Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-07-04
MIR. wAKEMAN,s JOURNEYINGs.
At London-British High Life-How
the Plebians Have Been Misin-
formed as to the Everyday Life of
the British Aristoeracy.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
English literature, or rather that por-
ton comprised in English fiction, has GER
tainly done injustice to British nobility in
at least one respect. 1t has totally misin-
formed all of us who are plebeian, and
rather like remaining so, as to the every
day life of the British aristocracy.
Nobody loves this class. Nobody be-
lieves in its hereditary rights and privi-
leges, save those clergy who hold '1ivings'
under them and the other lackeys that
serve them. Nobody has any manly SYM
pathy whatever with its semi-regsl preten-
sions and prerogatives. Nobody has the
slightest confidence that a century hence
any such class will continue to exist in
Great Britain. And yet every one of us,
notwithstanding our houtings and scof-
fngs, has the keenest interest in glimpses
of its members daily lives.
Your British lord really believes in him
self. That is worth something to charac-
ter, and builds up on the lines of equable
living and true dignity with anybody.
Your American lordero knows he is an
accident, pretender, an irritating social
misfit. The formers real pleasures are
found in relaxation from social duties
which centuries of custom have rendered
obligatory. The latter's pleasures are
solely attainable through the arrogant and
offensive insistence of endless recognition
of his money power. The one is splen-
did nations permanent excresence. The
other is another splendid nations first
growth of fungus. Both are interesting
studies. But the British noble has rather
the advantage from a scenic standpoint,
because, speaking in uncouth simile, he is
the most ancient, best acknowledged and
the most picturesque bump on the nation
al log.
Many of the British nobility occupy
their establishments the year round.
These would scorn to do else. Their eth
les are exclusively evolved from their
fondest dreams to which they cling. that
they are feudal lords. For such to reside
in town would be to descend to the utter
debasement of burghers. With great
majority. the London ''season" largely
controls their residence and it's period at
castle, seat or hall, and elsewhere. The
':season" is controlled by Parliament, the
annual closing of which practically de-
pends on sport. The aristocratic fashion
able world is formed and it's movements
controlled almost exclusively by those
connected with the Houses of Lords and
Commons; these comprising largely the
nobility In other words, the intangible,
awful formulated thing known as the
great fashionable world centering in Lon
don, is after all simply the country nobili-
ty and aristocracy congregated for brief
season in London. London does not
make this fashionable world. Those of
the country make it in London. Their
town n-houses, for the entree to which fash
ionable toadies will resort to inconceivable
humiliations, are the merest temporary
lodging houses of hated city life. This
exclusive class, not far exceeding thou
sand heads of houses, practically own and
derive the revenues from the entire landed
possessions of Great Britain.
In the main, British castle life begins
with the grouse shooting season in August,
and lasts until the following May. With
those Sin the world" the period is much
reduced. Many forsake the estates in
February for the ''frst swim" in the me-
tropolis There is delightful though
quiet social period in London preceding
Easter. But just Immediately before Eas-
ter, Parliament adjourns, when back come
the lords and ladies; or trip to the con-
tinent is taken. After Easter the full
London tide sets in. The park is thronged;
Rotten Row is filled with magnificent
horsewomen and gallants; luncheons, din
ners and balls are innumeTable; and the
Queens drawing rooms command the no
bility's presence Then comes Whitsun.
tide, when Parliament again takes short
recess, and London is again deserted by
the aristooracy. But all the nobility OF
England, Scotland and Ireland that make
any pretensions whatever to correct form
are back in London by the latter part OF
May.
From this time late dinners and latel
balls follow in bewildering succession
The sitting air of Parliament and court is
continually breathed. Fashionable event
and affair, originated by the aristocracy
and to which the aristocracy arc truly
slaves, compel the limit of physical an6
financial endurance. Derby day, fol
which Parliament always adjourns, is fol
lowed by commencement at Eaton, ano
these by the great cricket matches be
tween Lords and Commons, Rugby, Har
row and Eaton, and Cambridge and Ok
ford. Then come the wonderful gardeI
parties of Cheswick, the two great break
fasts of the Prince of Wales, and the dis
tinguished parties by earles, dukes ant
duchesses, followed by Ascot week, anC
the court balls and great balls and ban
quets of foreign embassies, with the splen
did afternoon teas by the Queen in tn
gardens of Buckingham Palace; until tn
military fetes and the last fete champetr
at Wimbledon have arrived; and tn
'tdone" and jaded aristocracy seek tn
spas of the continent in atonement TO
their sins. The sseason" is at an end
The guns of the titled sportsmen com
mence ringing in the north, and the home
life at the castles of Britain begins.
Uusually large portion OF the famil,
plate, some pictures and much bric-a-bra
have done duty at the town-house during
the ''season." Every other movable arti
Gle of value has been left at the castle un
der..the housekeeper's direct charge, ant
the general charge of the steward, agen
or factor of the estate, who resides near
The housekeeper, and possibly a half-doz
en- under-servants have remained at tn
castle on 'board wages" that is, reduced
wages, and certain weekly allowance
with which to provide their own food
They lead no life of ease under these cir
| cumstances. Every habitable portion O.
the place is inspected, busted and airec
daily Every floor is waxed once eacl
week. At stated intervals every piec,
of furniture is uncovered and attended to
the books in the library opened, dustet
and aired, and the plate and cutlery KEEP
in constant readiness for immediate use
For, while the probabilities are that mi
lord and milady will remain absent durint
the entire season, they may return at an,
moment.
After arrival, two or more weeks are de
voted to absolute rest and quiet family re
union. This period is the children's heav
en- of the year. If they are young ant
the governess and the tutor (often the vii
lage curate) have had them in hand durin,
their parents absence in London, it is
season of genuine jollity and love making
between old and young. IF they are alonl
in years, the daughters are returned from
the fashionable school where they are be
ing formed" and the sons, covered owe
with football and cricket scars, das
down from Eaton and Harrow; and q
simple and jolly time all around is ha
at this castle home as may ever be foun
in the well ordered homes of our ow
country. ..
But directly this is over. Milford an