The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-01
In AN ENGLISH HOME
Ways Of Entertaining Novel
to the American.
PREMIUM ON wALLFLowERs
III You Are Not Equipped with
Charms Of Person or Manner You
May Want Company Save Ht the
Very Formal DInner-TipS Make
Weekend Costly for Men.

London. Nov. 20.-It is not an unmixed
blessing 10 be favored with an invita-
ton TO a house party on an English
estate for the fall shooting. one from
the States who is not in the lingo of
HIS or her own country, good mixer
is likely 10 discover this very quickly,
II he or she should receive and accept
such bid
! The English entertain very differently
/ from the way Americans do il. and.
/ while the method orer here is less de-
bilitating for the hostess. il is likely to
develop the latent tendencies toward be-
coming a wallflower which may be pos
sessed by the maid who finds herself un-
der the roof OF the typical English hos
1 tess. And 10 those who have yet to be-
come acquainted with this experience. a
brief Outline Of the process viii De wei
come
The invitation is given definitely - 20
the time the guest is expected 20 stay.
There is no chance OF a stay over time.
and on your departure your place Is
Immediately filed by another guest. the
I successive visitors having been an
ranged for" at the beginning OF the
/ season. Usually also the train is men
toned by which YOU are 10 arrive. Many
of the large estates have railway stations
on the property, at which only certain
trains stop. As the distance TO the house
is great. you must accept the train men
toned. and no matter how incOnvenient
make sure TO be on it. as you and the
luggage are 10 be met by proper convey
ances. A brOugham or wagonette is al
ways sent when Il is cold or windy. and
open traps on fine DAYS You can usual
ly count on getting 20 the house just in
time for afternoon tea. II earlier you
are met by the housekeeper for the host
ess is sure TO be of on some days out
ing with her other guests. Th5 house
keeper takes you 10 your room. En- route
footman encounters you, ami presenting
silver salver, viii ask FOR your keys.
and when you return from the inevitable
afternoon tea you will find that your
trunk has been unpacked to the very bot
tom. On the bed viii DE laid out your
very best bail dress. with all accessories
FOR dinner that night. the maid assigned
10 YOU Of you have not your own seem
ing 10 have a guarding eye 10 the impress
sion you are 70 make
Even Afternoon Tea Formal.
Afternoon tea Is very formal affair
in one sense. as il is the meal that no
member Of the house party misses. I'M
Jess some person Of very high rank be
among the guests and prefers having tea
served in his or her own sitting-room.
The women who have not been joining
energetically ia the pleasures OF the day
appear fresh from a rest in their bOu-
doris. most carefully appareied In the
most elaborate tea gowns. gorgeous al
fairs OF real laces and soft shimmering
stuffs that represent 10 end Of expense
Mingling with them VIII be the men
and women just returned from the days
shoot or a hunt. in habits or stalking
costume Everybody talks happily at
once. so the hustle and noise are joy
ous Introduction 10 the few days OF good
time 20 follow, and the CLEAN Of the beau
tiful old silver in the flicker OF the FIRE
light and softly shaded lamps makes
charming picture not easily eliminated
from the memory.
First impressions Of new scenes are ever
bound 10 stand out in ones memory and
last through a lifetime. but with the re-
membrane of this very first house party
in an English home win be a tugging
regret that except for your host. and this
only possibility. nobody else was in
trOduced, and also that the majority OF
the crowd were too much engrossed in
discussing the days events 70 recognize
your presence except by one combined
first stare. after which they talked hard
er than ever.
No IntrOductIons Needed.
II YOU have good looks and are smartly
gowned the men Will probably take
second survey. and one or two may ap-
proach shortly and begin to converse,
and viii kindly tell you Of some of the
happenings. 10 all Of which you must -
spOnd as il you were quite old friends.
General introductions are never given.
and each guest learns the others names
by hearsay If not an English woman.
for in the various sets that migrate from
house to house none are absolutely
strangers 70 the others. so closely are
these little chqUeS maintained. BY look
ing at the bedroom doors too, one learns
ones neighbours titles. for every door
has a little brass plate. into which the
card Of the temporary occupant is slip
ped by the housekeeper SO 10 mistake
can possibly occur.
Dinner is extremely formal Each
house guest, with others from outside
sources. is expected to be in the draw
ing-room several moments before it is
announced. and the man who takes you
in is introduced. The conversation is
likely to be extremely local, and there
fore 10 an alien almost unintelligible.
Precedence Must Be Observed.
The order Of going and coming is a
thing TO be remembered. for precedence is
most strictly and wonderfully observed
and thoroughly understood by every
British matron OF high caste. The most
important title holds first place. and IEe=
titled ones are followed by any colonial
officials who may be present. in their
proper order. Next comes army and
navy rank. the man gazetted even an
hour before another leading in this in
stance. Bishops rank with lords. and
the wife of each individual holds his
rank, and makes the move for departure
at any function where she may be chief
An army post is the place to witness
thrilling scenes in cases where prece-
dence has been broken. The enmity thus
engendered is undying.
Following dinner. unless a dance is
on IN the house or at some neighboring
place, bridge and billiards are usual, and
the play at the former is almost invari-
ably for high stakes-very high stakes.
IN fact-the craze for gambling being al
most more furiously developed among the
women than among the men
The maid detailed for your service
usually awaits you in your room. and
after the days excitement and fatigue
sleep is more than welcome when one is
permitted to seek il, which is seldom be-
fore midnight. At o'clock next morning
tea viii be served YOU. The Weakening