New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-02

k;nd-Baptist Methodist, Presbyterian Congre-
rational or Roman Catholic-and more of these in
some districts than in others; but all such
| are STYLED "chapels," and by Episcopalians
Oft ] am sorry to add, contemptuously. All secular
parochal affairs, as the roads and fixing the rates
for them, care of the poor, sanitary matters and
the like formerly in the hands of the parish
church authoritles-church wardens and vestry.
But some of these are now reegated to district
Boards" comprising several parishes, to which
each sends an elected representative. As life In a
rural parish with its various classes characters
and callings, is cpome of that of the country at
large will now proceed TO give account of it, be-
ginning with him who stands on the topmost round
of the social ladder, the Squire. And first | would
ask your readers to disaSociate this title from that
of Justice of the Peace: which. if mistake not
is its ordinary meaning on your side of the ATTAIN
tic. The English Squire may he, and almost invar
able is Peace Justice but that has nothing to do
with his being called Squire" The title has no
official Specification, and is solely of courtesy
For all. it is neither borne nor bestowed lndserim-
inately and Squires far from being plenty as
hlackberries Again, distinction must be made be-
tween those who by right of birth may legally
affx the title Esquire to their names, as the
sons of certain classes of nOblemen with Others
whose profession gives them such right, officers
in the Army and Navy barrIsters and physicians
and the real Country Squire" as he is socially
known the Squire of the parish" Theoretically
there is one i'll every parish. though there are
Squireless parishes III remote districts undesirable
for the residence of gentry; not many, however
But parish with two Squres were rs a ship with
two captains, or regiment with two colcuels, ana
where such nOminay exist, as is sometimes the
case, enc or other Of them must be usurpcr.
The Squire of the parish is usually its largest land
md IF Lineage
duccd circumstances. and other gentry resident in
it may own more acres and he much weathicr than
he still the title is hereditary and among these there
if tacit understanding with frank concession as TO
who has the right to bear H. Generally the Squire IS
lord of the manor" which gives him certain rights
termed manorial those relating to " commons"
if there be any in the parish, copy holdtenures,
ownership of The game, etc. But neither have these
ancient privileges aught to do with his being called
Squire: and alc merely attachments TO the property
he may possess suppOsing it invested with manonal
rights
Ii scarce needs telling, that the harl-drinking.
foxhnning Squire of the novels and stage dramas Is
no longer in existence. or if here and there such
character be found, he is exceptional and i'll most
cases a counterfeit assumption. 50 far from beng
sucL the English country Squire OF modern type and
times is man Of education and refinement III |
most instances graduate of one of the two great !
Universities Oxford and Cambridge, or alumnus |
Of one of the four or five fashionable high schools
And in his home will be books of the best with |
magazines and ncwspapcrs-Oftcn periodicals of the |
highest literary and scientific character. lie may
hunt or he may MOTHS sOns always do, and some
times also lis daughers-but he has no special pre- |
dlection for the chase any than others of bis
neighbors who have the means and leisure to in |
dulge III it, The parish Squire is sometimes titled !
nobleman: but as titles of nobility are scarce and
parishes mutitudinous in the plurality of cases lie
is commOner." Not the less, however, is he of |
highest social rank many cOmmOneTs holding their |
heads a. high as who bear titles and even !
higher. For, though themselves untitled, they may |
be the sons brothers, cousins other kin to
those who are.
The Squire Of average wealth dwells in hand
some house. mansion with park and parklike |
lands surrounding, and mantaus rctiuuo II ser
wants in and out of livery The orthodox number
in the male line would be a butler, footman, coach
man and groom, with one or two "stable-hclpers,"
while Of the other sex there are a hOusekceper
lady's maid, house and parlOTmaids, with cook and
staff of subOIdnates in tie kitchen. Outside there
are the galnekeeper and his watchers, with the
head gardener and his uhderngs-all these nde-
pendent of farm and other labOrers employed upon
the premises
There are Squires' establishments with double. or
than double, the above strength in the way of
servants; where the butler is styled house stew,
ard,' with "under footmen," second coachmen."
under keepers" second gardeners" and like
graduation of rank, with increase in the number of
female domestics. And there others where only
a cOachman and groom kept; the latter by a
doubling of metier occasionally acting footman,
with the women servants prOpOrtionatcly few.
Still it is a Squire's establishment, and, however
small, takes rank socially with the grandest.
The Squire is staunch supporter of State and
Church. and regular in bis attendance at the latter
both himself and his family by way of setting good
example. inside the sacred precincts his pew is the
conspicuous one; by SIZE situation and better fur
ntuTe distinguished from all tho Others. 1T is
known as the "SquIre's pew" and III all country
churches where the iconocastic hand of the reno
vator has not introduced changes there is sure to
be such. Double it is curtained and comfortably
cushioned while placed in the best position for
hearing. Seeing is deemed of less consequence
since sometimes the curtains kept close drawn
to hinder curious eyes from peenng into it. There
country churches III which the Squircs pew is
apart from the Others, elevated above them, and
curtained like private box in the opera, like this
also furnished with couch and easy chairs. even
know of some nearly as large ordinary sized
with ante-chamber at the back pro-
vided with a looking glass, while in the pew itself
is table, with paper, pens and ink in short, all
the parapheTnaa needed for letter writing Nor
are these things there for idle show, but actual
service; theOwners and occupers of these sanctfed
studios using them to arrears of correspond
ence while the parsOn is pressing away in the pulpit
TRYING TO ENJOIN CATHERINE LEVIS.
III, |