The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-04

old and young. II they are dong in
years, the daughters are returned trom
the fashionable school where they are
being formed and the sons, covered
over with football and cricket scars,
dash down from Eaton and Harrow;
and as simple and jolly time all around
is had at this castle home, Is may ever
DO found in the we'll ordered homes iot
our own country.
But directly this is over. Milford and
lady are slaves to a social system which
demands noarly every moment OF their
lives. The remaining seven months OF
home life is ceaseless round OF enter
tainment OF titled md other guests.
The selection of these guestsis ofcourse
occasionally with a view to, and in the
anticipation OF, pleasure to be obtained
from congenial society. AS rule 1t Is
merely in repayment of similar enter
tainment received In London and in all
parts of the world, from the Shetland
islands to British Intlia. Whether
guests are invited for q day, a week, or
month, the invitations are for a
period absolutely limited in duration;
and no sooial law Of the British aristoc-
racy is more inviolate than this.
ARIsrocRATlc ETIQUETTE.
The etiquette therecepdon OF guests
is most simple. Indeed there is less
formality shown in the actual relation
Of host to guest in a British hoPleman's
homo than WILDE at any time qontF9nt-
ed in the house OF a Hoboken breweror
Kansas City merchantin hogs. The
first coachman, with the family closed
carriage, if rainy, and with the
wagonette, If in fine weather, brings
the titled guests from the station, traps
following after with the luggage; and
the groom, with another carriage, at
tends to the guests servants Milord's
valet and milady's maid meet the arriv-
ing guests at the castle entrance and
conduct them at once to the drawing
room, where the host Hostess receive
and welcome them; but thoy are not
delayed in being shown to
their apartments. Meantime the
housekecper is attending to
the guests servants. Every gentleman
brings his valet and every lady her
maid, aud often herown footman, unless
an express request to contrary has
been made in the inyitations. RhSsvis-
itinS valet is assigned Il room IN the
servants hall, and ladies' maids are pro-
vlded with separate rooms, usually en-
suite with their mistresses' apartments.
There are few of the British castles or
country seats that are not able to house
from forty to one hundred guests, with
separate apartment for, each, and
equal accommodations in tile servants
hall for guests servants. The service
in all respects does not materially differ
from that in our best-class semi-private
hotels; save that each occupant OF the
castle has the exclusive attention OF his
or her own servant, in addition to the
general service OF the castle, always on
call at any hour OF the day or night.
Whatever number OF guests may be
found at any one time at these great ess
Northumberland except on special
occasions they will not exceed dozen
or twenty-in provision for the cuisine,
in complete stalls of servants, and in
the number OF servants employed, they
are at all times, during the occupancy
OF Milford and milady, or either, as well
prepared for entertainment OF the
highest US the least number That is
one OF the penalties of being a noble
man. But to illustrate details of the
ordinary regime, we will suppose that's
dozen or score of guests are already at
the castle and the Invitations read for
"a week."
The usual hours for mealsare: break
fast at 9 to 10; luncheon at 2; tea ut 3;
dinner at s; and supper ut from II
o'clock until midnight. Whetherguests
have arrived before luncheon or before
dinner, etiquette requires thatall shall
gather in the drawing-room tor intro
auctions. This is absolutely the first
and last of formality among these titled
people during their sojourn. Whatever
the difference in ranks, none whatever
is thereafter recognized. The story
books do not put it this way, but the
fact romans, 1t is the unwritten and
inyiolable law OF such occasions that,
while mere distinction in rank, in form
Of address, is adhered to, for the time
being the offensive distinction OF prece-
dence is wholly abolished. Socially
and officially while you are his lord
ships guest You are neither his superior
nor inferior. Otherwise you %ould not
be there. Not only is this true, but
there Gun DO only two possible occasions
for extreme dressing. Those are at din
nerwhere OF late years everything SAVIOR
ing of fulldress has been tabooed, andin
tho event OF ball being given to which
neighboring nobility are invited.
There is probably no other place in
the world wEs gEeit tSs week s,!;, is 50
clinations. Etiquette and form make
no demands whatever upon you. You
are as free to follow your own whims,
either for rest or activity, as though
ouartered in a glen-side cabin. Remain
up all night; sleep. all day; never APP
pear at a meals save the first luncheon
or dinner; and there is none to ques-
ton or criticise, The entire motif OF the
hospitality Of tho British nobility is,
in short, the digniiled but complete in
diligence Of, the guest Irrational activi-
ties, simple PLEASURES or. complete rest.
SOURCES OF AMUSEMENT.
There are many sources OF amusement.
There is certain to be one or moro grand
meets" where the ladies join in the
exciting hunt across country to the
music of the yelping hounds. Often
the occupants of near castles join in
these. Then there will be return sport
Of like nuture, and delicious "hunt
breakfasts arc given. For the gentle
men exclusively, there will perhaps be
a "pheasant shoot" on the grounds, or
the more sportsmanliko pleasure OF