New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-03

Lady Dorothy NeNiii mas q nSfli MANU-
in reminiscent gossip. This new volume
Of recollections is as animated and good
--Irnored as was that which preceded II.
If she laments the changes which have
come TO pass in English life since her
youth she does il usually in no acid vein
Perhaps she is unduly respondent in her
observation-disclosures when she looks for
ward to a time when there shall be no
more friendly feeling in the country
side. when class Will regard class with
feelings % dislike on the one side and
hatred on the other" AS for society,
Lady Dorothy sees much 10 regret in
customs and convictions now departed
To her the fashionable word smart is
offensive she thinks that il was not, in
former DAYS. much heard outside the
servants hall. and adds: u cannot
imagine what the great ladies OF other
DAYS would have thought and said had
some one been introduced to them, and
on making inquiry been told. She is
quite smart This critic, who comes to
us from the Victorian era. thereupon de-
votes several pages to the smart set,
so called. 1T neither likes nor under
stands conversation in the true sense Of
the term" she declares, though not
few OF its members are very apt and
Quick al their own kind OF personal
banter and somewhat vapid repartee-
To do them justice, they are. TO a man
and to a woman. hero worshippers of a
most enthusiastic kind, the object Of
their admiration being generally one Of
their own number. who, for the time
being. has attained TO an especial de-
gree Of tsmartness' in which case every
thing connected with him or her becomes
& topic Of absorbing interest" 1t is the
privilege Of age TO take a mournful view
OF social changes, but Lady Dorothy
might be reminded that in the time of
her grandfather, as satirical writings at
test the word smart" was often used.
and not in the servants hall.
Another fault IN the present genera
ton. as this censor sees it, is its indif-
ference 70 the establishment Of perma-
nent home. The attachment to ones
own house which used TO be felt by Eng
lishmen has apparently no root in their
descendants. who are ready 10 purchase
q house in Mayfair one year and sell il
the next Much travel abroad and life
amid the luxury Of the modern hotel
contribute. X is suggested, TO this lack
OF affection for a fixed home Interior
decoration. Lady Dorothy acknowledges,
now far surpasses that of early Vic
rorian DAYS She remembers that rooms
Were sitter and less comfortable then.
that the rooms used by men were espe-
oialIy bleak. artistic decoration being
considered effeminate. People she
adds, had a sort of idea that g certain
amount OF discomfort fortified and
strengthened the character" The Eng
lisa liking for fresh air is, she testifes. a
modern requirement Seventy years ago
that delicious element OF health was
carefully excluded from John Bulls
Etuffy rooms AS for dinners, the author
does not like the considerable change
which has taken place in the number OF
dishes;
Formerly = constant subject Of COM
paint with regard 10 dinner parties was
IHat there were TOO many courses, but if
things 20 on as they have been going Of
late guests viii soon begin 10 complain
thar they have had no dinner al all. the
fashionable modern tendency being 10 give
. ve~y light entree IN the place OF joint.
E,hich now seldom figures on menu. This
and another entree soup, z little fish and
:. --e-1- Ij.ft sweet seem Considered s11ffi-
dent dinner Tor even a large party, and
those guests who may not care Tor the
entrees practically get nothing TO eat al
all. In addition 10 this, everything Is
served at such lightning speed that II Is
much one can DO 10 swallow the few
mouthfuIs called dinner before ones plate
has been sn2tched away. The whoIe sys-
ten of these hurried modern meals IS IN
comfortable and unhealthy.
There are many agreeable glimpses of
distinguished personages in this volume
and many anecdotes-we regret to say
that not all Of these are new. Here is
LADY Do-othy's version of q Whistler
story- He was. as is well known. most
original in his ways. and punctuaIity
was not one of his strong points on
one occasion. when asked 10 dinner by
somewhat punctilious host. the party,
after waiting for an unconscionably long
time eventually sat down to dinner.
Soup and fish Were served. and still no
Whistler appeared: and when at last he
arrived the host was in anything but the
best Of tempers. as his countenance
showed. Whistler, however. was in no
wise disconnected, for, cheerily grasping
q somewhat limp hand. he ratified ont:
Don't apologize for having begun with
out me ! shan't be offended in the very
least after which, taking his seat. h.
became the life and soul OF the party"
This performance, which was. Of course,
more deliberate pose than eccentricity,
would not have been tamely tolerated by
q host o. sterner mould. like Lady Dor
othy's old friend. the second Duke of
Wellington. He. at least. had no hesita-
ton in speaking his mind" and no
mercy on pretenders:
On one occasion q literary man who had
been asked TO Strathfeidsaye for the first
tine talked much OF his knowledge OF
the great foreign statesmen of the day.
with a view 70 showing the intimate terms
which subSisted between him and them.
At first. ne spoke Of Bismarck till every
one wished the Iron Chancellor had never
been born, and the following day II was
evident that Garnbetta was 10 be rendered
-hfS Frenchman. said the irrepressible
TzIke- and fond OF sending little
Veuf-s 20 those he likes. he sent me this
cigar cutter only the other day tsllow-
ing q trinket his watch chainb- Then,
suppose. broke in the duke, that Bis
TnsTck gave II TO him. for yesterday II
had belonged 10 the Chancellor You are
Fecorning confused. Mr. -. YOU are be-
coming confused For the rest OF the
visit heard no more OF either Bis
nfsrck Gsmbetta-
Some amusing pages are given to that