Social Victorians/Timeline/1899

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Sometime in 1899

In 1899 the International Council of Women was held in London.

The year 1899 was the celebration of Victoria's 80th birthday.

January 1899

25 January 1899, Wednesday

Muriel Wilson at the Holderness Hunt Ball:

The Assembly Rooms at Beverley were on Tuesday the scene of much gaiety, the occasion being the bull in connection with the Holderness Hunt. The company numbered over 300, the county families being well represented. The spectacle was a brilliant one. The music was supplied by Wolfe's White Hungarian Band. The arrangements were chiefly in the hands of Mr. Clive Wilson and Mr. Harrison Broadley, whose efforts were certainly most successful. Among the guests were the Countess of Huntingdon, Lady Clementine Walsh, the Hon. Mary Hawke, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wilson, Mrs. Lycett Green, Lady de Ramsey, Lady Beatrice Taylor, the Hon. Alexander Fellowes, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wilson, Miss Muriel Wilson, Colonel and Mrs. Armytage, Colonel Haworth Booth and party, Colonel and Mrs. Grimston, Commander Bethell, M.P., the Hon. Dudley Majoribanks, Mr. Cecil Wellesley, Mr. and Mrs. Calverley-Rudston, Lord and Lady Herries and the Hon. Misses Maxwell, Mr. and Mrs. Gunter, Mr. Marco Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Hall Watt, Captain Battine, Miss Parsons, Mr. and Mrs. George Duncombe, Mr. J. Hotham, Miss Bethell, Miss B. Walker, Mr. J. J. Harrison, Colonel Burstall, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Broadley and party, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Heathcote Hacker, The Hon [sic] George Keppel, Mr. Arthur Portman, the Hon. Harold Fitzclarence, Miss Daye Baker, Miss Helen Bower, Mr. and Mrs. Ellershaw, Major Macmullen, Sir Spencer Maryon Wilson, Mr. Prince, Sir Charles Hartopp, Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, Mr. Walter Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Wade and party, Mr. Harold Brassey, Miss Joan Wilson, Miss Enid Wilson, Mr. Henry Wilson, Lord Acheson, and many others. Dancing was kept up till the early hours of the morning. The meet of the hounds next day was at the Beverley Grand Stand. Owing to the frost it was late before the pack arrived from the kennels. Many hundreds of people were present, tempted by the fine, crisp, bracing morning. Leaving Westwood the hounds proceeded to Broadedge Farm, where a fox was found, and he was hunted on to Bentley and Skidky to Cottingham. The company, having seen the throw-off, returned home.

March 1899

31 March 1899, Friday

Good Friday

April 1899

2 April 1899, Sunday

Easter Sunday

May 1899

2 May 1899, Tuesday

The Prince of Wales visited Ruthin Castle, in Wales, for the Chester races. Ruthin Castle was the home of Cornwallis-West, and Muriel Wilson was a part of the house party that made up the reception for the prince (1899-05-03 Daily Telegraph). Jennie Spencer-Churchill, Lady Randolph Churchill was there, as was George Cornwallis-West; their relationship was quite controversial and the Prince, normally quite warm to Jennie Churchill, was cold ().

8 May 1899, Monday

Muriel Wilson and Mrs. Arthur Wilson were at the opening of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Wagner’s Lohengrin. The Prince of Wales was there, as were a number of notable celebrities (1899-05-13 Penny Illustrated Paper)

15 May 1899, Monday

<quote>Ipswich High School.— On Monday, May 15, the school was honoured by a visit of H.R.H. the Princess Louise, who came, faithful [386A/B] to a long-standing promise, to give away the prizes and certificates adjudged on the results of the Oxford and Cambridge Joint Board and the Cambridge Local Examinations of last year. Her Royal Highness was accompanied by the Marquis of Lome, K.G., and attended by Mr. E. B. Phipps, Assistant-Secretary to the G.P.D.S. Co., who acted as equerry in the place of Col. Collins. The Princess was received, on her arrival in Ipswich, by Mr. Bousfield, Chairman of the Council of the G P.D.S. Co., and by Lady Digby, Miss Gurney, Mr. Eve, and Mr. Buxton, members of the Council. The visit was of a semi-private character, and hence there was no official reception by the Mayor and Corporation of Ipswich. The High School was reached at two o'clock, and here the Princess was received by members of the Local Committee, with whom were Miss Youngman, the late Headmistress, Miss Kennett, the present Headmistress, and Mr. McDowall, Secretary to the G.P.D.S. Co. The girls, two hundred in number, were drawn up on either side of the Lower Hall, and presented an exceedingly bright appearance in their white dresses and sashes of crimson, the school colour. The Princess graciously consented to walk up the hall between the lines of girls and to receive a bouquet from Janet Stewaid, of Form II , the daughter of Mr. W. Steward, a member of the Local Committee. She then made the tour of the class-rooms, escorted by Mr. Bousfield, Miss Youngman, and Miss Kennett. Luncheon was served in the Upper Hall at 2.15. The number of invited guests included, in addition to those already mentioned, the Mayor of Ipswich, the Marquis of Bristol, Lord Lieutenant of the county, Sir Charles Dalrymple, M.P., Major Bond (in command of the Volunteer guard of honour), and Mr. John Farmer. At four o'clock the party adjourned to the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, where, after several songs by the pupils, under the conductorship of Mr. Farmer, and an exhibition of drill, Mr. Bousfield made a short speech, in which he explained the aims and ideals of the schools of the G.P.D.S. Co., and expressed the gratitude of the Council to Miss Youngman, who for twenty-one years had watched over and guided the development of the Ipswich School with so much energy and judgment. The Princess then distributed the prizes, after which a vote of thanks to her was proposed by Mr. Bousfield, and seconded by the Mayor. Lord Bristol also spoke to the resolution, which was unanimously carried. The Marquis of Lome having briefly responded, the proceedings were closed by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," the hymn "O God, our help in ages past," and "God save the Queen." The bouquet given to the Princess at the Town Hall was presented by Sybil Casley, of the Kindergarten, and the programme was handed to her Royal Highness by Judith Becher, of the Transition Class. At the conclusion of the afternoon's proceedings the Princess and her party partook of tea in the Mayor's parlour at the Town Hall, and left for London at six o'clock.</quote> (The Journal of Education. Vol. 21, New Series (January to December 1899). Page 386 [June 1899].Cols. A-B. Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=jZFIAAAAYAAJ).

