The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-20
KBOUSE PARTY IN URUGUAY.
E%ngiishmen Live in style on Great Estates
Uses Of Automobiles.

from me Los angeles IiWes'
There ia a considerable number Of enor-
nous estacias In the Rio Plata countries. some
OF them being az much az 1000 square miles
over a million and q quarter acres-in extent,
and fully 90 per cent. OF them are owned by
men OF British birth or parentage. The
largest Of them are in the Province OF Chubut.
In the south OF Argentina. where they are
almost entirely given over 70 the rearing OF
sheep for wool.
or these latter estacias the owners OF
fifteen out of every twenty OF them are Eng
lish, comprising men originally OF every sort
and condition, from reformed" defaulters
To retired sea captains and rejuvensted sprigs
OF eflete nobility. Nearly all Of these men are
immensely rich and becoming more so. and
the magnifcence OF the appointments OF
many OF the houses and the munificence OF
their entertainments can be described as
nothing less than regal. A description OF a
house party at the Nc estacia. which
1 unwittingly stumbled upon during my ride
across southern Uruguay. will give some idea
of the scale upon which these ahairs are
carried out down this way.
The excuse for this party in the first place
was, | believe. polo. and in the course OF the
week selection OF players and ponies was
made. from a dozen OF the former and some
three or four times that number OF the latter,
for a tournament In prospect with several
of the crack Argentine teams. But 80 vast.
eumptuous aud varied was the other enter
tainrnent provided that polo was only a
prominent incidental in a bewildering list
of shooting and boating parties. gymkhanas.
golf and tennis tournaments. races. hunts.
archery contests and gaucho exhibitions,
to say nothing of bridge. dancing and motor
ing. which, like the beer at a turnverein
picnic, we're always on tap.
The Mo lands touch the railroad at
EstacIon MIC. 100 miles from Montevideo'
from which point it Is about thirty miles
cross country to the estancia house inc
guests, between forty and fifty In number
vent out by special train as far as Estacion
Nc, and were then run through on motors
over a road that had been constantly prinkled
during all Of the previous week In prepara-
ton for the extraordinary demands TO De
made upon IT,. TIL polo ponies and the
Rrooms, chauffeurs, Wallets, maids. &C., were
sent out a day ahead OF their principals, also
ON a special train. but consisting OF mixed
freight and ordinary passenger coaches
instead of drawing room cars.
Nost of the party's snap and 60 was due
70 the predominance of the English element,
The German French. Italian and Spanish
representation mostly made up OF members
OF the Diplomatic Corps in Montevideo ana
Buenos Ayres. did clever work at the bridge
tables and in the ballroom, but were quite
deficient In enthusiasm for, and proficiency
al. tnt OutuOoI bpoiN - iANH 49,
cipal raison d'etre of the gathering, and
which. outside the amending and never fall
ing thoughtfulness Of the host and hostess,
were the moving cause of its success. The
foreigners" were an extremely polite and
likable lot, and undoubtedly clever along
certain lines. but being quite lacking in what
the English call their "keenness. never i'm
pressed me as getting their moneys worth
out Of the golf. polo. tennis or anything else
calling for the exercise Of bodily energy.
The task OF the commlssary department
In supplying the demands of this party OF
Atty people-a number that was doubled
~ all the servants and attendants are reckoned
mat a distance Of 100 miles from a city
was by no means a light one. Every need
that could possibly have been foreseen was
provided against in advance. and all supplies
not Of a perishable nature were in stock be-
fore the guests arrived. A couple OF days
rations Of meat, fruit and vegetables could
also be kept on hand in the freezer, but most
OF the provisions OF this class came out daily
by train on a special refrigerator car that
was shunted of on Mes siding. where
there was usually enough Ice left In the, car
TO ace it's contents through the rest oil It's
Journey. II a part OF the shipment, was a
hurry order an auto went In to rush II through,
while the regular supply came on as slow
freight.