Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-11
HOWLONDON DOES IT
Literary Parties Are Entertained in fHo
CIeVer Fashions.
HIGH THINKING PLAIN LYING,
A thorough Plunge Into Bohcmla-Recep-
tions and Z" At Homes" by Weli-known
Authors and Journalists.
ccorrespondence of the Dispatch,

Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
LONDON, ENG, February 2.-Lite-
rary London entertains In two fashions.
During the winter months evening par
ties lasting from about till o'clock are
the rule.
During the spring and the season
hostesses are "at home TO their friends
from to s. and II the literary menage can
boast Of a small or large garden the en-
tertainment is graced by the name OF a
garden-party.
Without. drawing any invidious distinc-
tions 1t Is but fair to say that literary
London rejoices in high thinking and
plain living" differing In this from the
fashionable social circles where feeding"
is considered a very important item In
the programme, each hostess trying TO
vie with the Princess of Wales. whose
Marlborough House-party buffets are ceie-
brated; the royal menu including as rule
from nine to fifteen different kinds OF
sandwiches. eight different kinds of ices,
piles of glorious fruit from the kitchen
gardens at Sandringham, and choice
variety OF delicious drinks including the
famous Buckingham-P Palace champagne
cup.
Literary ladies' are generally content TO
offer their guests tea and coffee. two
kinds OF sandwiches, lemonade, and claret-
cup and In summer plenty OF ripe straw
Ilagr 90 md In A
Bohemian circle whiskeys and seltzer-
water, and BIS 4 SIS (brandies and sodas)
are provided for those who care for more
sustaining drinks than claret-cup.
THE KINDLY SALON.
OF late years number OF kind souls
have made a determined effort to provide
cooperative entertainments for those Bo-
hemians OF art and literature who either
know few people or whose way OF life
make 1t difficult for them To often attend
the parties and dinners OF their Weather
brethren.
II was with this object In view that the
Salon was started. namely, to hold periodi-
| cal meetings, at which art, science, and
| literature should bo the main subjects OF
mutual Interchange OF idea and of enter
| tanment. A grand council manages the
| entertainments admirably. Each meet
| ing takes place in the gallery OF the Royal
| Institute of Painters in Water-Coors,
| and lasts from about 10 to l.
Every candidate 10 this Salon must b.
| proposed by two members, AMI be a bona
| fde artist or writer Members are electe'
| by the council, and one black ball in fiy
| excludes the candidate, who for some goo'
| reason is considered unfit to Join tn
| society.
As every member has a right to bring
| friend 10 every guest-meeting. and as ther
are twenty honorary members belongin
! 10 the society, there Is scarce person o
note who does not at some time or othe
frequent these pleasant parties either as
| member or guest; and among few o
those whose names occur when speakin
of the Salon are Mr. and Mrs. Ernes
Hart. Marie Corelli, NJ. du Maurier, IN
Punch artist; Mrs Alexander. the popu
lar novelist. and score OF other well
known London personalities.
THE POPULAR IRISH CLUB.
Another association which claims some
what more serious aims and objects is th
Irish Literary Society, of which the pres
dent, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. has mad
an entirely unpolitical, yet intensely lit'
rary centre for all thsse sons and daughter
OF Erin. whose work keeps them In G
near London.
The Rev. Stopford Brooke ia one Of III
pillars of the Irish Literary Society an
the pretty rooms In Bloomsbury occupie
by the society have become quite a house
of-call for latter-day poets.
AT PRINCESS CHRISTIANS WRITER!
CLUB.
The Friday receptions at The Writers
Club deserves a long notice Althoug
| Princess Christian Is presideIi. and striC
care has been taken To keefs the list {
members entirely select the i'lub prefe:
TO continue in its humble though usefu
Fleet-street apartments. rather than NOV
to less convenient II larger promises. Th
/ Friday teas here are among the most popl
lar literary gatherings In London. The
bring together once Il week most of III
prominent women workers of the city.
AT MRS. STANDARDS.
Many members OF the Salon and othe
societies give interesting literary partie
at their own houses.
This Is notably the case with Mrs. Star
7 nard John Strange Winter. who. havin
TO leave London on account OF her cfh
dren's delicate health. now inhablts
beautiful old Georgian house IN the Ou
skirts OF Wimbledon, which suburb ha
row become a literary centre. thanks I
the presence of Mrs. Ritchie CAnnie Thaci
eray) Mr.. John Murray (of the famou
publishing house,. AIR. Wcatherby. ii
poet, and a host Of minor lebrities.
Mrs. Stannard, as late president OF III
Writer'S Club, Is In close touch wit
most English women who write. At he
house may be met numbers Of her siste
roveists and their husbands. A Boh'
milan touch is introduced by the number {
| Journalists who. since the ablishmer
of Winters's Weekly claim eir hostes
as one of themselves .r
AT MRS. wALFoRy's.
Another novelist to whose h. Use an inv
tation is much priced Is Mrs.f.. B. Wa
ford, the authoress of the nous boo
which made Queen Victoria B lain whe
she heard Mrs Walford's rang called on
prior 10 ner presentation at ~ Drawing
Room, "Ah, here comes Mr.. :,nith!' fo
"Mr Smith. a Part Of His :{e." place
the kindly mistress of CraIprook Ia
among the best-known writer's Of IN
day.
THE VAGABOND CUM.
A thoroughly Bohemian institution
but which can only boast Of men member
is the VagabOnd Club.
1t was started originally ty the bin
poet Philip Burke Marston. .ss meeting
held at I o'clock on the IA. I Friday Z
every month are among the Sitt.est an
cheeriest gatherings IN Don'sl.
or the four honorary mSnbers Brt
ffarte and Mark twain hpresert IN
United States. Among the saembers ar
men belonging 10 every raIste OF artist
and literary thought--J. NJ. 'iafrlc, Robei
MlsaYI -