20 May 1899, Saturday

Emma Nevada at the Crystal Palace (https://www.msu.edu/~graye/emma/chronolo.html).

27 May 1899, Saturday

Emma Nevada at the Crystal Palace (https://www.msu.edu/~graye/emma/chronolo.html).

31 May 1899, Wednesday

Derby Day at Epsom Downs, so Luise Friederike Auguste Montagu Duchess of Devonshire, hosted a ball that night?

June 1899

Summer 1899: William Butler Yeats summered with Lady Gregory at Coole Park 1897-1917 or so, until WBY bought the Tower at Ballylee. (I got this from Wade?).

21 June 1899, Wednesday

The Illustrated London News reported on a bazaar to raise money for the Charing Cross Hospital. Many celebrities were present. People whose portraits were drawn were Princess Henry of Pless, Marchioness of Granby, Duchess of Marlborough, Muriel Wilson, Countess of Westmorland, Duchess of Sutherland, Mr. Burdett-Coutts, M.P., and mentioned in the story were the following: Princess Louise, Duchesses of Westminster, Portland, Abercorn, Sutherland, and Marlborough; Countesses of Westmorland, Cadogan, Chesterfield, Mrs. Choate (wife of American ambassador; Lord Glenesk (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001578/18990701/054/0017).

Another report: <quote>The Charing Cross Hospital Bazaar at the Albert Hall was great success. It was a very hot day, but the aristocracy were present in large numbers. There were many exquisite toilettes. Mrs Arthur Wilson wore black, with cream embroidery, covered with sequinned net; corn-coloured net toque, with sprays of gold and feathers. Mrs Kenneth Wilson’s costume was palest grey voile, tight fitting, with a lace yoke, and a white tulle hat with osprey in front. Mrs Menzies and Miss Muriel Wilson were at “Flowerland," with Ladies Marlborough, Westmoreland. Mar and Kellie, Chelsea, Craven, Juliette Lowther, and Norreys. Miss Muriel Wilson was in white silk and crepe gown, with bands of coarse cream lace and open neck, transparent sleeves of lace and crepe. She wore a large black chip hat of tulle fastened at the chin, and carried a large-handled basket of roses, tied with heliotrope satin ribbon. The three sisters from Warter Priory were at the refreshment stall attired in grey dresses, while fischus, and big white mob caps.</quote> (1899-06-24 Beverley and East Riding Recorder)

26 June 1899, Monday

There was apparently a regular celebration of Arthur Collins' birthday, 26 June, by Bret Harte, George Du Maurier, Arthur Sullivan, Alfred Cellier, Arthur Blunt, and John Hare (Nissen, Axel. Brent Harte: Prince and Pauper: 239. [1]). Choosing 1885–1902 as the dates because those apparently are the dates of the close relationship between Harte and Collins, ending in Harte's death in 1902.

According to the Morning Post for 27 June 1899, Mr. Schreiber danced in the Gainesborough Quadrille at the annual Royal Caledonian Ball on Monday, 26 June 1899.

THE ROYAL CALEDONIAN BALL.

The annual Ball, held last night at the Whitehall Rooms, Hôtel Métropole, in aid of the funds of the Royal Caledonian Asylum and the Royal Scottish Hospital proved a great success, nearly nine hundred persons being present. The interest ot the evening centred in the eightsome reels and the fancy quadrilles. The former were arranged by the Hon. Mrs. Baillie of Dochfour (who unfortunately through indisposition was prevented attending), and were danced as follows:

1.

