Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-16
Abram s. Hewltt,s Country Homo.

NeaO York Letter to the Boston saturday Gazette.
In the summer Mr.. Hewitt and his famI-
ly live at Rlngwood, their country seat in
New Jersey. Ringw0od is somewhere
near Passaic, and is eleven miles from the
railway. This is their summer headquar-
ters, and they make trips TO Europe or 10
Newport or Bar HaTbor from RingwOOd.
They do not attempt to entertain their
friends during the summer-the weather
will not permit-but in September their
entertaining begins, and they do il on a
princely scale. They have few if any
guests during the week, but over Sundays
they entertain as many as thirty at time !;
and they entertain them by letting them
entertain themselves in their own way.
There is no early breakfast hour such as
prevails in most families. The guest may
get ny at any hour that pleases him best,
and ring his bell and have mis- bath
brought TO his room, aud order coffee, tea,
chocolate, rolls, eggs, toast, or any such
light food as he may desire. Up to II
O'Clock he is not interfered with. II he
wants to drive, he may order a trap
from the stable; the same if he wishes
TO ride; or he can enjoy himself in the
library, or wander about the place, or, in
fact, do anything that may please him
best. If he meets any of the other guests
thew may make little excursions together
At u O'Clock the gong sounds, and the
family and the guests assemble for the
breakfast, the first regular meal OF the
day. This is served on the English plan,
and in the most informal manner. The
servants bring in the hot dishes and place
them on the table, and then they leave the
room. III a guest wants anything that is
not on the table, he rings the bell and the
servant brings it. But they help each
other and themselves from the dishes that
are already served. No one dresses tor
this meal with any idea OF show, but en-
tIrely for comfort After breakfast they
ride, or drive, Or play lawn tennis, or go
fishing, or do anything they want to for
enjoyment, and at 5 O'Clock they usually
assemble at a Qlittle log cabin about
1850 feet from the main house, which
Mr. Hewitt built for his eldest daugh-
ters amusement. This log cabin is
furnished with oldfashiORed chairs and
tables; strings Of dried apples hang from
the rafters, punches OF dried corn hang
upon the wall, and yellow pumpkins
stand around on shelves. AT one end Of
the large room is an enormous chimney
with open fireplace. An old-iashioned
crane swings over the glowing wood and
boils the teakette, and tea is served in
common blue china cups. II any OF the
guests feel like something more substan-
tial than tea, Miss Hewitt makes them a
hoe-cake in the embers, and serves 10 hot
with the famous RingwOOd butter right
fresh from the dairy. At o'clock the
cong sounds again 10 let the guests know
that dinner will be IN nalf an hour,
aud at half-past Z comes the first for
malitv of the day, the dinner. For this
meal the ladies wear evening costume,
and the men appear in their dress coats
and white ties. The cooking Is excellent,
and the ceremony Of eating steals away
the greater part Of the evening. After
dinner there Is music and dancing and
card.playing. and 10 IL or nali-past the
ladies' retire TO don their dressing
gowns and gather round a large
omen fire IN one OF the rooms upstairs
Ia discuss the events Of the day, while the
men do the same thing downstairs over
their cigars snd--soda. Perhaps yOu
will saw that it is easy enough 10 enter
tain IN this manner n one has the money.
hut there you are mistaken. Plenty OF
people with more money even than Mr..
Hewitt have not his art Of entertaining. /
| know OF one New York family who have
ouite as much money, and WAC entertain
extensively, but who make O'Clock
breakfast the rule, and who appear them
selves and who expect their guests 70
appear in most gorgeous costumes AZ THIS
/ early hour In the morning. Aud that -
not the worst OF 10, hut they sett0 worktO
entertain you elaborately, ana you nave
| the feeling all the time tnat you lre Oelhk
/ entertained, and you Wisn 70 netven you
we're somewhere else even Daot IN tle
\ heat Of the city. where you cOud enter
tain yourself IN your own way am DC let
alone FOR q little while.