The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-19
FashiOnakle Life In London.

Society in London seems regulated by
much the same rules as those OF New
York or Washington, though in uppers
tendon there is, of course. little more
formality. A ball at the Duke OF
WellinQton's is a very imposing affair.
but Lady Maria Brown or MRS. Colonel
Jones gives balls with no more ceremo-
ny than Mrs. Smith or Robinson OF New
York.
A days social routine may include q
lunch, flower show or garden party, q
drive in the park, a dinner, the opera,
and ball, all of which an American
could attend observing precisely the
same formalities and mode of etiquette
as at home, except in the matter Of
dress, for it is quite necessary TO 60 zen
grande toilette" both to dinner and the
opera, though the former consist only oil
| half dozen courses, and your seats in
the latter be orchestra stalls.
There are, of course, other social
| amusements, weekly receptions, Kettle.
drums and morning concerts, the latter
being quite a novelty to us Americans,
they are managed in this way: Herr
Won A or Mademoiselle De B.,
professional performers, wish to give
morning concert under distinguished
patronage; so Lady A, or lends her
drawing-room, while the artist conducts
and manages the affair.
| These concerts are extremely fashion,
able, but the music is generally medi-
| ocre in quality, by no means equal to the
public musical entertainments Of which
London may well be proud. As soon as
the season sets in the s'floWer shows"
and later Saturday concerts are gwen at
the Horticultural Gardens. The Car
dens look like the fairest portion of the
Central Park grown half century older,
and the display of flowers. is magnih.
cent.
You go about four O'Clock, when tho
gardens present fine air OF testivity
and fashion-cards are only issued
among the friends Of the "Fellows," 50
that the aristocracy are well represent
ed; Godfrey and band perform; people
walk about at will on the velvety greens
sward, sit under the trees, or on the
porches of the conservatories.
Out OF doors with this floral back
ground, against the deep green grass,
and above all under the softening influ-
ence of June sunshine, the English Co.'S
tunes, elsewhere 80 regardless OF har-
mony and taste, look almost pretty, at
least picturesque and airy, for they are
chiefly of gossanler FABRIC
Ii Lady Jane wears red ribbon in her
hat aud blue scarf, and Lady M larry
protects herself against the impending
chill OF the evening by putting velvet
sack over a white organdie, there is the
advantage OF standing near tri-colored
parterre of flowers, tall, pink azalIas,
yellow roses, and white rhododendfon
blossoms, 80 that alter all they come as
one of the varIegated s'etfecIs."
The band plays all through the sum
shiny summer afternoon. You saunter
about until tive OF six O'Clock, when you
60 out through corridor of tue adjacent
Albert Hall to your carriage. Hyde
! Park is directly opposite, ana this is the
best hour for drive.
The Park is by no means elaborate.
but it has the fine look of age and cull
ture, which is the chief charm Of London
parks, and beyond there is cool deep
green OF the old Kensington Gardens.
1t is SO eminently English, this drive; SO
purely tashiOnable; yet it has its own
peculiar charm, which 1 own Is rather
hard to define except as a part Of the So
cial routine of the day.
You drive on past the crowds OF young
men who lean over the railings to see
their friends; you pass landaus with
stout fiurid mammas and slim young
daughters of hundred earls, in impossi-
bic costumes; an air of somewhat indo-
lent grace, the one distinctive mark Of
their nobility; and you are in time to SEED
royalty returning from days luxuris
GUS labor to Marlborough House.-Tha
Galaxy for August.
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