The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
AUTUMN HOUSE PARTY LIFE.
DIVERSIONS OF A WEEK END IN
THE COUNTRY.
A Typical Day in Country House-A Good
Deal Of Outdoor Entertainment and
Some Bridge and DancinS--Only One
Formal Meal-At It's Best Just Now.

These crisp, clear autumn days are ideal
for the enjoyment OF the week end party
and the country houses near New York
are filed with guests.
Take day like one last week and let the
hour be early enough for the October sun
to be pouring through the long French
windows into the drawing room. Most
OF the guests have come down to breakfast,
| all the members Of the party in fact, are
there but the hostess, who has for years
made 1t a rule to take her coffee In bed.
Two OF the women are in riding habits
and three Of the men are already dressed
for their morning ride. The silent buffers
in their morning livery, with the short tails
Of their coats fastened back with brass
buttons and their. striped linen waistcoats
pass from one guest to another bearing
silver dishes in their hands.
But this breakfast is very informal. On
sideboard stand three chatting dishes
with steaming water beneath them. From
these the walters serve those OF the guests
who want something substantial.
One dish contains crisp bacon and devilled
kidneys, lamb chops are in the second,
while in the third is thick steak, excellent
and juicy in its thin gravy Of melted butter
and parsley and surrounded with crisp,
thinly cut fried potatoes. Eggs and toast
are brought to the table for those guests
who want them.
Boiling water stands at one end Of the
long sideboard, on which are four cold
roast chickens, cold ham and jars of
marmalade The table is spread with
little more than cups and plates and linen
and silver.
The guests, arriving at their leisure.
although o o'clock was supposed to be the
hour for breakfast, greet one another
with as little Formally as some of the men
speak to the two buffers.
Lets have a look, Chalmers, into the
chatting Dishes" one of them says, as he
Tolls into the room, 4and get me brandy
and soda, quick. Kidney for me, Chal-
mers, and an egg soft. Hello. Chappy.
What's happened since yesterday? Is there
anything in the papers?'
The newspapers are scattered over q
large table in bay window Of the breakfast
room. Seated there are two women, who
bow pleasantly to the last conner and then
resume their reading.
He glances at a paper until the respectful
Chalmers has brought his brandy and
soda. AS he lifts the glass to his lips he
sees the other wing of the party at the
table.
Hello he says. I'm coming over to
There is mild gayety in the converse
ton; the men and women leave the room
when they want to and devote themselves
in riding habit arrives, stretches her
arms and opens one of the long windows
leading out upon the terrace.
DO come out here, she calls to the other
guests. The air is too beautiful to be in
be ready for a ride?"
None of them stirs, for those who are
not at table are deep in the papers.
DO come out here, some Of you," she
calls to the women. THE morning is
glorious"
One Of the men finally consents to 60
out at II. and ride for two hours. which
will bring them back in time to dress for
2 o'clock luncheon.
woman says. determined to carry her
point and keep somebody on the terrace
60 out in the yacht tomorrow"
Gradually the party left the breakfast
room. Several of the men remained at
time for the ride had come. The hostess
took out her four in hand with all but four
women, who insisted on staying at home
to play bridge.
fhave declared martial law on one point
she called out TO the equestrians as they
started from the house. Everybody must
be back to lunch at 2. We are going to
start for the horse show at 3, and any
body who is a minute late gets left
There is silence in the house after the
In one of the small rooms the women sit
all but speeches. at bridge. At the close
of every hand there is q brief clatter. Oc-
casionally servant walks through one Of
the long drawing rooms, arranging a vase
Of flowers or setting right some OF the
furniture.
The first signs of the returning guests
are two OF the riding party who contrived
to separate themselves from the rest Of the
party.
"Of course, it was an accident, the young
woman declared as she stood at the bridge
table. I'VE lost the others soon after we'd
started out and, try as we could. we never
caught up with them again. But listen,
there's the COACH
1t is the sound Of the horn telling that
groom kept up an almost continuous toot-
ing until the coach stopped at the door
and with incessant chatter and laughter
the women descended with the aid OF the
groom.
They had not reached the ground before
the riders came dashing up the drive.
There was more laughter, more calling and
scorn for the two of the party that had
wandered away.
You could have followed us perfectly
WE'LL came from one OF tne women. we
saw you deliberately turn off at the mill
road Just to get rid OF us. Naughty
Naughty! And you had no chaperon.t
The two victims laughed and the girl
blushed They might have tried to de-
fend themselves If the hostess had not in
tervened.
Children, she cried, holding up her hand
dramatically. I'VE must lunch at 2. That
is one OF the settled things Of this life. It's
an hours drive to the grounds from here.
The Smiths are bringing over a party to
lunch here and then will go over with us
to the shore. You must be ready on time
There is scamper,. a great pretence of
hurry and flight at the sternness OF the
chatelaine. In a second there Is quiet
downstairs, interrupted only by the coca
sional noise Of the servants spreading the
great table in the dining room. Thirty-six
were to sit down.
In the upstairs corridors there was an
occasional rustic OF q maids skirt az she
hurried from one room to another, usually
carrying a dress OF part of a dress. That
was ally there was Of overture for the
luncheon.
Thus passed the morning hours in that
country house.
1t was again a coach horn that sounded
the opening note Of luncheon. The Smiths
had arrived at the furthest gate, and not
a soul was ready to receive them. Al
though she did remain in bed for her break
fast, this hostess had old-fashioned ideas
and managed to get downstairs in time 10
meet them. Gradually her guests fol-