New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-24
LONDON SOCIETY.
FROM EPSON TO ASCOT-TlIE GOSPEL OF
INVITATIONS

S~N'~'-''
supposed to be dull season, yet the list OF en-
sertainments in which society," or some section OF
II. took part from the Sd to the 10th OF June
Is long enough to relieve the year from any such
rcproach l include two Sundays. This country
Is supposed to be given over to Sabbatariansm,
and In London you cannot have letter delivered
on Sunday nor, without much delay, even q
telegram. But society makes distinctions. NO
ball is ever given on that day, no large evening
marty. Dinners are given; there are lawn tennis
partics and afternoon receptions; you may have
music not altogether sacred in character parties
are made up for Niagara, the Gallery CiuD Is
open, and most ladies' who are ever at home 10
their friends in the afternoon, are at home then
The Sunday Park is feature by itself, and Sunday
tuncheons hardly less so. Niagara Is novelty
and the attractivcness of it is for that reason all
the greater to a weary world ever longing for some
form of amusement that is not old. No small
mart of the popular success of NJ Philippoteaux's
clever composition is due TO the Sunday visits OF
the favored few Mr.. Gilbert Farquhar organized
them-the word is not too strong-and as soon as
Il was known that royalty smiled upon the scene
the smart world crowded thither. 1t was the
Princess Louise, perhaps the most admirea VI
the Queens daughters, who was present. I'se
Sunday week, with quasi-royalty in the person Oh
the Duke and Duchess Paul; with MIR. Cyril
Flower in attendance on the Princess Louise; win
the Duchess of Leinster, the Duchess OF athoie'
Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury Isabella, Countess
of Wilton, the Earl and Countess OF Wharnchne
and many another leader OF fashion also IN the
marty. The management find their account in
supplying tea to fifty or sixty such great people;
tea being q synonym for what would fancy,
be accepted in the Wild West of America as
square meal. If you preferred something more
rural. you might choose between drive to Rich
mond. where Mrs Bischoffsheim received in the
Old PLACE and drive to Heath House, Lamp
stead now in the possession of Lady Borthwlck
who during Sundays in June, prefers Hampstead
TO Piccadilly for her afternoon at-homes Al you VIII
ask Mr.. Chauncey Depew, who was there last
year. he will tell you all you want to know Oh
Heath House, and perhaps who the diplomatst
was who few the japanese kite for Lord Wolseley's
amusement The diplomatist is flying his Kite
now in an Oriental capital.
To catalogue such weeks entertainments would
be but dreary business, nor is there space II IL
were worth doing But you might, If you cared
have gone to one or two things each evening"
and on some evenings would have to choose be-
tween half dozen attractions. The concert at
Albeit Gate on Monday was the sequel to farewell
dinner given by the French Ambassador and
Madame Waddington to the Austro-llungarian Am
bassador and Countess Karolyi whose departure
everybody laments. AS Madame Waddlngton is
an American her renOwn in London may well
enough be matter of interest to other Americans.
The French Embassy is known to Londoners as
the most exclusive of all the diplomatic houses
That is only another way of saying, human nature
being what it IS that it is the one to which IN
vitations are most sought; sought, that Is, by
people who seek invitations; and most valued by
those who have not to seek Them large party is
-, INIT iS
large The position of diplomatic personages is
exceptional II they are under some burdensome
social obligations, they enjoy likewise some i'm
munities. and among the latter may be reckoned
the privilege Of not holding, unless they choose,
great assemblies Of guests. The customs ana IRA
ditions of the Embassies, or most OF them IN
London are all in favor Of splendid hospitality
The German, the Austrian, the Russian Embassies
ali are or all have been at one time or another
famous for various forms OF entertainment; ana
even the Turk gave parties. The TURK Oh To-
day Rustem Pacha, who is not Turk not many
weeks since opened the doors of the rather sombre
mansion in Bryanston Square to great multitude
of men and women. The outer world is kept adj
yised of these events, or of some Of them, by an
nouncements in some of the papers. Sir Algernon
Borthwicxs paper, The Morning Post" is the
great authority in such matters OF late, The
Daily Telegraph" has entered into competition
with the recognized social oracle. You may read
during the season each morning list of the even ne
parties and on Mondays list for the week, ana
for many weeks ahead is published.
You might ask what Is the use Of this publicity.
They who are hidden to these festivities know that
they are bidden and why should they who are
not hidden care to be reminded of the omissions
These questions and comments ignore,
however WHAT is perhaps the most eX-
traordinary feature OF the SOCIAL lie
of London, the habit Of asking to be asked
| say nothing Of official or sem-Ofliclal or court
functions There is certain publicity IN the char-
ecter of these solemnities They are ministerial
Or royal, and supporters of a ministry or loyal
subjects of the Crown who have given proofs OF
their devotion by being presented at Court. may
well enough think themselves suitable candidates
for such marks of ministerial or royal favor us
cards ~ Court balls or State concerts at Bucklng
ham Palace, or 10 Lady Salsbury's Foreign Office
mrtics. or even to the hardly less miscellaneous
gatherings in Arlington-st. Nor need much crit-
cism be wasted On requests made by Americans, OF
In behalf of Americans who are strangers in Lon
don. and want glimpse Of what there is best in
London. The American Legation will not thank
me for this charitable view Applications to the
American Minister and Secretaries of Legation are
Of times numerous enough TO give full employ
ment TO the full staf III disp0sing OF them; nor
are always confined to official or semi-oiiclai
or royal functions.
But keep to the purely English side Of the
question. There is not hostess in London who
could not tell you strange stories OF the Importu
mites she has TO endure Her cards are sent out
for party or very likely, her party is announced
In print long before the cards 60 out. Forthwith
she is besieged Her friends begin to ask fot
their friends and for their friends friends, and
cases have been known where a card thus sent has
brought fresh application for friend OF the
friend to whose friend the too good natured hostess
has dispatched what is still by courtesy called an
Invitation. ] hope do not overtax your CON-
prehensioz or your credulity. Up to this point |
all is conceivable by the generous mind-perhaps |
with a little effort, but still conceivable. But |