The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09

coated horses chAfed az their DIS with
the guests were oorralled for the drive.
through a billy country OF beautiful .yistas
villas that were almost palaces, distant
views OF the blue water, immediately
kept grounds and autumn tinted forests
The diminutive grand stand when the horse
show grounds were reached already con-
tanned O crowd OF gayly dressed women
and men attfred In a compromise between
fashion and Difference to the informally
Of country life.
Horsefesh as fine as care and money
could make II, modish equipages, beautiful
Ewomen and above all the clear sunshine
and sparkle OF the atmosphere, on perfect
| October day combined to make the an air
q dream Of autumnal delight.
aWe are to drive to the Jones's for tea,
calls out the hostess. when the guests OF
the grounds Of the horse show. Some OF
| the other coaches are coming over, too
| There Is drive through the dusk, with
the night air eager and nipping enough now
TO make the guests on the eoach top huoale ne
the road there Ia the sudden vision OF q
looming house with the red glow Of fire.
light through the drawing room windows;
The tea table. which was PRESENCE OF the
crasseet description, held about half enough
was already steaming. The real supply
was brought In by the servants.
Wraps were hastily doffed, the odor Of
tea mingled with the aroma Of cigarettes
and brandy and soda, and over all was the
subdued chatter of the guests. who had
scattered in parties through the halls and
drawing room.
Suddenly there comes the start for home.
Nearly all Of the men and women there
were to meet again that night at the ball TO
which most Of the county had been in
vited. In the meantime there was to be
"a W birb m n
be together.
The arrival at home showed by the sup
pressed voices and the general lack OF en-
narration that the gayeties Of the day were
1eng ss On the ce party onv hs past
however, and there were two good hours
for rest before dinner.
Again the preprandial calm settles over
the house. Two or three men sit IN the
library. Upstairs the maids appear and
the portieres that shield the dining room
from view the servants are busy In pre-,
pairing the table for the one function OF
the country house day that Is like city life
in its formality.
By half past 8 the hostess Is awaiting her
guests, who soon follow her into the draw
ing room. The women are in full evening
dress and the men could not attire them
selves with more ceremony. Inc OUTSIDE
guests, who arrive In relays, make the party
at dinner as numerous as at luncheon.
The table glitters with plate and can
dies. The animation that had disap-
peared in the cold and fatigue Of the early
evening has returned. Even though din.
ner be formal. country hours cannot be so
late as those OF city life. So by II the party
was on the way to the dance at the country
club.
1t lacked the pretentiousness but none OF
the beauty of a city ball, and with sense OF
the fitness of country life. the party broke
up early. By O'Clock the guests were at
home again Most Of the women were
upstairs in their rooms within ten minutes
after they reached the house.
Even the men who fingered for drink
and smoke soon strolled upstairs, even II
several did take the precaution to have
one Of the buffers bring drink upstairs.
Thus ended the evening of the autumn
house party.
The next day brings its similar If varied
pleasures. Some OF the guests go to the
yacht and are not seen again until tea time.
Another wing takes golf in the morning,
then a long drive In the four-in-hand,
lunch on the way, and then further on to the
county fair, where thew may inspect the
wonderful products animal and vegetable,
turned out by the gardeners and farmers
OF their friends.
Prize PIGS and prize dahlias, string beans
their attention with the fortune tellers
and the tintype men. They afford more
delight to the bucolic and native attendants
than the country fair pleasures In which
these city guests seem to take such delight
The drive home, the plentiful tea that
makes 1t possible to wait until so late for
dinner-taken that second night at house
ten miles drive away.-bridge until after
midnight, those are the pleasures Of that
lav IN tho ~ honaa