UNINVITED GUESTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 December 1926, Page 11

UNINVITED GUESTS

«CRASHING THE SOCIAL GATES.”

LONDON HOSTESSES AT BAY

ENGLAND is suffering from an epidemic of the social infliction known cryptically ' as “Mr and Miss U. Guest.” Mr and Miss U. Guest are, one hastens to explain, those indelicate persons who “crash the gate” at large private entertainments to which they have not been invited. _ They may he roughly devided into two categories. Those who take the risk of being' unceremoniously shown out, just for the fun of the party ;and those who go to it for a definite and sinister purpose, as scouts for skilful bands of thieves. Mr Uninvited Guest is far more common than is Miss; but Miss does appear. She is more useful as a scout, for instance. Men’s cloak-rooms in most big houses are on the ground floor, the women’s are often upper bedrooms, pressed into service for the occasion—which means that the upper floors are open for inspection to the perfectly gowned female intruder. . She is always perfectly gowned, just as he is immaculately dressed. The manners and conversation of both are charming. Their fellowguests are delighted with them. Their hostess is perfectly certain that they are people she really ought- to know, and reproaches herself for iier lapse of memory, until other of her guests claim her attention. At least that is the way it used to go for the U. Guest family. But lately the path has been less smooth for them. The London hostess is getting tired of their company and is taking precautions. Mrs Baldwin, wife of the Prime Minister, and naturally, therefore, one of the most victimised of hostesses (for who is there who does not nourish a secret ambition to visit famous No. 10, Downing Street?) has led the way. Recently a new rule was enforced at No. 10. Onlv those persons who had actually replied to the invitations were to be admitted to any of her receptions.

A secretary with an alphabetical list of these people is now in attendance beside the footmen who open the front door, and those presenting themselves for admittance (except, of course.

at the more intimate gatherings) are checked up. Other hostesses are making obligatory flic presentation, at the door, of the invitation itself. , Bveu these measures are not too successful. Invitations are things that are frequently left lying around. Neither footman nor secretary can afford to be firm to the point of rudeness if a would-be guest is insistent; for often the most important people really do forget to bring along their cards. The U. Guests, once they get the hand oi these affairs and have the aplomb, born of much practice, become very bold indeed. Hence the hostesses of Mayfair, Westminster, and Belgravia have banded themselves more closely together, and are taking determined steps "to end the social careers of the interlopers. They have, in fact, organised a sort of social secret service—including themselves, their secretaries, and their butlers—for the detection of the unwelcome visitor. People, then, like Lady Ast.or and Lady Londonderry, great political hostesses who entertain an immense number of persons whom they may hardly know by sight, but who know them or are associated with them in some way, were the first victims of the sensation hunter who wanted to mingle with the great, though he knew them not. Long accounts of all thenreceptions are regularly published in the newspapers with the names of those present. It was tempting, inflaming to the imagination. Perhaps a few people, uninvited, were taken at first by friends w r ho really were invited (though practically unknown) and who were afraid of having no one to speak to in a great crush of strangers. They found out how easy it was. to get admitted. Even at Lady Astor’s. where, oil particularly big “crush” night, it is sometimes customary for every guest to wear a little card with his or her name and pursuit on it, for the information of fellow-guests, no real investigation was made. The secretary with the cards just wrote down what she was told, and pinned it on the visitor. Later, if the visitor got scared, he simply “lost” his card.