, 1875-07-04

qas and difienA tssk. For one Thing, Fhne the
reai6etlcas Of the wealthy classes have 1nigrpted
westward, the theatres have remained stations
arE, and to visit them implies . journey OF aeg-
eral miles. Them It requires an early dinner,
whtc1, good society hates. For dinner, O'clock
is barely respectable, o'clock ordinary, o'clock
fashionable. The theatre opens ut + md
half past T., ths opers alone being set
st kalf-paat 8, to accommodate the upper
ten. In the next place, numerous
~ Rre, the theatres, they 'afs dshelent IN
accommodation. Lately it has become hard to
ret oven standing-room in the best of them
Under these circumstances the subject of home
enjoyment las received increasing attention.
Somehow, London seems to have got tired Of
dancing. When the Shah was here, no remark
he made was more relishcd than his question to
the Prince Of Wales while the dancswas going
on, "Why do you not employ ypug servants to
do this for you T" The pe1epiring PRINCE could
hardly explain, hut society Seams inclined to
relegate dancing to the: corps de- ballet. This
has been especially the case thus season when
the new fashionable, skirta have gene to an ex-
treme from the liberation Of the ballet. A lady
was recently heard to say. with sigh. :" What
with being tied around above and tied around
deWe 1e1Da for Athr three mouths. pom s1 Waen large @
ball Is gwen there is az apology for dancing. a
few mincing stops arc taken, bpt presently the
company falls to admiring each others dresses,
aud It all ends in music aad talk. Dancing bids
fair to BECOME q survival" 90 the antiqnsrianss
say. Even apart from any other entertainment
the great evolutions which have taken place in
drees make tue English drnwlng-room far more
attractive than it formerly WAS. The room Itself
1ss become more beautiful and less haring.
Cnobtrnslre, quiet walls aud stuffe rich, but OF
AZ 1uz1 ulu fnn
the superb and artistic raiment in which ladies
are now habitea. ] feel quite sure the English
ladies are NOT only ulpipg out tho old stigma
upon their taste in dress, but will ere long
be noted 'as the best-dreesed people in Eu-
rope. But, to return to the matter OF enter
tainments. I have already informed ron that
fancy dress-balis have been all the rage this saa-
SOD. The beautiful entertainment given by the
norgAtons las inspired several others, the most
notable OF which was given few evenings ago
by some artists, who for the purpose took tile
Free Masons' Hall. Tables qx nyants, too, have
been favored in some societie In one case all
tho sceues were from Shakespeare; in another all
from Walter Scott. PriYste theatricals have
been very numerous, generally OF . spectacular
kind. A little classical spectacle OF humorous
character. written by D,sraei "Ixion in Heay-
en- the main feature OF which is Ixion's firta-
tions with Juno, has been several times given.
The ladies and gentlemen showed their
artistic enthusiasm in one instance by fol-
lowing literally the rather audacious direc-
tions of the distinguished Mbrettst in de-
fanca Of Mr.. ,Gruudy, whose monarchy is
becoming limited. Some ladies' Of fashion iHsne
cards for . seIics OF soireea, at which musical
artists perform With piano sud violin from Q to
half-past 10, the remaining being conrersaaone
Some OF the most entertaining novelties in the
wav Of social enjoyment have been afforded By
various societies Of gentlemen and ladies' for
special objects Of study OF art. The neY Abe
marie Club for both sexes which hes just ip-
aueurated itself in 6ne building on Albemar1e
street Opposite tha Royal Instltntlonl. has been
really anticipated for some time BY private clubs
IN which ladles and gentlemen bring together
original pictures and literary sketches on some
subject chosen bv ballot. We now have Anglo
Indian, Scandinavian, Rationalistic, Shakspear-
ian and other SOCIETIES, whose gatherings are
intellectual and delightful.