Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-08
AFTER DINNER " ENGLAND.
An Agreeable Hour, How IL Is Spe:,t
Various Customs.

After the ladies leave the room the
host invariably changes his place, and
port, sherry, and cigars are placed
pear, the guests draw up their chairs
and pass the bottle themselves, always
to the left, and many take this oppor-
tunity to select a companion for the
after dinner talk. 1t may be ungal-
liant, but / confess that often found
this hour the most agreeable of the day.
The English men Of position are gener-
ally well bred when they are by them
selves; more of them are more highly
educated than is common with Ameri-
cans of Importance; they have passed
their lives among works of art and In
the atmosphere of high politics. They
know pictures and china as well a5
game and wine. They have not only
seen the famous places, but met
the famous people Of other countries,
and they make. on the whole, the most
agreeable after-dinner company in the
world. To stranger they are eSpe-
cially amiable. If he is interested IN
English life, they tell him all he wishes
to know; they invite his criticisms, and
if they sometimes say something dis
paraglng Of his own cOuntrymen or OF
the institutions under which he was
born, 1t is not in an offensive way. As
men of the world they offer an opinion,
which you may accept or dispute as you
choose, and they are not a1ronted
if you censure mildly in return. They
are genial over their wine, but not
quarrelSome nor indecorous.
After dinner conversation and cards
form the principal amusement. Some
times there is music, but not often. for
the English are not artists in tempera-
ment or taste; they do not make good
music, nor, IS rule, do they keenly
appreciate it. They have higher
relish for painting and sculpture and
architecture-something that they can
see and handle. Music is too imagina-
BILE for the burly British nature to
grasp. But whist or a round game IS
invariably proposed. The stakes are
usually small, but no one plays without
some wager. At times the players be-
come very intent, and L can recall
! instances of gross ill-breedlDg over the
cards; testy old peer or stingy dow
ager was commonly at fault.
/ In many houses the hostess rises al
I IL, and this the ladies know is theil
signal. Good nights are exchanged,
everybody shakes hands, seltZer and
, brandy and sherry are brought in fol
/ those who wish them, and the gentle
men light the bedroom candles for the
ladies. Then the whole company
moves out to the foot Of the great stair
case. and the procession of ladies
aseends to the upper galleries, the
graceful girls in pink and white and thu
sumptuous maidens in velvet and dia
monds, each carrying her candle, while
the portraits of vanished ancestors look
down on the scene where they, too, once
played brilliant part.
The men linger for while, but arr
soon invited to the smoking room
For this they usually change thell
dress. When first went to England
only a few wore smoking jackets, but
latterly in many houses the men came
down toward midnight in gorgeou:
satin suits, with variegated trouser:
aud caps, and the effect is very pic
tureSque.