Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17
In COUNTRY HOUSES.
How England's Rich and Noble Folk
Spend Part of the Summer.
AS MUCH FORM AS In GAY LONDON.
Costumes for Boating on the Thames and
for Tennis Playing.
EXAMPLE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES
AS MUCH FORM AS In GAY LONDON.
EXAMPLE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1srArcHl

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH
LONDON, August 9. - Country house
visiting is an immense institution in En-
gland, and exists to the same extent no
where else, although our elegant French
cousins, in their present mania for every-
thing British, are trying hard to introduce
it into their stiff chateaux. Things have
changed very much since old-fashioned
days. when people paid visits of q months
duration, and when the height of ambition
of every outsider was to be received into
county society, the members OF which en-
tertained one another with due solemnity.
Even county society in these democratic
days is less exclusive, and consequently
more lively than it used to be. As for
length, few visits, except in out-of-the-vay
shooting boxes up in the highlands, last
over week, and frequently large parties
are made up for only a three days stay
This is especially the case If the object of
the meeting is some race meeting or county
ball, while in professional circle, for peo-
pie whose country places are within easy
reach OF London, Saturday to Monday visits
have become recognized institution all
through the summer.
SIGNS OF A GOOD TIME.
For visiting to be really enjoyable, ones
host should be rich and able 70 provide his
guests with all the luxuries of modern life.
a friend of mine, who in vulgar language
knew what was what," used to say that
she always judged prophetically on the oc-
casion OF first visit as. to how she would be
treated, by the way she was to be met at the
station; and that if smart carriage and
pair with footman were in attendance, she
felt pleasing certainty that the creature
comforts would be well provided for.
There is nothing in the world more COM
Portable than wellmanaged English coun-
try-house, where ones every wish is antici-
pated, and where everything from the
French cooking downward, seems to act by
machinery. But the machinery in this case
is usually to be found in the brain of the
hostess, for it requires no little tact and fore
thought to keep large party amused and
provided for. The main point about En-
glish country-house life is the immense
amount of freedom that reigns there. A
model host and hostess suggest alternative
amusements, and leave it to their guests to
choose which they prefer.
THE FASHIONABLE MEALS.
Breakfast is usually conveniently nova
BILE feast somewhere between 9 and 1870
O'Clock, and dinner alone is the one cere-
monious event of the day when everyone is
bound to be present and punetual. But
dinner nowadays never takes place till
o'clock at night, and often-in imitation of
Her Msjesty-not till 9 o'clock. What with
boating and tennis in the summer, shooting,
riding and hunting in the autumn and
winter, with billiards on wet days and i'm
promptu dancing and music after dinner, it
is not very difficult to while away the days
pleasantly.
Perhaps the most popular of all summer
visiting is staying on the river-the ''river''
to the Londoner invariably meaning the
Thames. Anyone lucky enough to possess
place on one Of the beautiful river reaches
near Henley or Wargrave is regarded as a
public benefactor. Even for a medium
sized house on the Thames the sum of 30 or
40 guineas a week is frequently paid. En-
tertaining, too, is so easy under the circum-
stances; when your hostess has provided a
variety of boats and punts, an abundance of
soft cushions and a well-stocked luncheon
and tea-basket, happiness is within the
reach of everybody.
BELLIES ON THE WATER.
After all there is nothing more perfect on
earth than padding a canoe with a con-
genial companion on drowsv June day up
one of the many lovely backwaters of dear
old Father Thames" English girls take
to boating as thoroughly as to tennis, and
hundreds of graceful, active figures, clad in
the regular town sailor hat, stiff linen shirt
and mans tie, and blue or white serge
skirt, may be seen any summer day rowing,
padding and punting with as much ease
and success as their Eton and Oxford-br
brothers. And then, what endless oppor-
tunities for filtration and love making under
the willow trees on the shady river banksl
A regular Scotch shooting box is by no
means such a paradise for the female SEX
Indeed, unless ladies take to shooting them
selves like the Comtesse de Paris, Lady
Florence Dixie and few other kindred
spirits, they generally complain. The men
are out shooting six days in the rivers, and
come home in the evening so tired and ex-
hausted that as often as not they fall asleep
in the drawing room after dinner. The only
standing form of entertainment is to meet
the shooters on the moors with their midday
luncheon; but the pleasure of sitting out on
damp hillside, in order to eat cold beef, is
small indeed.
GOWNS FOR COUNTRY HOUSES.
This same great question of gowns forms,
of course, an immense consideration in pay
ing visits. Indeed, to some feminine minds
one of the main pleasures consists in wear
ing ones best frocks every day. There is
practically no limit to the number of dresses
required, for everyone dresses three or four
times day, just the same as in London.
Except in the hot summer months, when
cotton frocks are necessary, smart tailor
made gowns with an infinite variety of
knowing ties and waistcoats are the usual
country wear; but you must have besides,
according to circumstances, boating and
tennis dresses, riding habits, elegant tea
gowns to slip on for o'clock tea after a wet
and muddy tramp, and, of course, dinner
and ball gowns ad infnitum.
The Princess OF Wales and her daughters
set a very good example of sensible dressing
and healthy outdoor amusements. At
Sandringham the old traditions of country
house life are thoroughly kept up, and
great deal OF pienieking, riding and driving
OF pony carts is indulged in by all the young
people. One of the Princess of Wales pet
institutions is a lovely model dairy with
teahouse attached. The Prince himself is
OF course thorough sportsman and visits
about good deal in the autumn for shoot
ing purposes On these occasions be inVar-
ia6ly makes up the whole house party, and
it is said that the owner of these carefully
preserved covers is frequently not even in
vited to Join the royal shooting party-the
honor of entertaining 81. r. h. being con.
sidered quite sufficient reward for all the
trouble and expense. MACLEOD.
suE II pTcTUpFsour