Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
ENGLISH SOCIETY.
No lntroductions Made to Guests Either
at Receptions or Dinners.


Hon. Hugh McCulloch, in his recent book of
"reminiscences, speaks as follows in regard to
the customs of English society: There is little
dliierence, II seems to me. between what is
called good society in England and good soci-
city in the United States. 1t is at the dinner
table that the Englishman throws of his re-
serve and exhibits his true character; and
failed to observe anything at the table Of the
English gentleman, in the manners or style Of
either the host or tho guests, TO remind me
that was out Of my own country, except that
there were no introductions. The increased
intercourse between the people Of the two
countries has produced some change in this
respect. but had been more than year in
London before, at the dinner party. was in
trOduced to any ones stranger though was),
except to the host and the lady took
down to the table, and yet some of the
pleasantest acquaintance which I formed
IN London were ut such parties. AS did not
like to cOnIine my conversation to the lady
took in, and still less not to be talking to any
one, invariably put my dinner card before
my next neighbor, and took his or hers in re-
turn. merely remarking that was an Ameri-
can and hoped to be pardoned for the liberty
was taking, Il thank YOU, or thanks" was
always the return which received for my self
introduction. One evening, at the house Of
distinguished merchant, / happened to sit be-
tween two ladies-one had taken down. to the
other had not been introduced. After a pleas
ant talk with the former, placed my card
before the latter, and took hers She seemed
and we were at once on pleasant terms. She
was handsome woman and brilliant talker
and had more than could do to keep even
with her. As we were about to separate, she
said to me in an undertone, II shall never for
get your kindness In relieving me from that
'horrid man.. glancing at the one who was sit
ting by her side and had taken her to the table.
THAT HoRRrD MAN.
NOW deceasedO was one Of the most distin-
guished noyelists Of the day, whom had met
some years before in Washington, at the house
of the British minister Sir Frederick Bruce.
Primogeniture-th highest place for the eldest
son-gives precedence to boys over girls, and
tends to lessen women in the social scale. The
Difference which is shown to women by gentle
men in the United States is not often wit
messed in England. THAT horrid man" could
have made himself agreeable to the lady by his
side If he had been so disposed; but in his in
tercourse with women he was thoroughly
English, and his manner was displeasng to q
highly cultivated lady. English gentlemen are
not distinguished for their chivalry in their
intercourse with the other sex. Intercourse is
exceptional at receptions and other large as
semblies, as well as at dinner parties. London
is so large a city that q visitor NAV go to a
score of such gatherings without meeting any
one he has ever met before. / went by special
invitation, to party given by member of
parliament, who had been a frequent guest at
my house. There was no one whom I could
see in the throng that had ever met before
except the host and hostess, and they did not
take the trouble to introduce to any one. The
only exception to what seemed to me want of
good manners in this respect were in
THE HOUSES OF THE ARIsrocRAcY
took my daughter-a young girl-with me
to a party given by a distinguished duke at his
interesting old mansion in Piccadilly. The
lady who received with him was, understood.
his daughter-in-law. and three or four times
during the evening she left her place at the en-
trance of the drawing-room to introduce me
and my daughter to those whom she thought
we would like TO know. / noticed wherever
went that there was more ease and freedom
less of form and exaction-in the noble fami-
hes always excepting the royal head than in
those OF lower degree. knight-one who has
taken the first step on the social ladders
prouder of his rank than one who stands among
those who are nearest the throne. To address
a knight without the sir" or his wife without
the Lady" would be an offense not readily for
given. Not so is it with men of high
station. Mr.. MeCulloch. win you take
my wife," said distinguished earl at
a dinner which was given by him to
me soon after / went to London. in recognition
of the position / had held in the United
States-'Mr. McCulloch, will you take my wife
to the table," Had he been a knight he would
have said. viii you take Lady p" The high
hOnors which rest upon dukes, earls and lords
are easily borne, the honor of knighthood
seems TO be burdensome. She English people
are spoken of as a nation of shopkeepers; but
in no country are shopkeepers so rigidly ex-
Guided from the society of wholesale mer-
chants, manufacturers, lawyers and other pro-
fessional men. the landed gentry &C. There
are in London hundreds of men engaged in the
retail trade who are not only rich, but highly
cultured, and would shine in any company,
who are never seen as guests in the houses of
the classes / have mentioned. If Mr.. A. T.
Stewart, distinguished as he was for intelligence
and ability, had lived in London, he would not
have been admitted into what is called good
society.