Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-22
PUBLIC LEDGER.
The London Season


begins in a modified form with the
opening Of Parliament, the season
proper is compressed in the period
which intervenes from about week
after Easter-unlsss Raster falls as
early as this year-to the close OF
July. Formerly, the season began
much earlier; and ended on the fourth
OF Juoe-Gsorge the Third birthday.
Some wealthy people do not even visit
the metropolis for more than the
month which, includes the Derby and
Ascot, but betake themselves immss
diately afterward to Norway to fish.
Members of the House Of Commons
are obliged TO be in town
when the House sits, and their
families generally accompany them;
but most of the Peers do not
arrive until after Easter. In fact, it
is rather the swell thin" not to be
regularly in town till then. Houses
are rented for the Parliamentary sea-
son, for that part of it up to Easter, or
for the period from Easter to August;
much the highest price is paid for the
last portion. The rent paid for fur
nished house in good locality for the
entire season will nearly cover the
rent for the year; whilst that from
Easter to August will go a good way
toward the same figures. Many peo-
pie, therefore, habitually let their
houses for the summer, and betake
themselves to some pleasant suburb
until October.
Except for those of very contented
disposition, London in the full flush
of the season is not desirable place
for people without money, or at least
with very good friends who have it.
Otherwise it is likely to inspire an un-
pleasant sense of being out of 1.-THE
swim" There is such a pervading
sense Of gay and luxurious life all
around, by day and night, whilst at
the same time it is life from much OF
which the outsider seems even more
shut out than he would be in a Conti-
mental capital. The amount Of private
entertaining is far greater than else
where, so many people there have es-
adjustments on scale which makes it
perfectly easy for them to give parties
without trouble. There are at least
two thousand establishments where
when ten or twelve guests are to be
entertained the hostess has merely TO
say to the housekeeper what she wishes
for dinner, and the host to tell the
butler what wine will be required,
without giving the matter another
thought. Except ice cream, every
thing is made in the house, and at
some large houses even splendid ball
suppers for three or four hundred
guests are entirely provided at home.
As consequence, the plumber of din
ner parties is very large, and guests
are sometimes invited month before
hand. The dinner hour is 7:45, which
means 8. Very often guests are un-
puactual, and dinner does not actually
begin until $3.50, or even later; guests
leave about IL. Evening parties are
from 1890 to 1890, and balls from
11:3O to 4, and even 5; but they begin
to get thin about 2, unless it is a very
fine house, in which people generally
stay later. About j am, "a good
ball is an insufersble jam; at 2, it is
often very pleasant.
NOyOuug lady goes to ball in Lon
don without chaperon or ehsperOne;
out brother is considered sufficient,
albeit he may be dancing about him
self all the time. In such a case, his
sister usually puts herself under the
wing of some lady friend. The incOnS
venience OF which young men here
bitterly complain sometimes, OF having
to dance attendance on a girl until
some other man asks her to dance,
never occurs in London; she always
can be taken back to mamma, or some
other lady acting for her. At ball
supper there is .auch less fetching and
carrying on the partOf gentlemen than
there is here. A long counter like
table is placed around three sides of
the dining room, with a number OF
servants arranged behind it, ready to
supply every want, whilst there are
usually number of small round tables
in the body of the room, with ser.
want detailed to each to serve those
who seat themselves so that men don't
have to staeger about under a load OF
salad aud ice cream, in an agony lest
it should tOpple over and deluge q
splendid dress ornew pair of trousers.
The usual ball room drink is cham
payne and settler, but there are plenty
Of others. Rich people usually give
two balls and divide their lady friends,
but ask the dancing men
to bo.b. Dancing men Of the
right sort have to be coaxed some =
what to get them to 20 to balls
unless a very attractive sort. They
demand good foor-they would re-
fuse to dance on carpet-and all other
accessories to an agreeable dance. "A
very fine house always draws, and IN
deed,a ball at such palaces as Stafford
or Dorchester House is really beau
tiful sight. Unless to an exceptional
entertainment, London men rarely 90
to balls after thirty,fve, but they
make room for younger generation.
Ladies usually give up, or rather arc
given ur, long before that period
Still, there are cid stagers who continue
TO do the light fantastic TO quite an
advanced age
BeacOnsfield and the Bore.
Lord Roland Cover.