The Mineral argus., 1884-02-07

Il 6lAu60 30 d6 ~ 6uUuuG anu bOANCA -
light. The room was like a "W INSPIRING
gallery" Everybody was talking, but
talking as ifin whispers. This was the
tone of speech through the dinner ana
until the ladies left the table, and then
conversation began general and in some
what louder voice, though well-bred
English people V speak IN a
loud dice.
We sat at the table perhaps half an
hour after the ladies had left, when after
dinner wines and coffee we're served, and
then we joined the ladies' in the draw
ing room, where tea was served. Here
the conversation became general, and
as animated as drawing oom converse
ton ever is, or perhaps yer ought to
be. Then a little music, also a rubber
at whist; then the gentleman repaired
to the billiard room for smoking, bill
iards and-"brandy and soda" Perhaps
/ ought to say / had never up to hat
time seen ladies in such "full dress" for
a house dinner. Most of the ladies were
in fuller dress than 1 had ever seen be-
fore off the stage" and L hardly knew
what to do about it. 81 was kind of
ashamed" But everything is in custom.
1t is all one when you get used to a
thing. About midnight the host, rather
an elderly gentleman, excused himself
dAlo CEAAOA l. aAOO O4 AbAA AAAhf
and, when / asked the breakfast hour,
was told not to permit myself to be dis
turbed in the morning, but to breakfast
when 1 liked, my host adding: "I think
it very bad manners, y'know, to disturb
a guest in the mornings" However, !
was in time to Join the gentleman and
his eldest daughter at breakfast about
$50.
During my visit there was a formal,
and sometimes rather large, dining par
ty each evening, and the dinner itself
was always of a thoroughly good, but
routine sort. All English dinners are
much alike, always Of athoroughly good,
but always a hit heavy. Give the four
seasons of the year, any one always
knows what one is going to have when
invited out to dinner. l have been to
four dinner parties in the week, and
had pretty nearly the same dinner each
time. Were it not a good dinner, and
always perfectly served, one would get
very tired of it. Speaking of dinner COM
panies. l was immensely amused n
evening when, coming in from a drive,
| said to the butler: Head, who is to
be at dinner this EVENING" when, with
exceeding pomposity, Head replied:
Nobody of Importance, cir" Howev-
er there were two officers OF the army
at dinner, and they thought M doubt,
they were of considerable importance.
However, buffers in great families in
England are themselves most impor-
tant p~ersonages, and dis0ain to consider
untitled people of anv consequence, ex-
cept they be foreigners which happened
to be my claim to consideration.
Each day was planned and arranged
for. The saddle horses were at the SER
vice of the guests till or after luncheon,
and the carriages for such as chose to
drive. One was left to ones self for the
entire day, unless one chose to Join a
riding or driving party. The whole
house-dining room, library and private
FOom--was at one's use for the day the
drawing room and billised room for the
evening.
Customs differ in different families as
to the precise Way and order of keeping
Christmas eve and Christmas day. In
this family on Christmas eve there was
the Christmas tree-rather q German
than IN English custom. Some n or
two members of the family-perhaps the
two eldest daughters-decorate the tree
and hang it With the VARIOUS presents
for the different members of the family,
servants and the guests. It is not con-
sideTed good "form" for the guests to
give presents, to the hosts and family at
this time, but perhaps to sends YEMEN
brancs in some simple way after ward.
There Was the oyster supper after the
dinner, and about 10 o'clock we we're all
taken into a large sitting
or living room, where the servants were
already gatbeTed-just 10 in number
and where the tree, about 10 feet high,
was all a blaze of light and color The
presents were mostly offs very simple
and rather inexpensive kind, consisting
of pretty editions of books, albums for
family and guests, and articles Of ear
ing apparel and ineries for the SER
wants. Each article was marked with
the name of the person foF whom in
tended and by whom given.
On Christmas morning the family as
sembled for prayers, and the guests ON
this occasion joined the family, and af-
terWard all drove or walked to the par
ish church for service at Il O'Clock. 1t
is expected on such festivals that the
lord of the manor and his family will be
present at divine worship So the days
and the weeks passed all too quickly. i
have often since been in country houses,
and have been the guest of great town
houses, but | have told you the story oil
q Christmas time in a family now broken
mp and scattered, My host has Joined
the great majority. [ have one less
friend on this side, and n more
precious one that side.
Views of the Pope.