, 1877-08-19
EUROPEAN GOSSIP.
The Excessive Cost of Hospitality IN
the British Capital.
i Lost life-.Bardtped with Bric.a.Brac-~Tho Real
Queen Of Holland,

EuSk llao"''D4iutHtA MIN DtbI'a'plaor'~1ho 4s'
Queen Of Holland,
ENGLISH GARDEN~PARTIES,
TaiteaaA Reet<u (Loadoo>.
The formation of club such as "Thc u
leans" is nuother healthy sign OF the cravin
for those outdoor a1nusemcnts and exercise
which have now become Indispensable to Englls
men and women. There vas timc--and tha
not very long ago-when garden parties durin!
the London season were phenomenal In til
programme OF our amusemcnts. With the CT
ccption of the Duke OF Rutland's house at Cam
den Hill the Duke Of Argyll's villa in tho san,
ncighborlood, and the wcn-known spaciou
grounds Of Holland House, there WAS hardl
any place, within easy reach Of town, wher
afternoon parties In the open air could we'll b
given The first person who attempted to brin(
garden parties into vogue was Lady Holland
| and the four or five entertainments OF the KNIT
which she generally gave about the cud OF tht
season were invariably immensc successes
| years ago, he was asked to one OF these par
ties. It was lovely afternoon In the mid
| die Of July. and the grounds at HOLLAND
House looked as only we'll kept English grounde
OF 1000 persons, including several members ol
the Royal family, present on the occasion; but
the spacious lawn and gardens at kenstngtol
| looked rs If they could contain ten times as
many, and yet not be anything like full. His
fiighness was greatly struck by the scene, aud
five or six years afterwar1 asked 4 gentleman
who went to sec him ut Cairo how 1t was that
the English "sor1d' did not prefer parties
gwen IN the open air to the close, oTorheated,
and crowded assemblies in small drawine rooms.
The garden party at Holland House and
another one OF like nature given ut Chiswick By
his Royal Highness, the Prince Of Wales, were,
said the Khediyc, the only entertainments he
had enjoyed In London. tor rhe simple reason
ttnt they were the only oues where be could
breathe freely. Since that time garden parties
have become more common; and that people
will 60 far to enjoy them is evident from the
fact that none arc better attended than those
given i'll the season by Lady Burlett-Coutts at
Holly Lodge, on the heights OF Rishgate.
London to possess grounds in which garden par
ties can be given. Hence the reason Why Hurl-
ingham and "Thc Orleans have become insti-
tutions Of London life. Probably we shall see
these places Of entertainment multiplied every
year. They are to villas where garden parties
eau be given much the same that clubs are to
private dwellings. Just as he can afford to en-
tertain every one he knows must be rich indeed,
So those who can invite all their friends to
private party must be exceptionally wealthy;
and as the institution Of CLUBS is q blessing to
men Of moderate means, so establishments like
Orleans House must be great boon to those of
botn sexes who wish to see their friends without
any great expenditure OF money. There is only
one enemy which the members of the Orleans
Club will have to fear, and that is our English
climate. But even in this important respect
those who have joined the new club at Twicke,l-
ham have u great advantage over the members
OF any institution OF the kind which has yet
been initiated. The rooms OF the new club
are not only numerous, but spacious and lofty,
and afford refuge from sudden showerfor some
500 or QUO persons. Our English summer has
worse name than 1t deserves; when tho sun
shines and the sky Is blue there is no country in
the world where outdoor amuscments are SO
ENJOYABLE as they ure with us. Croauet has had
its day, and has been succeeded bv the more
active game OF la.n-tcnnis Archery is not
much ii vogue, Badninton having filed the
place it left vacant, But on fuc day, merely I
to sauut er On the lawn which slones Gown from
Orleans House to the river is OF itself a rare
pleasure to many. Like the privileged incIos-
urc Of Goodwood ladies have ample space to
DISPLAY their dresses, and given DRY dav and d
piece II well-cut smooth grass, trains OF almost
any length may be worn without fear OF Icing
t~olden upou. Then there is the satisfaction