Society in London.

Evening Star, Issue 6916, 1 June 1885, Page 3

Society in London.

This is the title of a very personal series of sketches which has excited considerable attention. We append a few extracts:—

A very prominent place in the bock is assigned to the Princo of Wales, _ the “benevolent despot” of London society. “ It has sometimes occurred to me that tho Prince of Wales may ho compared to a physician of the body politic whose prescriptions are regarded as infallible, and who decides in exactly what proportions tiie two opposites principles of social medicine shall be combined by interior practitioners ; how far Bohemianism may lie blended with Pharisaism ; in what quantity the acid of rakishness may be infused into tho alkali of respectability. From this point of view’ the English Heir Apparent is a groat medicine man, beneficently ready with his counsel and specifics, quick to diagnose the patient, to pronounce upon the evils which lie at the root of the malady, and to indicate, how they may lie removed.” Starting from this exulted personge, tho writer goes steadily through the aristocracy, the diplomatic and political world, the professions, art, litoiatnrc, and the stage, dealing «cnVt/f»i with the most prominent figures in each field. ’lhcre is 110 organic unity whatever. The arrangement is entirely accidental, the several sketches themselves, of course, of very unequal merit. It would he interminable to pass judgment on them severally ; it is Impossible to regard them as a whole. Wc shall content ourselves with quoting one or two of his descriptions.

Of the fair American who has of late years become so conspicuous a type in London society tho writer says:—“ Much may be said in favor of the American ladv who is now one of the reigning princesses of English society. She is often pretty, never mercenary. She lias for the most part some wealth herself, and prefers infinitely to wealth in her husband, position, wit, intellect. She is also seldom lacking in humor and in conversational skill. Altogether she is an acquisition to society, though her independence, her impatience of restiahits, ami especially her incessant efforts to advance, by matrimonial alliances or otherwise, tho interest of her countrywomen, may sometimes prove fertile in mischief.” Very absurd but very funny is the account of Mrs Gladstone “ Mrs Gladstone is the elderly incarnation of guileless naivete, the matronly essence of impulsive simplicity. She is to appearance all artlessncss. I have heard persons who, I think, ought to know better speak disparagingly of Mrs Gladstone’s sagacity because of those little peculiarities. Believe me, they make a great mistake or they commit a great injustice. Mrs Gladstone is, in her way, one of the cleverest women living. ... At the very worst she can he credited only with a few small ineptitudes which, if they really deserve that name, are in perfectly artistic keeping with her character. ... I have heard of ladies and gentlemen, very astute in their own estimate of themselves, who have endeavored to extract early knowledge of public matters from Mrs Gladstone. I have never heard of one who succeeded; and her aplomb is as remarkable as her discretion. Here is an instance. Two years ago, when Mr W. E. Forster had resigned his portfolio in Mr Gladstone’s Cabinet, he was naturally anxious to hear how the Prime Minister would speak of the incident in the House of Commons, and not less naturally anxious to listen without being himself observed. He therefore did not take his ordinary place in the body of that assemblage, hut made his way into the ladies’ cage, or rather that portion of it which is set apart for the lady friends of the wife of the Speiker. Directly he had entered he perceived that the sole occupant of the department was no less a person than Mrs Gladstone herself, She was the one person whom he would have avoided seeing. He felt, a little discomposed, and was proceeding to evince his discomposure in the rugged, spasmodic way peculiar to that flow'd’ of Quaker subtlety, lint Mrs Gladstone was perfectly at her case. She held up her finger at him, and, shaking her head with an air of gentle reproval, muttered in a low voice ‘ Naughty! naughty!’ The story hears strong internal evidence of truth, hut it is misdated. Mr Forster was in the House at the time of Mr Gladstone’s speech, but there are other occasions of recent years on which the intident might well have occurred.

Turning to a totally different sphere, wc come across a clever analysis of Mr Wilde : —“This is a very clover and long-headed young man indeed. He always reminds me of Brutus, who, for purposes of Ins own and with triumphant results, feigned idiocy. Mr Oscar Wilde saw that if anything was to be done with a capital of moderate talents it was necessary to create a sensation. Having secured, with the help of a few Eopular or well-known ladies, art audience, e proceeded to pose as the high priest of

iEstheticism. Mini laughed at him ; but it was a sort of folly that paid. Mr Wilde presented the appearance of a fribble, aim Calculated his arrangements to nicety. If he was laughed at he could afford to laugh tit other?, and kept Ins tongue in bis cheek. He, Juts-had imitators, tfltfsenames I. cannot remember, but Ijc has itovfu' betin In' the peculiar >/pV»trofJiis choice.

An old “salt” when asked how fjj-r nortii he had over been, replied that iic had been so far north that “ the cows, when milked beside a red-hot stove, gave icecream.”