New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-18
HOME AND SOCIETY,".
CoUNTRY-HOUSE LIFE.
a RAPID pEvELopMENT-uNcERTA ETIQUETTE
,vrrIcAN WOMEN AS LETTER.

,,,,izo,ion IN the United States OF late years Is ue
a.volopment of the counryhouse lie ana It's gradui
absorption Of the Lares and feha'c' anu s'"'I no'
,,,oros,s and affections OF the household Inc town
a,,,rc neon IN he the real centre OF the American
-. no tho summer cottage being merely an &C
o.ory and but little thought OF In comparison with
i,s solid and wealthy rival ANY ine WIS
oors,aar,d "cood enough for the country y In the
, ~ furniture or daily living. That this con-
a,,;on ~ things tended eXtravacant show and dis
, na was therefore parvenue and mererlcions
.. hvlous Culture, combined with leisure and
,o,,h belong naturally to the country. and we
~ ,us, beginning to find out what III England has
an accepted fact for centuries and fashion has now
socr,ed that large country house with less ex
nensiye house in town Is In better form than
h,ce brownstone front Fifth Avenue and a
season of economy the Many people
who cannot have both choose the country the real
centre OF home life. trusting To lodgings and rented
bouses for two or three months In town during
the winter. and pied terre' at the sea shore
IN the summer and live in their beautiful country
houses three fourths Of the year. Very different
too is the standard OF living In these modern country
houses from the Old-time fashion which was marked
ty an entire lack OF any fornality, the late dinner
being changed to an informal tea. the men OF the
family longing In day attire, and all the accepted
amenities OF the life OF to-day being deemed super
fuous and Inconsistent with summer and COM
fort.
new regime BY way Of long contrast-a long, low
gray. many eabled house with white facings, colonial
pillars and ample por,ecocherc. on either side OF
the broad flight Of white marble steps are large blue
and white Delft vases. filled with glowing wealth
OF color In the way of brilliant summer flowers
In the cool shade of the veranda stately ferns and
palms are arranged picturesque groups with rattan
LONGING chairs of every description pretty tables
and cayy colored hammocks. and all the peculiar
combination OF English comfort and Eastern picur-
sequences which Is characteristic Of the American
"plazza." AS YOU ring the bell fooman In quiet
livery opens the door, and II you are an expected
guest your hostess Is waiting 10 receive YOU. welcom
Ing You with her pretty eager American hospitality
and after words Of greeting. con>snins you TO
servant II YOU are man. and sending yOu on to
your room with your traps-or. II YOU are woman
taking care OF you herself Then you pass up the
broad white staircase, thicky carpeted with red
velvet - love red stair carpet, II Is such a vel
coming color" said woman Of fashion the other
dav and in truth she right: there Is no other
color combined with white that looks so CHEEKY or
so hosptable The wide. breezy hail Is covered with
the same thick red pile. which renders any passing
na,,,ntinal footsep inaudibe the sleepers within
the bedrooms and al the head Of the stairs wide.
low fireplace and a white mantel. suggests CHEEKY
autumnsl fires later on--now II Is filled with blossom
Ing boughs OF syrnga. There Is little furniture IN
the hail. only few chairs and broad While table
on which are ranged rows of brightly polished brass
for lighting and brass matchboXes conveniently
filled The bedrooms are marked by the same CON
bination OF luxury and simplicity which is becoming
very Characteristic OF American country house
at is curious" said travelled Englishman who
was stopping With one Of these typical households
how YOU Americans combine English. Eastern ana
French ideas into an original whoe"-a description
which, by the way. suggests a popourri OF an
establishment which is far from the truth The large
bedroom, which is to be for time yonr own is
carpeed with the finest Of Oriental mating on when
lie large Eastern rugs Two single brass beisteadS
stand side by side covered with snowy drap"rv
and a delcaely colOred duvet Is folded AT the foot
Of each bed Tall silver candesticks ahorn the
dressing table. and the Is furnished win all
that comfort devise in the way OF q lounge
writing table. tempingly filled bookcase etc ioi
have hardly had tine, however, 10 take in all
your comforts. for after taking few moments 70
shake off the dust Of travel. YOU expected to
come down for a cup OF tea, or IL YOU HE, SOME
thing stronger. the veranda. There YOU VIII ma
tire rest of the house party, who s'raggle In from
their walks drives tides. until IT Is quite late
and then II is time to dress for the formal dinner
at haupast 8. A few years ago all the fashionable
world dincd at seven-and now wellknown hostess
dec]ares that she rarely gets her people seated
and fairly at their dinner before o.
II is unfortunate that IN certain matters OF ell
onette custom has given 10 fixed liw FOR
example take the of ntroductons. In England
introducing Is dispensed with much as possible
1t is such small country that It's inhabitants hno"
they will be to meet again, ana never seem
TO have confidence In the hosts choice OF guests
4 man i presented the lady he takes TO dinner
II might be awkward o;herwise-but IL he enters
into conversation with another guest TO whom he
has not been presented he does 1t at his own rsh
In Germany quite the contrary IS the rule AT
a dinner each will request his host or hostess
10 present him TO my lady he does not know Young
women likewise ask 10 be presented to married or
name only should be given. she Is supposed 70
know TO whom she desires TO be presenter. A man
In approaching a girl TO ask her 10 dahce' II lie
does not know the partner with whom she may nave
heen dancing presents himself just by name 10 the
man before turning TO make his bow to the Souns
woman: he assumes that for the moment her
partner + her guardian
But with US there Il no settled rule; many people
have adopted the English custom in this as IN o'her
things. Whether or not this Is the most courteous
way Of mating guests is question. There is GER
tanly an element OF snobbcry in II, and snoboefy
end courtesy are not closely related II the ter
mans. from whom fashionable society hardly expects
10 learn manners. carry Introducing TO an excess
still the homage that pays woman, or
Girl her elders by desiring TO be presented SHOWS
certain principle of courtesy that Is more to be
honored In the observance than In the breach.
American women are as a rule. deficient In col
loquial writing, and have very little originality
Of expression. For example their informal invita-
lions TO dinner are almost all cOuched IN the same
terms: Dear So and So-Will you and your husband
dine with on sucI-and- such a day. Hoping TO
have the pleasure Of seeing yCu believe me-. etc.
How much more tempting and promising OF good
things to come 1t Is when one receives :" A scratch
OF pen 10 beg to join lis at dinner next
TIL. sday. The soand sos coming. and one or
two others Pray say YES, and obllgc your de-
voted A. B. other equally unconventional and
Informal scribble. English far ahead OF lis
in Ills KIND Of dcsullory note writing. and their
charming little ofhand answers and invitations be-
speak both habit and culture
In letter writing. too. In this country there Is
much TO be desired. The Od-time epistes OF
elegant composition. for which Mme de Sebgny
and her contemporaries 50 famous. out