The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-01

or the dearly beloved time-honored in
stitution SO entirely British. the tub.
The latter is far the easier TO Use. for
there Is no waiting. and for the bathroom
there Is, as even the Iat,St modern Of
English houses mas not arrived at the
state OF luxury in which each room is
built with its own tiled bath. The maid
spreads down large blanket rug on
the floor. on which she places the tub.
Then a can OF cold and a can OF hot
water. with bath towels. &C. are brought.
and you are left 10 your own devices.
the maid responding 10 your summons
10 aid you In dressing afterward. For
breakfast You proceed directly TO the
breakfast-roOm. You are told the hour
OF this -eDast. but do not expect 10 find
your hostess. although she may be there.
Here every one is for himself The
guests pour their own coffee and take as
they please of the pate or cold potted
rabbit or whatever other delicacies con-
stitute this morning meal. the butler or
second man bringing in relays OF deli
cious. crisp toast which is as much a
feature OF this meal as scenes and jam
are OF afternoon tea. There is on a side
table a device unknown even to tardy
Americans. called the "sluggard,s de-
light" This IS a nickel or plated silver
stand heated by spirit lamps. on which
things are kept hot IN casseroles. At
breakfast. as at luncheon. no courses
are served, the two meals varying but
little.
Luncheon on the MOO-s
II you do not feel equal 10 stalking
with the men. you spend the morning
going over the Conservatives OF the
house and play a little tennis or amuse
yourself as you see fl until the time
comes 10 drive TO the luncheon for those
who are shooting, which is served at one
or the gamekeepers' lodges From this
you return only in time for afternoon
tea. which is usually az 400, or possibly
as late as 2. depending mostly on the
time Of year. England is so far north
that the autumn days are very short
the sun in late autumn coming up at g
and setting at 3 Between times the light
has been described aptly by the Ameri-
can girl as a very weak mixture OF sun
and water. Americas brilliant DAYS
are a rarity In England The DAYS
sport is therefore limited by the short
ness OF the afternoon.
\ curious feature seems 10 be the diff
ferences made In the selection Of guests
for house party and those asked In for
dinner, Tor IN the first care IS taken that
they shall be congenial. For dinner a
Heterogeneous collection is invariable. ana
the pairing or that ensues is almost a
joke from the American point Of view
debutante is given 10 a man old
enough to be her grandfather, and on
the other side VIII be another uninter-
esting specimen. the one object seeming
10 be tie paying OF OF social duties, the
duties being taken wholesale and divided
OF into lots.Jno matter how uncongeniaL
IL Is taken as a matter OF course. how
ever. and accepted with the best possible
spirit.
no Drag on the Hostess
One thing that must be recognized is
the absolute independence Of both guest
and hostess. dinner being frequently the
only time OF meeting. IN this American
matrons could find a good lead 10 follow
for II would relieve them OF much anx-
iety, this leaving the guests TO their own
devices after having provided pleasure
OF definite kind. In this way the wear
and tear Of hospitality are greatly les
sened.
The question Of tipping is somewhat ap-
palling 20 men visitors who 10 the head
keeper alone give two guiDeas at least;
a lord gives ten. For the American trav-
eler II Is well to know that one can en-
gage a competent maid in London merely
for house party visiting. and have the
comfort Of her entire attention at a
small expense. A unmarried girl *
only expected 10 tip the maid delegated
10 her use IL her own Is not with her
Married people are finding visits an ex-
pensive pleasure. as each has TO tip all
the servants that in any way aid them.
and in no small coin. be Il understood
Fortunately. matters are not in the ex-
treme state reached in Germany. whete
even a dinner guest tips the entire STAFF
Of house servants. from footman TO cook