The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-10
LONDON SOCIETY.
British Matrons Try to Emulate the
GlOrleS of Holland House.
POLITICAL SALONS.
Fair Disciples of BrIat Sayarin Don
the Cooks Apron
LONDON. Oct. 30. 1879.

LONDON Oct 80 1879
Holland House is thing of the past, Lady
PLmerston who did much to hold together the
party to which her husband belonged. has been
gathered to her rest and the death of the Countess
of waldegrave has extiuguished the gayety Straw
berry Hal. may be said. indeed that the salon.
considered power in political life. is almost ex-
tinct among U.S. but nevertheless the influence of
woman makes itself felt among those who
sway Cabinets. and it may be said without exaggera-
ton that it is distinct disadvantage the liberal
party that the Marquis of Harrington is not q mar
ried man. For when the leader of a politi-
cal party has q clever wife who knows how to
make the admissions to her entertainments. as il
were. the blue rband of society. she do great
deal forward his interests Her smiles are indeed
much more likely to win votes than the eloquencs
OF her lord. and manya wavering adherent has been
won over by judicious invitation to a dinner OF
ball, while new recruits sometimes gained
by the same means 1t Is not complimentary to the
House OF Commons. but 1t is nevertheless true that
year by year there more men within its walls
who obtained seats at St. Stephen mainly with
view social advancement. Such men, who
usually parvenu milionnares. have ambitious wives
and marriageable daughters. and with fine dis
elimination to political matters. not always
guided by the purest patriotism. these ladies'
to be in favor of that political
party which promises them the best chsnces OF
entree into society. True. they obtain ad-
mission into the Ue inme Of the great houses whose
drawing rooms they throng on the occasion OF big
entertainments; but. sprung from nothing. they
content with little and the aspiring member Of
Parliament has very often to vote the ladies Of
his family desire. Here. then. see that although
women in this country denied the franchise.
they assuredy exercise great deal of influence
in political matters. It is the same in the country
in the he hOu of ha raat ma ate oS
the county the goal OF the ambitious professional
men and others for many miles round it, and
knows better than the wife OF
q country gentleman with political aspirations.
. nobleman who desires to serve his party. how
much she can do in the months preceding general
election by the judicious issue of invitations. It
docs-not matter if they moro after the cleo
ton is over. and readers of rhackeray will remem-
per the laments OF Major Ponto in the Book Of
Snobs'' over the cruel treatment he received from
the political maanate in his neighborhood when the
contest for the county was ended and he hadopenly
grated" to oblige his wife and daughters.
AUruASAL ENTERTAINMENTS.
This autumn there will be great deal Of this
political entertaining going on general election
is not, perhaps. imminent some of the radi-
cal papers would make believe. and indeed.
I learn from authoritative sources that it Is
not likely to happen till next year. but nevertheless
is the tie to the way for success, TO exer
else such influence as you may happen 70 possess in
the county, and to conciliate of opposite
opinions in politics by discriminating invitations
to themselves their wives and families, Here, then.
the chdtsLaine OF country house can show herself
better eiectoneering agent than the sharpest attor
ney and the sight of the Duchss of Omnium's
card will 60 more win adherents than the most
logical aud convincing arguments ,shch the Dukes
candidate can put forward. Fine Words. says an
proverb "butter parsnips-- but the practical
| benevolence OF invitation a great house is
remembered with gratitude when the time comes to
| assemble ut the ballot boxes and perform those
roneously supposed to be dearer to the bucolio
Briton than beer "They dine their men more than
we do" says . character in one of Lord Beacons-
fields novels. commenting on the success OF politi
above ali men understands the value of cultivatng
society and using great houses for political purposes
He has been credited of old with an amiable weak
ness tor dukes, and that he is member of that
which often gets the oyster and leaves the
commoner the shells. he is still less likely to under
rate the social power which he and his associates
possexs factors in the coming political campaign.
Thus it happens that You hear q great deal now Of
and the like. and many people will keep open houses
solely for the furtheranee OF political aims Bribery
corruption in the old sense OF the words it
may safely be said. pretty nearly extinct among
nowadays, and voters not bought in these times
every man had his price. But the sort OF corrup-
tiou-if. indeed, 1t deserves hard q name-of
kind words aud gracious smiles much more
potent than pounds, shillings aud pence.
Society has of much exercised in its
mind on the subject OF cookery. First we had the
establishment of the School OF Cookery, which, like
every thing else at South kensington, accom-
panied by much more noise and puffery than honest
work For of South Kensington it may assuredly
be- said, parody the words Of the Latin proverb,
.Nu teti0it quad rit,arit," and the School OF
Cookery was no exception to the rule. Lectures
were delivered, and pates and omelettes made
before delighted audiences of fine ladies' who pos
sibly learned something, but who regarded tho
whole thing AS an addition to their list Of
nmusements, aud Mr.. Buckmaster showed them
how to play at cooking so prettily that
1t became formidable rival to Princes and Hurting.
han, han he %
ia the culinary art. sent them to teach
classes In the country at higher price than they
received from the school. that omniverous institu-
ton pockcting the difference. Yet 1t may be con-
coded establishment of the school of cookery
did some good though did not teach in very sat
isatory fashion. for it called public attention to
our shortcomings in this respect. aud the British
ner, began ask himself whether he we'll fed
AZ he ought to be. Tho British matron there
and appetzing foreign dishes. The menus
OF famous French houses studied
waxed furious because it was not possible in his
modest estabiishmen albeit he paid "professed
cook very 9gn WAGES, 20 proanee ds tina, woa,a
glais. In many cases the skill to do great things
present. but the baerie dc cuisine found to be
painfully detective And. apropos OF such dis
covery. here is q little te:-Once upon time.
years ago. His Royal Highncss the Prince of
Wales went to dine with MIR. Gladstone. who. il re-
momber rightly. in those days Prime Minister.
and who ut all events, resided near to Lord Gran
Vile. Carlton House Terrace. 1.-THE Peoples
7 William" was, OF course, most anxious to provide
hitting fare for his distinguished guest. and.
feeling that his cook might not be quito
equal to tho cxigencics of the situation he borrowed
Lord aranves chef for the occasion. feeling safe in
the hands OF q mau who cooked for so noted
gourmet Ms His Lordship. There Is no need to say
anything about the banquet. but Lord Granville.
being curious to his cooks experiences OF tho
Gladstonian kitchen. asked him how he got on.
ma fo said the professor, Struggling his should
ers. what could dor There were not enough sauce
pans
''rHE DocroR IN THE KITCHEN.
The mania for cookery which still exists IN iasn'
ionable society has of late received an additions I'M
petus from q series of papers by Mr.. Ernest
| Hart in the Brush Medical Journal, in whlch,
undca the title of Tho Doctor IN tne
Kitchen he gave US some very good advice Us 10
the dietetic value of certain kinds OF 1000, anu
! showed us what TO eat drink ana avoid such
warnings were certainly needed for AS rule society
| Certainly oyercats itself Dinners are far too ciab-
orats ana far too long aud though Sir Henry Thomp-
-. L. anninent snrroon who has also lifted up his