New-York tribune., 1907-11-03
LADY SLADE.
A "1z1eek End II, an English Home.
That Differ from Those in Anerica-Ind depen-
dence of Hostess and Guest
British Customs

The American girl going abroad must expect
all kinds of surprises and differences ir the
home lives Of the people of the various nations
Even in England she will find much to aston
j.. ish her and will wonder naturally why there
should be any variance between the customs
Of those speaking the same language. especially
as this same good land of ours principally
peopled in the first instance by English men and
women who might be expected to transmit the
hereditary customs TO posterity. 1t would
have been easy. too. 10 have installed any new
ideas or changes that fashion brought to the
mother country on this side of the water. for
letters written in the olden time were fraught
with much detail as 10 even the smallest topics
of the day II not the middle class or
merely the artisans lower working people
that emigrated to these shores when Virginia
and MARYLAND were colonized but instead the
sons Of noblenen bearing world renowned titles.
Their wives and sisters accompanied them or
came later when suitable shelter had been pro-
1-ided and the manor houses throughout the
Southern states prove that these homes in the
Kew World were Of no mean order, while diaries
show that hospitality open handed, though
even at this early date conducted on dill
ferent lines from those of the homes just left
OF course the difference in the size of these
colonial rnanors and those of England is re-
sponsibIe in a way for some Of the changes. Tor
the servants quarters were more restricted III
the newly built domiCiles, and. in fact were
frequently arranged under separate roofs III
buildings not far from the manor. Having fewer
servants meant that the members of the family
would have to undertake many small tasks 10
which they were unaccustomed, and in teach
ing The unframed servants they gradually as
e,,r,ed as their own province class of duties
chat the ignorant slaves could never have per-
formed properly. Such duties took time other-
wise occupied in the accomplishments or the
reriod bv the leisure class in England, and
f,raduallv the New World women and men OF the
most representative class shook off such con-
ventionalities as could he dispensed with ana
assumed many cares left 10 housekeepers and
agents in the landed estates Of the mother coun-
Try Thus they lost forever for their children
the knowledge of many customs that have ever
heen observed in the land of their forebears, and
that accordingly are novel to the modern Amer
,can when encountered in stay in an English
home
The invitation Is given definitely as to the
time the guest is expected to stay There Is
no chance of a stay over time ana on your
denarture your place is Immediately filled by
another guest the successive visitors having
been arranged for" at the beginning OF the
season. Usually also the train IS mentioned py
which you to arrive. Many OF ue laIet
estates have railway stations on the property at
,,,bIcb only certain trains stop. AS the distance
10 the house is great, you must accept the ualh
mentioned, and no matter now lhcoIiHeh
semi make sure 10 be on il, as you ana the
inpeare are to he met by proper conVeyances
A brougham or wagonette is always sent when
It is cold windy, and open traps on me y uays
You can usually count on getthg 10 ule ho'9e
inst in time for afternoon tea. II Garner you
are met by the housekeeper, for the hostess Is
sure TO be off on some Gay outing win hes
other guests. The hOusekeeper takes you TO
your room. En- route a footnan encounters
Won and presenting silver salVer, VIII ask
Sor vour keys. and when you return from the
Inevitable afternoon tea you viii find that your
trunk has been unpacked TO the very bottom
On the bed will be laid out your very best ball
dress with all accessories for dinner that night
.he maid assigned 10 YOU (if you have not your
OWN seeming to have guarding eye to the
impression you are to make.
Afternoon tea, too, is a very formal affair in
one sense as il is the meal that no member of
the house party misses, unless some person of
very high rank be among the guests and prefers
having tea served In MS or her own slttlng
room. The women who have not been joining
theoretically in the pleasures Of the day appear
fresh from q rest in their boudoirs, most
fully appareiled in the most elaborate tea gowns,
gorgeous affairs of real laces and soft simmer
ing stuffs that represent no end of expense.
Mingling with them VIII be the men ana women
lust returned from the days shoot or hunt
in habits or stalking costume. Everybody talks
happily at once the hustle and noise are
Joyous introduction TO the few days or good
time TO follow and the CLEAN of the beautiful
old silver in the flicker of the freight and softly
shaded lamps makes charming picture not cas-
sly eliminated from the memory First impress
eions of new scenes are ever bound TO stand out
sn ones memory and last through a lifetime,
hut with the remembrance of this very first
house party in an English home will be a tug
gfng regret that except for your host. and this
only a possibility. nobody else was introduced,
and also that the majority Of the crowd were
too much engrossed in discussing the days
events TO recognize your presence except by one
combined first stare after which they talked
harder than ever. II you have good looks and
are smartly gowned the men will probably take
a second survey, and two may approach
shortly and begin to converse, and will kindly
tell you of some of the happenings, to all Of
which you must respond If you were quite
old friends. General ntroductions never
given, and each guest learns the others names
by hearsay if not English woman, for in the