Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-02
..b[|SSFUL LIFE IN
COUNTRY HOUSES
Season of Covert Shooting
and Hunting Last Word in
English Hospitality.
EXPERIENCE RELATED
OF A TYPICAL DAY
No Recognized or Uniform Standard
of Merit Necessary for Invita-
ton to House Party.
Special Correspondents of The Star.

LONDON. October 49, 1913.
There Is a certain section of society
that, from the opening Of pheasant shoot
ing, October I. until the last OF the hunt
balls. about the third week In January
lives In other peoples country houses
for. despite Lloyd George. shooting goes
on as usual in England and Scotland
The woman with a hatbox and two Amer
lean travelling trunks. the man with suit
case, kit bag and double gun case, and
escorted respectively by maid and q
valet, who Is also competent loader,
spend their autumn and winter IN
migrating from county to county over
the length and breadth of England with
no more trouble and expense than Is IN
volved in taking railway tickets and tip
ming successive sets of domesucs and
keepers.
For variety Of reasons welcome
guests, they lead a butterfly existence IN
this workaday world. For from tnt
early morning cup of tea, Drought Win
the hot water TO the final ''nightcap al
/ am, life in an English country mouse
during the season OF covert shooting anu
hunting is the last word In hospitality
an endless round OF sport and neaithy eA-
ercise out of doors, accompanied by every
tenement of civilization-toliets tha'
are fashions latest masterpieces,
cuisine beyond reproach.
Take a typical day in this privileged en-
vironment. Breakfast. with cnolce .S .,
hot dishes large enough to satisfy the
epicure. and a side table spread with a
cold collation. that would appease
giants appetite, is movable leasl "
suit the varying tastes of the guests LOT.
though the guns will be down at S:4J
al the latest other members OF the party
will still be ringing for fresh toast at ~
O'Clock AS the motto of success1ul nos
pitality is the motto of RabelaiS. 10 as
Won please" how to spend the hours OF
dayIirht apart from the organized pro-
gram of masculine sport is ieft TO lndiVlo-
nal tastes to decide until tea time brings
the house party together.
Dinner Principal Function.
Then auction bridge, "coon-can. jig
saw puzzles, or sentiment in a corner
TIT the dressing gong heralds the prin-
cipal function of the day-dinner. After
ward. especially If the element OF youth
fashionable youth-predominates. Is sure
to come roulette. with the richest OF the
guests as croupier, and the stakes liniteo
only by the banks ability to pay tne
odds. continued till a substantial pro-
portion of allowances and pin money
has changed hands in the gamble.
Who are the favorites of fortune VINO
are made free of such scheme OF Things
agine that their qualifications would be
obvious at a glance. that they would De
without exception the possessors OF either
wealth, historic lineage, or great puoic
careers, people figuring In the newspapers
as different from their fellows. On the
contrary, the credentials in question are
given on no recognized or uniform stand
ard of merit.
One man will be welcome everywhere
because at battue he will have three
vSl,o avnfsa n
another will go from house to house by
virtue of the fact that he plays his love-
" wifes accomplishments and Is mas
ter of the art of 'ragtime." while GER
smart house party for no other ostensible
reason than that, by spending more than
she can afford a year on the clothing OF
q perfect figure, she has become social
celebrity.
Peculiarly Congenial.
The atmosphere of country house Is
by such variable and capricious means,
for the central fact of life In that at
mosphere is it's responsibility. its light,
heartedness. The mood of the moment Is
pursued. the latest within INDUCED. with
out hesitation or reflection.
Lets learn TO dance the tango" II
is suggested. No sooner said than acted
upon. a telegram Is dispatched. an in.
structor of the newest craze brought
down, and one and all devote themselves
to the task of initiation until another
preoccupation occurs. or the party itself
breaks up; or the idea presents itself to
some one of dressing up as. gypsy and
telling the fortunes of the others AS a
result of the successful impersonation
n raee for the practice of theatrical
makeup" sets in, probably eliminating
in a full-blown performance for the bene
fit OF the villagers.
But 10 crystalline these statements int
concrete case. A certain man of thirty
five or so. who. with private income
that is almost negligible. fills one of those
convenient positions under the government
that enables It's holder TO accept any In
vitations he chooses without interference,
with official duties; able to Kill two
xari,. tai sros. OF fhxau xnrlkA