| Show A COUNTRY SQUIRES HOUSE an intensely english ceremonial Solomn solemnity ity of prayers there Is yet another ceremonial which at most country houses the visitor is exported to attend that Is family prayers As a student of men and manners it will be worth his while for no institution Is so go intensely english at 0 9 in tho the morning and about 10 at night the butler announces prayers pra tha family and visitors then proceed to the hall ball where the servants are arranged in a long row tho the butler places a bible and prayer book in front of 0 the squire and then retires to his teat seat with the air of a man who has done a difficult duty rather neatly then tho the squire reads a portion of scripture Scrip taro and a prayer in a loud sonorous voice destitute of all expression whatever now look tor for a moment round the assembly old gen silo nus who has drunk perhaps half a bottle too much claret presents an intensely raus but withal sleepy appearance and tries to cover a with a of the dragoon guards who has just been convulsing the gentlemen at the dinner table with brood broad stories looks appallingly proper the rest are obviously thinking 0 newt which the rustic was vas the great delight of church but everybody is bolt upright and wears a stony primness of aspect were wem a twinkle of amusement or even ot of sensibility to be seen in any owes ones countenance the vigilant eye ot of the lady of the house would instantly detect it Thees the essence of the ceremony emoLy in short is a kind of solemnity I 1 remember once a ludicrous accident occurring at one ot of these rites w which set rot the weaker folks oft off in an irrepressible titter the lady of the house was so BO angry that the truth came out la in a burst it is not raid mid the worthy dame in her bar passion the insult to to do almighty that I 1 caro care so much about as ity being done before a charwoman from tho the vf vil liae lilge 11 A volume by the deepest philosopher not have conveyed a more profound weaning in nil all other respects you have abo most perfect fact and enjoyable freedom at an english country house you may hunt fish or shoot or you may shut yourself up in your dressing room where there afa be a fire with a book from the library buts but it may bo supposed that the visitor to such a house bouse will bo be a sportsman of some kind georgo george S simmer er in outing |
