New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-08
LONDON GOSSIP.
AN ENGLIsHMANs NOTES ON ENGLISH
TOPICS.

five hours London, that do not know ali that Is
going on there and elsewhere. We are here because
we are slaves of tradition I'm this country. We 20 on
talking and writing OF, and believing in. May the
month of poets. flowers and the like II we did not
know perfectly well that when the old monks dweit In
the magnificent house at which am entertained this
Easterde May eleven days later in the season than
it has been since placed by the recticaon OF the caen
dar. Everybody knows how glorious port-wine,
punch and fat ale swilling forefathers growed
and swore at OF the Legislature which, they held
cheated them of eleven days. shortened their lives to
that extent and consequently demanded them OF the fol-
lowing enjoyments eleven pnts Of small beer to get
sober upon the morning eleven drains Of brandy to
correct the same, twenty quarts OF strong home
brewed ale 10 drink at breakfast and at intervals thirty
three bottles OF caret madeira, sherry or bur
gundy, and eleven bowls of rum punch, this being
the average consumption OF country genlemsn of good
estate who hunted the fox after the manner OF his tme
and when the first howl OF punch was brought on
duly stirred the with the brush OF the last mar
tyred Reynard Now the fox, whom |, like my country
worship of his intellectual superiority
is nevertheless almost highly favored and odorferous
animal as the genuine old fashioned Bohemian man
Of letters and doubt whether the ceremony referred TO
would be relished any more than rum punch itself by
modern sportsmen. With all their eccentrcities the
Johnnles and Chappes of the genuine brand are
gentlemen all OF the modern time, especially nice % well
as moderate in their eating and drinking and would
ing brush OF old fox, who would leave scent
behind him breast high. But they go out OF town at
Easter like their forefathers.
This movable feast OF Easter which depends upon the
Jewish Passover which again depends upon some astro-
nomical conjunction Is quite out Of place az holiday In
March, particularly In such diaboical March as
we are coughing and sneezing through. We have had
fine open winter and plenty of hunting, and for one
should have been much happier in London at this present
moment. But to remain in town Is difficult Tradition
matters little TO me, but no more than any other person
like to be left alone In a desert. And at this moment
London is desert. few artists hard at work fin
ising their pictures and the acting fraternity busy
with pieces But OF society there is none. Every
body gone somewhere, including the real "Johnnies
and "Chappies" Even the rstcass countereits at
Brighton and the Isle of Wight.
As have said keep ourselves well posted here
corning all current In London and other places.
for instance that charming Lady Brooke whose white
gown and ostrich feathers created much excitement
at the Drawing Room has reason for her sweety PEN
sye look and that attack Lady Florence Dixie
an attack pour The first sentiment o; horror
cited by the alleged outrage of last Saturday has entirely
given way to sarcastic and lncredulous comment The
company here-and the immense house quite ful-is
ultra Tory and consequently antIrisb but every man
and Is laughing at poor Lady Florence Dixie and
tho st. Bernard dog which does not bite, the daggers
which pierce not and the struggle which does not rie
the surface OF the ground The wag OF the place sug
gests that the story is "of the Fishery shy and wen
ders what has become OF the tame jaguar which Lady
Florence used to keep that part of her Windsor
homestead.
Some time ago. think IT was when her sister married
the bakers young man, pointed out that Lady Florence
in with her family to say the least, eccen-
trio There is nothing to be said against this lady, ex
cept that she odd in her ways When she and
Beau Dixie, her husband went regularly to Newman
ket they the best Joke of the place and since her
husband has left off and laid aside the jovia life OF
drinking and betting described when his sister IN the
Divorce Court Sir Beaumont Dixie is never heard Of
But Lady Florence is fond OF Doorety she has revived
the the Patagonans and more recently
visited the genuine Pats their native bog fShe has
been TO South Africa special correspondent of what
use special correspondent OF that fashionable
organ of the bouIor and the pantry The Morning Post
She has become, like Mr.. Gilbert Farqunar, the new
actor the pal of Cetewqyo. the Zulu King. she has
foreg,thered with the Patagonans and quarreed with
the Pats over her book Ireland. She has been
Threatened and she says and perhaps think attacked
by the rebel Fenans and Land Leaguers She receives
no sympathy from the fair sex here who as rule dislike
she-pocnns They, however are little unjust to her
ndyshp who Is, apprehond, 10 be rather pted than
blamed
To believer in the theories of Darwin the case Of the
present generation OF Queensberry Douglases is per-
fectly Ineligible. They not descended from old
O. who vedh Piccadiy Tor rather quoted OF the
beautiful French dancer, nee ecum sine to- possum
vivere" and said that London might be empty but was
always great deal fuller than the country This esti
Unable nobeman died without issue-perhaps happily for
the human race for is difficult to conceive what the
deytry OF his genius grated that OF French opera
dancer might have comprised But IL Is not
sary to go back than generation to explain the
eecentricity of the present of Queensberry
Dougases. The late Lord Queensberry while yet only
Lord Drumanrig the last to defend prizef fight
ing in the House OF Commons, and after succeeding to
the Marausate died "fom the accidental explosion OF
bis gun while out Notwithstanding at Kinmountv This
was Immediately after the GoodwOod Cup was won by
Mr. Merrys saunterer against whom Lord Queensberry
had laid 10000 TO Mr.. Buchanan. Mr. Merry's commits
soner who fell into dire disgrace with his master
for making such bet with man who could not pay II
he lost.
SO much for the last generation OF the present, the
Marouis of Queensbey is the nobleman who after long
thought and foreign travel declined to take the oath In
the House OF Lords because he Is Freethnke or rather
Atheist He also created disturbance when Mr..
Tennysons wretched play. The Promise OF May. was
made talking villain Of the piece Now It Is patent
fact that scores of English nobemen hold very much
tbe ounons of Lord Queensberry but do consider it
necessary to make silly demonstrations against an
dawn the Brndaugh Of the Upper House. His next
brother the Lord Francis Douglas who lost his life In
is65 and his third brother is enthusiastic Roman
Catholic priest 1t will be recolected that the elder
lister of Lady Florence Dixie. Lady Gertrude Douglas,
took great interest I'm her brothers schools and ut
mately married good-lookng pupil, bakers young
man
aTaking OF bakers" as funny man who came down
night said Master OF the Rolls Is dead Poor Sir
George Jesse only nine years DID, anddied very
ynnnR for Judge. He was q consnInnate lawyer,
law and vulgar of the deepest dye. IL was posi-
lively painful to hear this man. whose brain power was
enormous make himself ridiculous by his Houndsditch
voice and Whtechapel accent Tbs IS the reason, care
fully yelled by bographers here why he did not
suocaed in the House OF Commons What Is ncredi- |
ble almost il that being very clever man. almost
genius" he did learn get himself taught English
rohabiy he was like many clever men, c0nceed and
bought t not worth while 10 learn to speak English like
or IN study and like rubbish but found
any to learn that important part of an advocates work
how to speak English. He was, however; SO strong u
coud be denied him. AM he l