New-York tribune., 1908-10-25
LONDON SOCIETY
Political Hostesses - Sufrdgettes
WOrry Ministers.

London. October IA
The political hostesses have resumed thelr
functions with the opening OF the autumn ses-
sion II was their mission. when the present
government was organized. to prove that society
could remain brilliant under a Liberal adnninis-
tratfon and that the smart sets were not sx-
cIusively Tory; and they have carried out their
aims as zeaiOusIy the ministers themselves
have labOred to convince the democratic slsc-
torate that they were loyal TO the coalition with
trade unionists WfdOvvers and bachelors in
office have married. and their wives have joined
the circle Of entertainers. and there Is now
generous round Of hospitality, with more Liberal
receptions and dinner parties than Unionist
functions Ms. Asquith. not being without So
ciaI ambitions. has taken the lead as the chief
government hostess. and is Frightening Up ths
gloomy old house in Downing street with dinner
Darties Lady Creue. having regained her
health is expected TO entertain Liberals on
large scale and 10 lend increased authority 70
her husbands leadership OF the House Of Lords
Lacy Beauchamp, Lady Denman. Mrs. Herbert
Gladstone and Mrs. Harold Pearson have hand
some houses which are converted into political
salons whenever Parliament IS in session Mrs
Reginald NIcKenra is the hostess OF the Adj
miraIty. and Mrs Winston Churchill will have
Captain Frederick Guests house in Carlton
House Terrace as her theatre. and the tascina-
ton Of an interesting personality VII be felt
over the footIights. Politics may be dull ard
Nvearisome, but the Liberal hostesses and brides
are not going to allow anybody TO NOPE for lack
of cheerful society in fOssy times
Meanwhile the suf-agettes are making ths
lives of ministers as uncomfortable as pOssbs
and exhausting the patience OF magistrates and
police aurhorities- on the social side the move
,-Fr- E,u-
ers have obtained all the noto1iety that can BE-
had ont Of the vagaries Of eccentric politics.
Working women and domestic servants ars
finding unceosing recreation IN the adventures
of campaigning. and supply recruits for every
form of service that is required. from pastins
procIarnatiCrS on hOardiugs TO rushing the po-
lice in the direction OF the Houses OF Parliament
AIRY and 'Arrtet. instead OF making quiet
suburban excursion or going 70 the pit o.
theatre now take the silirmIsh line in front ot
Caxt5n Hall and enjoy all the fun at the fair.
By joining the ranks Of the unemployed and So
Hcitiug the support Of mObs OF lawless men tina
st1ffragettes have become more OF pubio
nuisance than ever before II a German army
had been at Dorking, ready 70 swoop down upcn
Westminster. there could not have been state
of siege more real than has been witnessed IN
whitehall this week with the reserves Of tns
metropolitan police massed for preventing ms
advance of the sufragettes toward the HOUSES
Of Parliament and for o6structing the Ordinary
movement of traffic There is q maximum de-
gree of public Inconvenience with minimum u
useful results for the suffrage cause Even
progressive thinkers. who want to have "onnsA
armed with the ballot and enabled to taAs al
active part in the social legislation OF tns luI-
ure are forced to admit that the suffrage EAU
ers are supplying stropg evidence OF their u1n'-
ness for citizenship y