTHY TO BE FREELY
mi AiED.-Ihe Christidn Union saws that
II anything can make the fine ART of can,a,aa-
tlon common possession among cnItivatsa
Americans it is likely TO be the jnstitn ;on
among us of some such social assemblaoes ~
those which Miss Mary Booth, the historian
and journalist, and her devoted CO. worker,
Mrs. Wright, have maintained at their house
in Madison avenue, i'm that city, during the
last winter, and which, in fact have been the
unique events OF the season in literary and
artistic circles. The plan of these assem-
blages differs in enc particular from tlat Of
the ordinary conventional GATHERINGS of lash
ionabe people. The fundamental principle
OF the litter is TO sacrifice socabity TO show.
The fundamental principle of the former is to
sacrifice show to sociability. Accordingly. in
all such matters as invitations, dress, coming
and gong. and what with genuine Anglican
grossness we call ''entertainment," the ut
most simplicity is practised. Miss Booth,
and Mrs. Wright simply notified their friends
early in the winter that their parlors would
be open Tor them on Saturday evenings; and
as their hiends include large numbes of the
artists and literary people in the city il has
happened that fol long succession VI Satur-
day evenings cultivated men aud women
have accepted the privilege Of meet
ing, each other there, in the easiest
and most informal manner, without the an
guish OF elaborate dressing, and with the
opportunity of mutual discourse on rational
topics. Indeed, Mrs Croly, who is final au-
thority in this province, his pronounced
these receptions at the house of the two
hlends successful attempt to supply the
great social want that has been felt in New
York since the death of the two sisters Alice
aud Phoebe Cary, ''cIosed the Que house
where congenial spirits, irrespective OF other
qualifications. always found welcome" 1t
is surprising, remarks the Union, how bnng-
ling we Anglo-Saxons are 10 the organiza-
ton OF our social life. and especially how stu
pldly we go on yea by year, submitting TO
conditions which are of our own making,
and are death to all rational enjoyment for
people like ourselves; and it S real freedom
Of the city which Mss Booth has bestowed
on good many New Yorkers durlug the
past winter. Grace, cordiality and unaffect-
ed hospitality have presided at her assem-
blages; mere for nalitles have been banished;
people OF culture have really met each other
under conditions which did not forbid the
presence of wit, good humor ana good sense.
Indeed, if such reunions become general in
this country, the art of conversation, in the
French sense of the phrase, may some dey
come over TO America,