(_POSSIBLY WRITTEN FOR PROPOSED INSERTION IN CERTAIN OF MR. PUNCH'S
FEMININE CONTEMPORARIES._)
Dearest LENA,--We are now back from Herne Bay, where, staying at Mrs.
----'s[1] Boarding House, we met some of the smartest people. If ever
you visit this delightful watering-place, mind you look Mrs. ---- up.
She is a most charming creature, and the _poulet rôti au sauce pain_
at the _table d'hôte_, is simply charming. Her terms, considering the
company you meet, are very reasonable. Now, I know you want to learn
all about my new gowns. Well, the Pater insisted that I should send
to the ---- Clothing Company, of ----, for patterns. He says (dear
old boy!) that we should "patronise British Industry." I got, amongst
other delightful notions, the cleverest idea possible in stripes, and
intending to be very economical, bought a paper pattern from ---- in
---- Street. Well, I turned out, all by myself, a most stylish frock,
which ISABELLE says suits me to the ground. But the task exhausted
both my intelligence and industry. The rest of the materials I took
to Madame ---- of ---- Street, and she is simply making them lovely!
I think I told you that Madame ---- is supplying most of the dresses
that will be worn at JESSIE JONES' (you know, the daughter of Lady
JONES) wedding. Lady SMITH will look simply superb in rhubarb-tart
satin, and the Countess of COLHOLEBOROUGH has a wonderful gown made of
squash-beetled coloured velvet slashed with green, that is sure to be
the talk of the Row until the end of the Season!
Of course, we have been to all the Private Views. We miss the
Grosvenor very much, for the New is scarcely a substitute. However, I
saw several smart people at the latter place--some of them ladies of
title, my dear. At the door I found standing one of ----'s, of ----
Street, victorias. They are very nice, and, as they can be bought on
the three years' hire system, most convenient. The pictures at the
Academy struck me as rather dull this year. Of course, everybody
is much struck with Mr. FILDES' "_Doctor_." By the way, if the poor
little patient is suffering from influenza (as I fancy he is), he
would have obtained immediate relief by taking ----'s ----. But
leaving medical subjects out of the question, there are other gloomy
pictures--besides patients, heaps of prisoners, and lots of paupers.
Fortunately, most of these last are "skied," which is a blessing! I
hear that the Academicians have bought Mr. CALDERON's picture out of
the Chantrey Bequest. So selfish to deprive the public of the chance!
However, as the subject is a little _risqué_, perhaps it is just as
well that it _should_ be buried in the Diploma Gallery.
The usual gaiety last week. Mrs. PARAGRAPH PRESSCUTTERBY gave a
magnificent Ball at ---- Square. The whole of the garden was covered
in by Messrs. ----, of ---- Street, and the massed Bands of the
Cavalry Brigade at ---- supplied the Music. The supper (furnished by
Messrs. ----, of ---- Street), was served in the Lawn Cricket Saloon,
and the gigantic apartment was crammed the whole evening. I know you
like recipes. I extract the following from ----'s _Guide to Grub_, a
capital _brochure_ published at a shilling.
"Pick, wash (in plenty of water), and drain 2 lbs. of
crab-shells without bruising them. Pare and core some well
shaped apples. When these are well heated, add the spinach.
Cut into neat slices a dish of lamb's fry, and fry it a nice
brown in the bacon liquor. Boil all together till the syrup is
reduced to half the quantity, then lay the lemon peel on the
apples, and pour the syrup over them."
It is a Russian dish, and is called Böösh. You must tell me what you
think of it. Ever your most loving friend, SYLLIE.
[Footnote 1: Names and addresses of tradespeople, &c., editorially
suppressed until arrangements have been completed in the Advertisement
Department.]
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[Illustration: "PEACE."