Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-07-07
WAKEMAN'S WANDERINGS
EVERY DAY LIFE OF THE BRITISH
NOBILITY.
The London Season" 9 PenADee-Castle
Home Life and Entertainment - Ths
Real British Lord Rather Likes Old
Clothes and Little Csr.mouV.

Real British Lord Rather Likes Old
Clothes and Little Ceremony.
Copyright, 1881, By Edgar l. wakeman-l
LONDON, June 22-Engiish literature,
or rather that portion comprised in Eng
lish fiction, has certainly done injustice 20
British nobility in at least one respect It
has totally misinformed all Of us who are
plebeian: and rather like remaining 50, as
TO the every day life of the British aristoc-
rscy.
Nobody loves this class. Nobody believes
in its hereditary rights and .Rivileges, save
those clergy who hold "hvings" under
them and the other laekeys that serve
them. Nobody has any manly sympathy
whatever with its semireszal pretensions
and prerogatives. Nobody has the slight
est confidence that a century hence any
such class will continue TO exist In Great
Britain. And yet every one Of us, noswith-
standing our fouttngs and scofings, has
the keenest interest in giimpSes of its mem
bers' 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 ac-
cident. a pretender, an irritating social
misfit- The one is a splendid nations per
manent excrescence. The other Is another
splendid nations first growth Of fungus
Both are interesting studies But the Brit
ish noble has rather the advantage from a
scenic standpoint, because, speaking in IN
couth simile, he is the most ancient, best
acknowledged and the most picturesque
bump on the national log.
Many Of the British nobility occupy their
establishments the year round. These
would scorn TO do else. Their ethics are
dream TO which theS cling that they are
feudal lords For such to reside in town
would he ~ descend to the utter Gebase-
ment Of burghers. With great majority
the London season" largely controls their
residence and its period at castle, seat or
hall, and elsewhere. The season" is con-
trolled by parliament, the annual closing
Of which practically depends on sport. The
aristocratic fashionable world is formed.
and its movements controlled almost ex-
clusively, by those connected with the
/ prising largely the nobility.
In other words, the intangible awful
/ formulated thing known as the great fash
| ionable world centering in London is after
all simply the country nobility and aris-
tocracy congregated for a brief season in
| London. London does not make this fash
| ionable world. Those Of the country make
it in London. Their town houses, for the
entree 70 which fashionable toadies will
resort TO inconceivable humiliations are
the merest temporary lodging houses Of
hated city life. This exclusive class, not
far exceeding q thousand 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 till the following May. With
those "iu the world" the period is much
reduced. Many forsake the estates in Feb
ruary for the first swim" in the metropo
lis. There Is a delightful though quiet
social period in London preceding Easter
but Just Immediately before Easter parlia
ment adjourns, when back come the lords
and ladies'; or a trip to the continent d
taken After Easter the full London tidG
sets in The park Is thronged; Rotten
Row is filed with magnificent horsewomer
and gallAnts; luncheons. dinners and ball,
are innumerable, and the queens drawing
rooms command the nobility's presence
Then comes Whitsuntide, when pariia
ment again takes a short recess, and Lon
don Is again deserted by the Aristocrsey
But aIl the nobility Of England. Scotland
and Ireland that make any pretensions
/ 20 a.orr~.~e forTn hark In lon
don by the latter part Of May.
From this time late dinners and latei
balls follow in bewildering succession The
sitting air Of parliament and court is con
tinually breathed Fashionable event and
affair, originated by the aristocracy, anc
to which the aristocracy are truly slaves
compel the limit Of physical and financial
endurance. Derby day, for which parlia
ment always adjourns, is followed by com
mencement at Eton, and these by the
great cricket matches between Lords anC
Commons, Rugby, Harrow and Eton and
Cambridge and Oxford. Then come the
wonderful garden parties Of Cheswick, the
two great breakfasts Of the Prince OF
Wales, and the distinguished parties by
earls, dukes and duchesses, followed by
Ascot week, and the court balls and great
balls and banquets of foreign embassies
with the splendid afternoon teas by the
queen In the gardens Of Buckingham pal
ace, until the military fetes and the last
fete champeter at Wimbledon have ar
rived, and the done" and iaded aristOc
racy seek the spas Of the Continent in
atonement for their sins The season Is
at an end. The guns Of the titled sports
men commence ringing in the north, anc
, the home life at the castles Of Britain be
gins.
Usually a large portion Of the famil,
plate, some pictures and much bric-a- bra,
have done duty at the town house duriul
the season" Every other movable articl'
of value has been left at the castle unde
the housekeeper's direct charge. Ih'
housekeeper, and possibly half dozen un
der servants. have remained az the clsth
on board wages'-that is, reduced wage
and a certain weekly allowance with whicl
to provide their own food. They lead %,
life Of ease under these eircumstanc>s
Every habitab.e portion Of the place J. il
spected, busted and aired daily. Eve-
| floor is w ,-al once each week. At statcl