, 1877-08-19
LONDON HOSPITALITY.
Fntffu I}ffr fEn1dbnt
ENGLISH GARDEN-PART1ES,

The excessive cost at every form Of hospitality
in London Is subject which has of late more
and more bitterly occupied the attention of all
those who are competent to play the part of
host and hostess. Tncso include necessarily all
who wish to move at all in society, and who in
hnbit house Of certain size. Society is we'll
aware Of the necessity that its members should
meet together from time to time. and while It
charitaby expects nothing from those vino arc
not rich enough or well-housed enough to offer
more, 1t Goes expect that those who Tan should
give 1t the opportunity Of meeting in their
houses; and, if any such should fail to do their
duty in this respect, is the fact rcscnt ted and
punished as society knows hows Now
this obligation should he, and in ITSELF is, as
light as possible. The principal element in
party OF any kind is provided by the guests, and
il space, light. and i cordial reception are fur
n!shed to these, the whole Of the necessary pro-
vision has been made As Z fact, this is the
case in all other capitals than London: aud in
Paris IN Vienna: and Berlin, candles, coffee, and
ices represent the whole outlay required for a
social meeting, with the addition only Of little
music when it is i matter Of dancing. But
things are very different in London. Herc our
hosts and hostesscs hare held it necessary to
compete in the costliness Of their entertain
meats as well as in the "desirability" of their
He'd that 1t Is nov all but impossible for any
body having less than ten Thousand a wear to
give any party, still less any ball, that will not
be looked upon with contempt,
We have been at some trouble to ascertain
the exact cost Of London party of the better
Kind recognized by society, and 1t will be seen
that the sum is one Of considerable amount in
I'll cases. The entertainments referred to all
took place during this present. season, and the
figures represent the actual sums paid, An
evening party ut one of The great houses in
which the hostess is Of high rank, aud which
was attended BY some 400 quests, cost rs fol-
lows: Kitchen department, e140 IS. Sd; fruit,
E40-91S0 5: 3d.; wine, eo7 los. mineral water,
e. 1os.-e: oil, t4; candies, El3; gas and
men, .7-@; hire Of glass and china, s.;
hire OF chairs, s3 $50 2s.; extra cooks
J.: r. ga extra a,rnsn,slt WATERS 10 e.; oR police, IS
band, SO: sundr1es--ale, 50 los;
concert At one Of the best Of what may be
called the ordinary party-giving houses in Lon
don cost as follows-tbe Singers being Albani,
Thalberg, caroul, and dro others, and the
guests being about $50 In number: Singers and
conductor, 9400; supper, including hire OF
everything necessary, el56; wine, etc, G45: to-
tai. I60l. 4 ball at one OF the great "fhouses,"
with 6oo guests present. cost as follows; Kitch-
IN department, e157 1es; wine, se3 IS: eItra
walters and cooks, es5 l5s: candles, s14 IS: o;l
81 l9s I'd; gas, 81 IS; flowers, Gl2O; bnnd. e41'
l5sr police, 50, hire Of CHAIRS 90; sundries. eli
-E4E9c Is I'd. a ball at one Of the best ordinary
1ouseS: with $40 guest cost as follows: Supper.
Including the hire Of everything e225r wine, etc.
S7,; music. say el5; decorations, e3Q0-e6l5.
IL will be observed that the cost Of the enter
ailments at the great ''house" is considerably
ees III proportion than 1T the ordinary house.