New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-29
LONDON GOSSIP.
AN ENGLIsHMANs NOTES ON ENGLISH
TOPICS.

TOPICS.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TarBuNEI
LONDON July IL.
Complaints of dulness close the season a.
they opened it, Yet there has been great deal going
on Of and the other and since Ascot the most
conscientious rirer OF us all has been compelled to
throw over" lot Of entertaining people-that H. rich
and pleasant people who give entertainments In the
10 secure brilliant gathering invitations are issued 40
preposterously long dates. long shot, Sir Lueius" IL
the rule instead Of the exception and one grows beTu~
dered by engagements four and five weeks ahead, which
together WITH Newmarket, sandown, kempton PARK.
Henley, the University Cricket Matches, the Royal
Academy soe, dipners and suppers Mr. Irving, and
gardenpartes large scale like those given by the
Archbishop Of Canterbury the Baroness Burdett cous.
and Mr.. James Knowles OF The Nineteenth Century mako
the mapping out of time serious natter Az invitations
thicken there has to be- regret to confess sort Of
Massacre of the Innocents just there the bills
before Parliament at the end OF the session. when
young men begin life they keep social engagements
fairly WELL II not with religious eIacness but when
is quite grown up, the conscience becomes thicker
skinned and accepts invitations with the full nten
ton OF letting their chances Of being fulfilled arrange
themselves by species of natural selection The prin-
cple survival Of the ttest is very good to
apply TO entertainments. Sufficient for the day tho
evil thereof One goes to the best most amusing
places and IT, as Lord Abingdon would say, you cannot
get through card" you let suDdry events take place
without you. There is somebody disappointed. Of
course by eleventhhsur apologies for not coming to
dinner and people apt to take it ILL., bat other en-
gagements OF very little importance, and are
crowded out Of the programn accordingly.
The feature OF this is undoubtedly the enor
growth OF garden and other afternoon parties The
garden-pares already toned were fully attended
and exceedingly brilliant Lady Burdett-Coutts has
long In the habit Of giving exceptionally fine garden
parties her beautiful suburban residence Holly Lodge,
III hnus haro apdf
Cous. for his second wife, Harriet Mellon, first cell
ebrated actress then Mrs. COutts an aterward Ouch
ess OF st. Adams 1t this extremely handsome and
clever woman who left tn Miss Angela, atsrward the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts great part OF the immense
fortune enjoyed by that lady whose entertainments are
almost celebrated her charities Without being
In the hest degree huntress OF IONS Lady Burdett
Couts finds celebrated people OF all nations grsvttate
toward her dinner-tsbe at Srstton-st, Piccadilly,
where occupies the house from which her father Sir
Francis Burdett, taken TO the Tower. This, the
townhouse proper, Is the scene of perpetual dinners
and evening the toward the end Of
which the Baroness and Mr.. Burdett-Coutts mr. Ash
mead Bartletts broherl 90 to Hghgate and give the
famous garden parties, at whic sOlnetimes Medical
Congress and sometimes Exhibition Council are
entertained we'll as numerous distinguished guests
as various in ursut rank and wealth Lord Woseley
OF and Sir Samuel Wilson, the great Australian
squater King OF the Belgans and the King OF she
and Mr.. Henry Irving, the actor-manager. Two por'
traits OF Mr. Irving by Mr.. Edwin Long, r. A., were
painted for the Baroness. and at stratton-st
One represents him Hamlet and the other as Richard
ILL.,
The fashion Of garden-parties has been Endorsed by
the Princess OF Wales. who will presently give one at
Marlborough House. and the traditions OF chiswck and
Holland House. as well OF Strawberry Hill, have been
completely revived. More than this. the fashion has
been hold OF by army OF people who have no
pretension entertain in that way indeed at ALL II
Is very well for persons TO give garden-parv because
their house, ample is, could not be made to hold
fifth OF their friends but OF what at Elton the
boys call check for people to give garden parties
who are too poor entertain legtimately.
It Is one thing be asked to meet Mr. Tennyson aud
OF celebrities and quite another to be worried Into
the suburban villa OF second-rate artist or author
who cannot give his friends glass OF champagne.
This kind thing VIII be death of afternoon parties
which are already, with few exceptions such as hsvo
named, stunned by the male kind. When weak
husbands and idle bachelors will co. the whole thing viii
fall to the ground.
Yet nothing is more delightful than properly organ
ICED afternoon and especially garden party. Speak
ing Tor myself OF the male persuason 20 in my
ordinary walking dress substituting ony kid gloves
for dogskins gd,ltS de Suede. One nay stop from
twenty minutes hours the whole affair having
charming go you please air withaL At every good
entertainm OF this kind there is too some kind OF
SHOW" Artists rally round each other and those who
are not artists engage, fos the consideration OF
little check" the ceverest singers and actors OF tho
day. At afternoon parties may be heard Mr.. Corney
Grain Mr.. Arthur Cecil, Mr.. George Grossmith Mr..
Clifford Harrison, Mr. Mansfield. and musical talent
without end This show part OF the thing may be
overdone give people no opportunity OF speaking
10 each other and thus become bore, but iudciousy
managed it helps matters along considerably. Tho
essence of afternoon parties is to give musical and
dramatic entertainment as relief, not as the main
object gathering, which should be purely social
These remarks do not OF apply the weekly &C
homes" Of artistic folk, attended like other salons
without special invitation.
The gganticay advertised Savage Club ball for the bcn
eft Of the Royal College Of Music by sue
cess in social sense. The immense Albert Hall was full
OF people and Royalty came In great forces but Royalty
ia private box may be seen ut the theatre on any
night this is exactly what the patronage OF Royalty
came to- must admit that Royalty deserves patience
prize for remaining long. much worse entertain
ment IL has never been my lot 10 witness Singers and
recters seemed alike unable TO realize the size OF tho
Mace and were naudible. Among the masqueraders
there were few good dresses but the general efecs
WAS by no means brilliant And then the entire enter
prise was oyerhung with the motley pail of fdicule.
English people are little odo, tus must confess that
the Savage Cub odder still We are happy to pay
our tribute respect successful actor but We are
too sef-conscous to forget ou:seives entirely. Hence
when il was advertised that vouchers" would be
signed by a vouching committee" on which sat Mr.
Barry Sullivan. Mr. Edgar Bruce and Mr.. Augustus
Harris English society enjoyed hearty gufaw. There
was nothing TO be said against Mr. Barry sullivan as
an actor or Messrs and Harris lucky manag-
ers but the idea making them the persons to sign
vouchers" for English ladies and gentlen en- provoked
n roar OF amusement and delight. So people took tho
savages Ball in a sarcastic attitude OF mind And tho
dreariness Of the whole thing justified their critical pos
ture Masked balls not suited TO the genius OF the
En0lish neope and when vouchers signed suln-
van Bruce and Harris" they will hardly be applied Tor
by society" despite the Prince OF Wales and his Col
iege OF Music with which he wearies everybody.
Every one with fixed idea is bore sud aPiince mo
exception the rule. People dread the popular fince
OF Music.