Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-07
English Country Life.

Correspondence of the San Francisco News Letter l My host was wealthy baronet, MT. P, proprietor of several large estates in various counties Last year he entertained me near Tunbridge, in Kent famous for it's springs, of which you will read so long ago as when I the Romans invaded Briton. This year it 1 was in lovely historic Warwickshre, teeming l with objects of interest to the scholar and admirers of nature beautifed by the art and l labor of centuries. TLe guests were notified 1 and to leave on Friday The old baronial 1 mansion is distant two miles from the rail way station, where we found carriages await ing. On arriving the host and hostess I greeted us at the door veEE cordially, and led the way to a large reception room where tea was served in the Russian mode, and we were told that the dinner hour Is o'clock. There 45 suits of apartments on the sec ond and third floors, and the very courteous housekeeper escorted us in turn to those signed. Promptly at the designated hour all assembled in the drawing rooms, and without special introduction treat each other as &C., quaintances. Such is the Freemasonry of English society.
 When the butler opens the doors the host assigns the gentlemen to the ladies, who walk
 arm m-in-arm into the banquet hal. Behind
 each guest stands serving man, silent as
 mummy, in brave livery of gold and scarlet
 or purple, pun. with large silver buckles,
 silk stockings and garters, powdered hair
 The dinner is of ten or twelve courses, wi h
 appropriate wines. All is social and chatty
 for an hour and half, when the ladies rise
 and retire to the drawing rooms. The gem
 tlemen are then served with the stronger
 wines, and after an hour or o join the ladies
 in music. cards conversation. Tea and
 bonbons are served. At II o'clock the ladies
 go to their apartments, and the gentlemen, if
 inclined to cosy or the housekeepers sit
 t1ng-room, wh re they smoke and have grog
 hi .A
 times happens that gentlemen are tardy at
 the breakfast table. There is no fixed hour
 for the morning repast-from to 10-and
 no servants stop about the breakfast-room,
 the gentlemen serving themselves and ladies, 1n most part from the sideboards. The ariS- tocracy and middle classes do not eat much at their first meal-eggs, toast, mullins, cold meats, pastrys and tea, rarely coffee. That over with it is liberty hall. Each diverts as inclined Firstly. there is reading and an- swering letters; the London magazines and various reviews of the day the library, picture gallery hothouses and stables. The gentlemen generally go shoot ing m the preserves, where the peasants beat up the game-partridges, pheasants, hares, rabbits, etc.-and they stand in the opening, killing without much skill in marksmanship If they stay after two o'clock, the servants bring luncheon, or they return to the man. sion and join the ladies who have not gone eAAsthS ol AorseDdch- r1QlnR at very gener- ous lunch Our upper class English cousins are famous trenchermen, and astonish you at the races and picnics with their prowess at eating and drinking
 The guests conduct themselves as if at home, without restraint or ceremony; the host and hostess never intrude or worry leaving you in perfect freedom to your hu- nor. Everybody is supposed to know the best how to enjoy himself Acquaintances formed thus are like those of the ball room and do not warrant their renewal; of course friendships and intimacies often come of them. During the day all are ln plain dress, to be laid aside at the sacrament-the dinner hour With small variations, each day is but the repeti- tlon of the preceding's occupation, and to those not to the manor born somewhat mo- notonous. Charades, impromptu tableaux, readings, etc., help to pass away the even- ings. On Friday afternoon the guests hie away to their homes for 8 few days rest be- fore renewing at another country house the same diversions. In old times 1t was the custom to fee literally the servants on leav- ing, and impecunious guests of wit and celeb rity were sometimes furnished by their hosts with money for that use. But that is past like many of the olden fashions of merry England, and guinea or two handed to the butler for distribution suffiees.
 Campbell's mill near Yoluntown, owned by Mrs. Charles Farnum, of Hartford was burned the other day; insured for $2,0O0.
 The city marshal of Manchester, N H. to Superintendent Davidson Tuesday that John Doherty, the deaf mute who was killed by the ears at Hartford on Monday, had no friends in that city as was Hartford gave the femains Christian burial,
 s