The sun., 1899-08-16
ENGLISH WOMEN'S WAYS.
yNPNEssIoNS OF AMERICAN DELE
C<Fxs TO HOl EN'S CONGRESS-.

Bobnobbine with Nobiiity-Refreshments
and Music at Receptions, but No In
Productions - Delegates Better Up on
suffrage Than on London Fashions.
IoSpos. Aug. I've accepted with very
,rent Measure An invitation from the Duke
.nd Duchess Of Sutherland to attend recep-
,,on in their elegant mansion to the Anglo
Ar,erican Alliance This home has been
Asscribed In a former letter. Baedeker says
I, ,s the finest private residence in London.
Apropos OF this an amusing story Ia told. which
NAV be old to the reader but was new to me.
Just across the street Is Marlborough House.
the London residence OF the Prince OF Wales.
not nearly so handsome place. Whom the
shah OF Persia was visiting here he comment
.d on this fact to the Prince with that frank
nsss for which he 10 noted. 20. yes." answered
UIs Royal Hiehness good naturedly. the
Dule's home is much finer than mine"
"Then, f." said the Shah In astonishment. why
don't you cut of his head and take his house1"
Tho Anglo American Alliance as a social club
.ontairs among its nom bers some OF the most
celebrated men and women here. among both
the nobility and the commissioners. and 1t
hopes before long to have it's own club house.
a center where English and Americans can
meet in friendly intercourse. 1t had its incep-
A simultaneous movement here and in New
York A distinguished company was gathered
IN these great rooms. I found additional de-
light in the magnificent paintings. through be-
ing pioted about by Felix oschees. the artist.
He said one surprising thing. namely that an
artist might look at too many pictures to get
the best results in his own work. that 80 many
different schools and methods produced con-
fusion and destroyed originality. He believed
this was Just as true OF writing as OF painting
that one might read too much.
Ienjoyed a conversation with DR.. Newman
Hall. as did with several other dissenting"
clergymen. An American cannot comprehend
the vast gulf between the Church Of England
and all denominations outside. 1t is infinitely
wider and deeper than between Catholicism
and Professionalism In our country. or between
our orthodox and liberals In religion. 1t is not
that human nature 10 any different. perhaps.
hut we have no one church bulwarked and
buttressed by the Government and arrogant
with power and security. Even here however.
the mortar between the stones is beginning to
crumble DO you really believe that discs
tablishment' will come eventually?" asked
Dr. Hall. Il have no more doubt OF 1t than
that the sun will rise he answered: but to
the superficial observer 1t seems as IL nothing
IN England. not even royalty itself. is so
strongly intrenched.
Most Of us Americans do not appreciate some
things here as we ought We do not address
tho nobility properly. We say you " instead
of"Your Grace" Your HlRhness." and we
unconsciously put ourselves on too much OF an
equality in conversation. l must confess that
often have felt more trepidation in the pres
ence Of a managing editor than In that OF a
duke But we do admire immensely the dig
niNed and graceful bearing OF these noble
women The perfect pose and self-possesson
which come from generations OF culture and
comfort the enjoyment OF the best OF every
thing and the consciousness that ones position
is absolutely secure and not dependent in any
way upon the good will OF others
Speaking OF the Anglo American Alliance. re-
minds me that the report having gone out that
the International Congress ofWomen intended
to ndorse something OF this kind. the Irish So
cieties OF one Of oar bi: cities raised thousand
dollars and sent very clover woman over here.
armed and equipped with the necessary docu-
ments to night such IN endorseme mt to the last
ditch. If our Irish friends had been here about
the time the officers we're elected they would
not have felt any further uneasiness.
Avery interesting evening was the CONVEX
sazione given by the Foreign Press Assoca-
ton in the large drawing room Of the Salisbury
Hotel 1t seemed a little odd to have fine
musical programme which occupied the entire
evening but perhaps that was because music
always seems such stimulus to conversation.
This society was organized few years ago to
enable this influential body ofmen and women
to meet each other. and has been quite
successful. 1t was strange gathering.
scarcely two OF the large crowd Of the same
nationality yet all speaking English after
fashion. There were Germans. French. ltali-
ans. Greeks an East Indian in his picturesque
garh, and a Russian in his native costume. a
very striking personality. Among the guests
was the Secretary OF the Sultan OF Zanzibar In
gorgeous ralment. He IL very dark but very
handsome. with regular features and flashing
white teeth. Othello must have looked Just SO
when he wooed Desdemona.
1t Is not the custom at receptions in England
TO Introduce the guests to each other. which Is
very trying. especially where one meets the
celebrities Of all countries. 1t is understood
that guests are expected to chat together as II
they had always been acquainted. but 1t is
rather exasperating to read in the papers next
morning that a score OF people were present
whom YOU always had wished to meet and tc
wonder il you might have been talking to them
the night before
Much more elaborate refreshm ents are serv
ed here than In the United States at similar
functions. in fact they are the principal part o
the entertainment At afternoon receptions
the guests are ushered at once into the dininl
room. which Is in the first story. or English
basement and afterward they go up stairs in
to the drawing room to greet the hostess ant
generally to hear some good music. There Il
wonderful sameness about these refresh
ments. The long tables extend around tive
and often three sides OF the room. with a row
NJ liveried men-servants behind them. pourinl
the tea and coffee from huge silver urns ant
serving Ices. The guests usually help them
selves to the other things and there Is . per
feet crush around the tables. At inter
walls stand pitchers OF champagne ant
claret cup. lemonade. orangeade. and Smal
bottles OF water. There are plates O
very thin slices OF brown and white bread an
butter and sandwiches OF all sorts. han
tongue chicken. lobster. caviare. lettuce
cress and cucumber. with a little card at eacl
plate telling the "fllin'." Then there ar
more than dozen different kinds OF cake
and CONNECTIONS. At intervals are huge bowl
0t straw wberries. heaped with whipped cream
iRh OF hAr. khA In h