The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-08
RURAL ENGLAND.

II ~
RURAL ENGLAND.
Holiday Visiting and Country life.
London Correspon ,encs Boston Herald.
To know anything whatever of the
peace and love and joy Of English home
life, Ii must see this home life in the
country. It is true that it is The English
custom to have only the tamiiyand fam
lily circle in the house for the distinctive
festivities of the holiday, but visitors are
invited just before and after. The Gus
tom is getting less rigidlv observed with
every year, and nov it is not uncom-
mon to have "townp friends with the
family through a fortnight ending with
the new year, which is not observed at
all. Among other such visits the most
vivid III my memory is the vrr, first I
ever made to q country house in Eng
n picturesque, go full of oil T had read.
as though it belonged to the old centu.
rics and not part OF the new life ola busy
commercial age that itcame upon ne
making II leaving the impressions Of
dream. That is the Christmas.tide at an
English country house that I hold in
mind most IN reliet and grateful love. 1t
was an cid hall in the mid lands, and
one OF the most famous pack of hounds
u England had their master living close
at hand, and the "meets'' were always
in the immediate neighborhood. Chill
dren, grand, children and a few friends
were the Enestsi in the hctlse Of the t.lords
OF b manor" My Invitation to be Of
the nu,lber was clothed in language
most touching to me ct the time, for |
was almost q stranger in a strange lind,
altfo gil 4 had made dear friends or
certain relatives Of the family. The note
TO me made 1T plain that j. was not an
affection OF form, but that my acceplan, Q
would really, in the estimate of my host,
confer q favor upon himself and his
household. AT the close of the note
there was some such sentence AS this:
"Ps rhaps you will kindly bring No.
So What on earth no." was / had
no means of Knowing. Up to that time,
as well as up to this time, | had read no
book Of etiquette on the Manners
and Customs OF Good Society" / knew
It could n Q mean my own napkin ring,
and | had no notion that it did
mean my own valet. However,
found ont through the
friendly offices of courteous friend that
my valet was mo. g." and it was sup
posed that | would not be wholly com
Portable without y personal servant, an
accepted custom in families and with |
gentlemen of thigh degree" in England.
! took the train to the station, and was
there met, after a ride of an hour, by |
the foos-man who led me to a carriage,
and HNo3n va provided with, a cab
which took him and the luggage on
ahead OF my carriaae. 1t wa quite dark
when arrived a. the hail. and the fah]
of the day was chilly and damp. Upon
alighting from the carriage, the door
vas Instantly opened by o hickey Of the
most gracious manners and of the great
estEreadiness of service. In the great
open square Hhait" was An enormous
blazing fire in q fireplace itself almost |
as big as an ordinary room. was at
once led to my bedroom, where already |
"No, s" was in attendance. The lackev
told me the dinner honr and slid l must
be shown the way to the drawing room
by my servant. While I dressed "No.
s." mad his toilet also, as he had been
requested to assist in serving at table.
have oif6ssown servant, valet or footsinn A
to- accompany one to dinner
parties to 4 asist. A few ninnees
before $50 7 Was shown to the
drawing room, where asTea dy were
gathered the family and most of tho
guests. Up to now, ] had seen no one
but servants, but, when my name vas
announced the host and daughter
moved forward toward me and I was
received with warmest cordially. I had
seen already in London dimly lighted |
houses, especially drawing rooms. but
really this was 20 dark | could only.
vysflsE III n nt,1rxk I3s y Es-.r hf
course vulgar a was exc!u led. from
the honse. Here and there in this
great, old-fsshioned room, were lamps
upon little tables and . few candles.
And in every instance they were
shaded 30 as to subdue and soften the
light. The room was like . "N hispering
gallery Everybody was talking, sbut
talking as if.in whispers. This was the
tone OF speech through the dinner and
until the ladies left the teole, and then |
conversation began general and insome-
what louder voice, though well-tred
English people. never speak ina
loud y dice.
We sat at the table perhaps half an
hour after the ladies had left, when after
dinner wiuesand coffee were served. anu
then VIC joined the iadies in the draw
ing room, where tea was q served. Here
the conversation became general. End
a. animated rs drawing room converse
tioI ever lie, or perhaps evers ought TO
be. Then . little music. also Q rubber
at whist; then tho gentleman repaired
to the billiasd room for sm0Hing, bill
iards and-s'brandy and Soda" Peshaps
I ought to say ] had never up to thai
time seen ladies in such ''full dress' for
q house dinner. Most Of the ladies were
IN fuller dress than I had ever seen be-
fore .off the stage" and 1 hardly knew
what to do about it. 81 Was Kind of
~ash,sned.a But everything is ia cnstom>
tits all one when You get used to =
thing. About midnight the host, rather
am elderly gentleman, excused hiRself
aud retired. l also Started OF with aim.