The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-07-04
THE LOuNGER ON THE AVENUE.

most VIII present you TO his wife, N she has not met
you, and the young ladies OF the household II there
are any, and with that the introductions usually end
II happened to me tho other evening to be asked to
dinc with an Ear. There was no one IN tho room
whom had ever seen before except my host. SO
when the Countess, his wife, said to me, " You will
take In my sister, Lady - - I naturally
waited for her TO present me to the dame In qucs-
tion. She did not, however, and for the moment
| was doubtful asto how should proceed. asked an
Old gentleman standing me II he would he good
| enough to point out Lady -- -, which he ,iid
was pieasedto to Ind that she very distinguished
looking young demolscllc, whom I had remarked as
being one OF the best dressed women In the room AZ
well as possessing unusual good looks. When
move was made for the dining room went to her
and said, my name Ia -, and am 10 have the
honor Of taking you.n." She was most amIabe and
| gracious, showed me wnere our places were, and
In I've minutes we were getting on "a well though
had known her all the season. afterwards lcnrned
that had taken the usual course In such cases. and
had not blundered, as feared might have done.
Gloves, either white or light colors, are always
worn at dinner parties by men, and taken on after
you sit down at table. The opera hat Is also taken
Into the dining nRroom-shut, of course--and placed
behind your back on the chair. II not very young
you can wear small black necktie at dinner, but II
you are going to the opera afterwards you must
replace 1t with white one Of fine linen lawn The
|
| ated. No shoes are correct In the evening but
patent feathers, and black silk socks must be worn
with them.
There Ia no question which Is oftener asked than
thls "For how much visitor live, really well,
In London. say per week." II Ia doubtful II there Ia
one more dificnt to answer. II you are q stranger,
your irst visit viii furnish much very valuable In.
formation In the shape OF experience that will
able you to reduce expenses 80 per cent. the next
time. But win try to answer the question, having
| regard somewhat to my own personal experience.
There is no doubt about one thing. which Ia that an
opportunity Is never lost to cheat countymen who
are unused to British ways by almost the entire
| shop keeping constituency of London. don't think
there Ia more unc0nsclonable rogue under the sun
than the average smaller English tradesman who is
| necessary to ones convenience. was wIiness to
an Incident illustrative Of this only the other day.
| There Ia In Plcadily well known barber's shop
| they call II by Q hlgh-soundng name-which I am
very greatly minded TO mention. The usual tariff at
this place for having ones hair cut and being shaved
ls eghtpence. An American-who was very evl.
IDENTIFY from one Of our Occidental States-had just
been shaved, and asked the price. This honest
'rlton, seeing his customer entirely unused to
the ways OF London, calmly whispered, "a shilling,
| sir" My countryman looked startled, as well he
might, hut was producing the required coin, when
| an elderly gentleman, who was waiting his turn,
and had overheard what said, asked the barber
| what he was charging The American said, s.He
wants shilling" "The usual tariff Ia threepence,,
said the EnRlisman Indignantly, and the American
paid II and walked out. don't remember ever
seeing more chagrlned and dlsgusted looking
cheat than was the shop-keeper. lie could
not say one word, and had to endure the very sar-
| castle language inwhlch the gentleman expressed
his opinion OF the shop, Its proprietor and his
duct In silence. But he looked az though he would
have drawn the razor with which he was shaving
i N ahu onIa ahar hal ho
| dared.
But to return. In London You ought to live very
well. at as good hotel as there Is In Washington
for twelve shings, or three dollars. This will give
| you breakfast, luncheon, dinner, and very good
| bedroom In which you will ind no gas, and the
| only light you have 1.-THE humble spermaceti candle
of our fathers. There isn't hotel In London where
the bedrooms have any other lights than the can
| die. Everything Is cheap, as compared to our
price1. You 60 into a irst-class taIor's place on
Regent or Bond street, AMI yon can get clothes for
one.third of what they would he at home very
good morning suit will cost you all told about s22 Co.
In New York you wOull pay $55 or $780, and II would
not he as well made. London Is the very paradise of
cheap overcoais. Perhaps the most famous shop
for these Is Benjamn's Heisthe greatest authority
on this subject In the British capital. For GO you
can get ga topcOat," as he will call 1t, that is
thing OF beauty, silk and satin lined, which would
be cheap here at 800. Shirts boOts are neither
| 80 cheap nor as good as they are In America.
But 1t is In ladies' belonging, that Tondon's cheap
ness as place TO shop stands out Particularly In
all silken fabrics prices less than Paris, where
rents are 80 high. A silk costume which IN New
| York would he $3.50 can be had In London for eIO,
| or $50. know this. because the wife OF very
prominent American (who has house In London
during the season. ia my authority. The best gloves
In Europe are made In Brussels and sent to London
l Ri an.l rarlaaan
French capital, and 1t Is fact that the great glow
| iers who have made fortunes and gained renown In
| Paris all have their factories In or near Belglums
| capital.
In everything made OF SILK London is the cheap
est place In Europe except Lyons. "And In furs!"
| sail II lady who understands 1t, "ior Sg5 you can
| hny what would be worth 800 In own country"
Not having much genius Of the man millinery sort
shall not try to explain the bargains attainable.
only know that American women are getting to like
| London more and more az a place To shop, and be
| sides they can talk to the gentlemanly person be-
hind the counter and price everything In sight,
| without which shopping, 30 l am informed, Is
robbed OF half Its delights.
Some super rich Americans have found q new
| device by which they can become dlspossessed OF
| soma OF their superfiuOus and pocket burning
| money. IL Is TO take handsome house In London
| during the season. The vanderblts inaugurated
It, After William X, Of that ilk was bsck-bslled
| at the Jockey Club 10 Paris, that city no longer
possessed any delights for him. lie could not he
taken In at the Hotel BRISTOL the 'swellest" hotel In
Paris. This was the beginning Of his troubles, or
rather OF those Ofmadarne his wife. Mr.. " himself
is rather easy -going good-natured fellow, hut his
wife, as sometimes happens to our countrywomen
whose earlier opportunities have not been great In
respect Of society,) Is seized with nlanfa for
social distinction New York was pretty well
worked and abe thought of Pars the Jockey Club
Incident was death to her aspirations. They then
determined to take furnished house In London In
most fashionable quarter Of the city for the sea
son. They have one for which they pay the lmps-
cunious Scottish laird who owns II land who says he
cannot afford 10 live In II himsef-t ID too ane-)
| nhy gnineas week, everything hut the pay OF the
servants included. ! do not know Just what the
result has been The English, a. rule. resent the
attempts Of "the very-rlch-and nothing else" Amer
can TO compel his way into the high places.
| There are other Americans who have taken fur
nished houses in London, ana having very sue
cessful season. Chlef among these are Mrs. Mar
shall D. Roberts, of New York, and Mrs. bloomfield
| Moore, OF Philadelphia. Both are very well known
In Washington. Mrs. Roberts has axed place In
London socie,y OF the highest order. Mrs. Bloom
held Moore IL fayOrlte there Of many seasons stand
Ing. was assured positively that there was truth
n the story that robert browning, the poet. was an
asprant for her hand In mairmony. browning sev.
eniy. but looks young and jaunty enough TO be i've.
| and-nfiy. Poet AMI society favorte as he IL, ]
learn that he has not yet been the stately
American dame, AMI no one seems TO Know what
the result will be.
| found one Impression existing In the minds OF
every Engslman talked with, no matter Of what
degree which was that very serious revolution ia
Impending In Great Britain. and one that may pro-
| dnce results undreamed OF by men now This Ia