The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-21

70 do IL he moved to the largest city near
him. presumably New York, or perhaps
Paris. The condition of opulence, much
desired by those who had been bred In
poverty, suggested at once the greater con-
venience of town life, and the busy
work-a-dsy world. TO which most Ameri-
cans are born, necessitates the nearness 10
Wall street, to banks, to people and 10 the
town.
The city people were content formerly
10 give their children six weeks of country
. air. and old New Workers did not move out
of the then small city even IN the hot
Smonths The idea of going to the coun-
try to live for pleasure, o place in which to
spend ones money and to entertain has
been 10 the average american mind a
thing of recent growth. Perhaps our
climate has much to do with this. People
bred in the country feared TO meet that
long cold winter of the north, which even
10 the weiI-to-do was filled with suffering.
Who does not remember the ice in the
pitcher of morning which must be
broken before even faces were washed.
Therefore the furnace-heated city house,
the cornpanionship the hustle, the stir and
convenience Of city, has been, naturally
enough, preferred to the loneliness of the
country. As Hawthorne once said. Amer
leans were not sufficiently civilized to live
in the country.
When he went to England and saw a
different order OF things he understood
why
England, 8 small place with two thou
sand years of civilization, with admirable
roads, with landed estates, with q mild
winter, with taste for sport. with dogs,
horses and well-trained servants, was a
very different place
Ii may be years before we make our
country life as agreeable as il is in Eng
land. We have got TO conquer climate
first. But the love of country life is
growing in America. Those so fortunate
as to be able TO live in climate like that
of Southern California can certainly quote
Horace with sympathy. Those who live
30 near TO great city as TO command at
once city conveniences and country air
and freedom, are among the fortunate of
the earth.
And to hundreds of thousands of such,
In our delightfully."- prosperous new coun-
try. the art of entertaining in country
house assumes a new interest.
And no better model for hostess can
be found than an Englishwoman. There
is when she receives her guests quiet
cordiality,ea sense of pleasurable expect
ancy. an inbred ease, grace suayity, COM
posure and respect for her visitors, which
seems to come naturally TO a well-bred
Englishwoman. that is to say. TO the best
types of the highest class To be sure.
they have had vast experience in the art
of entertaining; they have learned this
useful accom- plishment from q long line
OF well-trained predecessors. They have
no domestic cares to worry them. At the
head Of her own house, an Engiishwoman
is as near perfection as human being
can be.
There is the great advantage of the Eng
lish climate, TO begin with. Ii is less ex.
citing than ours. The nervous woman is
almost unknown. Their ability TO take
exercise, the moist and soft air, their good
appetite and healty digestion place them
in physical condition almost always de-
MED 10 an American.
Here our climate drives US on by invis-
lille whips; we breathe oxygen more intox.
icating than champagne. The great ser
want question bothers US from the cradle
W tiiN w III IlDEliS1NOIndn III
has never entered into her scheme of an
noyance, so there is total absence of fus-
siness in an English hostess.
English women spend the greater part oil
the year in travelling or at home in the
country. Town life is with them a matter
of six weeks o. three months, at least
They are fond of nature. of walking, OF
riding. They share with the men a more
vigorous physique than is given TO any
other race. A French or Italian woman
breads long walk, the companionship OF
dozen dogs, the yachting and the race
course, the hunting field days and the
lawn tennis pursued with indefatigable
vigilance: but the fair English girl, with
her blushing cheeks, her dog, her pony and
her hands full of wild flowers, is q charac-
ter worth crossing the ocean 10 see.
She is product of the highest civilization,
and as such is still near the divine model
which nature furnishes. She has the un-
DERIVING charm of simplicity. She is the
very rose OF perfect womanhoo1. She NAV
seem shy. awkward aud reserved; but
what the world calls pride or GOODNESS may
turn out 70 be hidden virtue, or reserve, or
modesty
English home education is a seminary OF
Infinite Importance; 4 girl learns 10 con-
troll her speech; 20 De always calm and
weli-bred. She has been toned down from
her youth. She has been carefully taught
% respect the duties of her high position.
she has this advantage 10 counterhalance
the disadvantage which we free-boTn eiti-
Lehs think may come with an overpride of
urn ,h she has learned the motto, "Noblesse
Solse The English fireslde Is a beacon
.aeht forever 10 the soldier in the Crimea
20 'ne eoionist IN Australia. to the grave
oln.tas N India, % the missionary in the
sotlR seas 10 the English boy wherever he
may oe. II sastains and enohles the Eng
4iS.i woman az home and abroad.
As 3 hostess, the Englishwoman is sure
20 lnota ner house 70 look like home. She
t,''s So,t low touches for those who like
the'n, hRStt-eaeked tall chairs for the tall.
10" cAalrS Tor the lowly. She has her
bookcases and pretty china scattered
eNsI mere she has v0rkb baskets and
wiring t2o,es and flowers. particularly
MID ones, which look a. II she hal tossed
them in the vases herself Her honss
looks cheerful and cultivated 4"
use the word advisedlv. fo- All ,ss.a
must be cultivated. state enactment =,
a. old English grand house can ba inay-
preSslhly dreary. High ceilings sf,s ols
girancoies, pictures Of ancestors miles ri
mirrors and the LAGOON or specimens OF
ust{'Ae 81, winch no one cares for except
= .ue N"Iieaa, the ceramic ami historical.
horrors u some Old collector. wbo ha3
20 taste. are enough n frishten \ VS.
tor. bQt when n young or an exrar;.
saesd English hostess has smiled an
s ssh house, there will be some delirbt-
IL 1mbeT StrcEn about. no end Of rrsttv
ssets aad baskets. and curtains and
Ssas, and coaches piled high with cush-
,..s ~, anu tRen the quaint carvings. the
SUE affected riches. the manfel,i..s
10y up 70 the ceiling, as in Hnear,S, =
aIe, al these become hunani7ei hI,
ouch. The spirit OF a hostess sbo,,la