The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-10
ocToeCR VISITS.
Large House Payties Are In Vogue This
Month.

Month.
This month OF October country house
visits become a feature In country so
ciety. Hitherto-that IL during Au-
gust-the family element has been In
the ascendant. and informal parties the
rule. formed OF relatives and intimate
friends. and they have met together or
they have succeeded each other as cir
cumstances dictated: but now that the
shooting season has commenced. large
house parties are invited wherever the
extent OF the partridge shooting rem
ders this possible. Thus. II a shooting
II good eight or ten men are invariably
invited. married men and their wives.
and bachelors making up parties OF
from is to 20 guests. IL. IN the other
hand, n shooting Ia a moderate one. IL
II an average number to invlte-say.
sever men and 1--WE ladies. Then. again.
shooting parties are given by men TO
men. There is no hostess by reason OF
h host being a bachelor. and ladies
are not invited to accompany their hus-
bands: these are essentially mems
parties" some men. while accepting in
Nttations 10 these. regret that ladies
are not to be present at them. knowing
from experience that very late hours.
unlimited smoking. high play and over
much drinking Is TO be expected on
these occasions, and they are agree
ably surprised when the reverse Is the
case. So well is this phase Of bachelor
life understood that not "a few bache-
lors invite one or two married couples.
in addition to their bachelor friends. so
as to adjust the balance somewhat. and
those who prefer the society OF their
own sex to that OF the opposite one
a spend the evenings in the billiard
or smoke rooms instead of joining the
ladies after dinner.
Apart from these smart shooting par
ties. very numerous are the small par
ties given during this month, at which
the guests do not number more than
six or eight on account OF the indiffer-
ent shooting at command. which usual
~ comprise -four men and two ladies, or
five men and three ladies. These are
considered very sociable visits and oc-
casion but little trouble. as compared
with larger parties. 10 either host or
hostess. October visits also include
those friendly n intimate ones made
to friends OF long standing. which do
not come under the head OF shooting
parties. but to which one or two men
are asked for a little shooting, and this
sport comes on perhaps two days In
a week: the other days Of the visit be-
ing filed with less exciting amusements
tennis. croauet. cycling, and so on:
these u-nceremonious invitations extend
w. NtAA toss ftftl tlah " llk
men are more usually asked h mar
ried men and their wives. and on an
average two ladies are invited to re-
main either a few days or a week, as
best suits the plans OF a hostess. II she
is a young woman she invariably asks
young ladies. II she Is middle aged she
asks a friend OF her W age. and. per
haps. a girl well known to her.
Whether shooting parties are large or
small. smart or unpretentious. to lunch
with the shooters is a daily custom
with the aides OF a party whenever
possible: of course. II IL not always so.
on account OF the immense amount OF
walking TO he got through by the shoot
ers. which AXE them considerable dis
tances during the morning. n also on
account or the hurried luncheons that
keen sportsmen are eager 10 make. that
they may at once resume sport on these
lovely October afternoons. Setting
aside these exceptions very pleasant
~luncheons out OF doors take place; the
ladies drive TO the tryst n a dlstant
one. or ride their bicycles ~ the roads
admit OF IL, and the sun is not too
powerful. The luncheon il sent on in a
cart with all necessary adtuncts for
comfort and even luxury, a very sub
stantial hot luncheon is provided. n
men-servants being In attendance. as
at home. even hot coffee is forthcoming
after the meal. The ladies' usually
spend the remainder of the day out OF
doors: IL acquainted with any of the
neighbors. the hostess either invites
them to afternoon tea TO meet her Wis
itors. or she takes the latter with her
to call upon them. Here n there a
garden party comes in. and IL II falls on
a ~non-shooting day. all the house party
are persuaded to attend Il. otherwise
the ladies go alone. The return from
shooting In October is generally so late
a one that afternoon tea with the ladies
Is almost out OF the question except the
weather proves adverse. and the birds
too wild. or the day a miserably wet
one; under sue conditions an early re-
u on the art OF the men is not an
unexpected pleasure.
A four days visit is the average
length OF an invitation to a shooting
party. h arrival taking place on the
Tuesday In a week. and the departure
On the Saturday following. Sometimes
the n~eighbors are invited to dine on
one or other Of the evenings. but often
er they, too, are entertaining visitors,
and cannot be dinner guests at the
n~eighboring houses.