The Marquis of Tullibardine, D.S.O., Royal Horse Guards, and the Countess of Mar and Kellie.

Viscount Fincastle, V.C., 16th Lancers, and Laily Helen Stewart Murray.

The Hon. Alexander Ruthven, V.C., Cameron Highlanders, Miss Katharine Ramsay.

Mr. M'Neil, Seaforth Highlanders, and Miss Sibyl Murray.

2.

The Earl of Mar and Kellie and Lady Helen Graham.

Mr. Alastair Murray, younger, of Lochcarron, and Lady Hilda Keith-Falconer.

The Hon. Alexander Fraser and the Hon. Cecily Drummond.

Mr. M'Lean, Scots Guards, and Miss Baillie.

3.

Lord Lovat and Lady Grizel Cochrane.

Captain Greenhill-Gardyne, Gordon Highlanders, and the Hon. Ethel Fraser.

Mr. Baillie, Seaforth Highlanders, and the Hon. Daisy Fraser.

The Hon. Hugh Fraser, Scots Guards, and Miss Marvel MacGregor.

4.

Mr. Cameron, younger, of Lochiel, Grenadier Guards, and the Countess of Cromartie.

Mr. NIall Campbell and Miss Edith Chaplin.

Mr. Douglas Brodie and Miss Elspeth Campbell.

Mr. Alastair MacGregor of MacGregor and Miss Vere Brodie.

5.

Mr. Ramsay, Black Watch, and Lady Margaret Crichton Stewart.

Mr. M'Ray, Black Watch, and Lady Edith Montgomerie.

Mr. Matheson, Coldstream Guards, and the Hon. Beatrice Dalrymple.

The Hon. Kenneth Campbell and the Hon. Gwendolen Maxwell.

The gentlemen wore Highland dress, while the ladies were in white gowns with sashes formed of their respective tartans, the badges of their clans appearing in their hair and on their dresses.

The Countess of Hopetoun, one of the most energetic of the ladies patronesses, was responsible for the two fancy quadrilles. The undernamed took part in

THE ROMNEY QUADRILLE.

Viscount Crichton, Royal Horse Guards, and Countess Hopetoun.

Mr. C. C. de Crespigny, 2nd Life Guards, and Lady Constance Scott.

Hon. Claud Drummond Willoughby, Coldstream Guards, and Lady Florence Astley.

Hon. Gerald Ward, Ist Life Guards, and Lady Beatrice Herbert.

Mr. Tryon, Grenadier Guards, and Lady Mary Drummond Willoughby.

The Earl of Kerry, Grenadier Guards, and Lady Marjorie Carrington.

Mr. Trotter, Grenadier Guards, and the Hon Alice Grosvenor.

Mr. Hamilton, Grenadier Guards, and Miss Muriel White.

THE GAINSBOROUGH QUADRILLE.

Major Gordon-Gilmour, Grenadier Guards, and Lady Alice Shaw Stewart.

The Hon. Raymond de Montmorency, V.U., 21st Lancers, and Lady Sybil Primrose

Captain Brinton, 2nd Life Guards, and Lady Edith Villiers.

Captain Schreiber, 1st Life Guards, and Hon. Maud de Moleyna.[?]

Captain Heneage, Grenadier Guards, and Miss Long.

Mr. Stirling, Coldstream Guards, and Miss Cotton Jodrell.

Captain Green-Wilkinson, Rifle Brigade, and Miss Sibell Chaplin.

Mr. Vandeleur, D.S.O., Scots Guards, and Miss Muriel Chaplin.

The officers were in uniform, and their partners wera attired in gowns of white mousseline-de-soie over silk slips of different colours, those in the Romney quadrille wearing lace fichus, and those in the Gainsborough quadrille chiffon scarves, and all had their hair threaded with coloured chiffon or ribbon to match their sashes or scarves.

At eleven o'clock a procession was formed, headed by the Pipers, and the Duke of Atholl, Treasurer of the ball, and those taking part in the Reels and Quadrilles entered the ball-room, dancing immediately commencing to Herr Iff's orchestra. The Ladies Patronesses present included the Duchess of Buccleuch, the Duchess of Atholl, the Duchess of Montrose, the Marchioness of Bute, the Countess of Mar and Kellie, Mary Countess of Mar and Kellie, the Counters of Selkirk, the Countess of Dundonald, the Countess of Ancaster, Viscountess Strathallan, Viscountess Dalrymple, Lady Anne Murray, Lady Eleanor Brodie, Lady Herries, Lady Sinclair, Lady Middleton, Lady Ramsay of Bamff, Lady Maxwell of Monreith, Lady Macpherson Grant, Mrs. Munro, and Mrs. Murray of Polmaise. Before dancing became general the boys and girls of the Asylum, headed by their Pipers and band, marched round the ball-room. Much credit is due to the President and Vice-President of the ball, the Duke of Atholl and Marquis of Tullibardine, for their efforts in the cause of charity.

July 1899

July 1899, Emma Nevada sang for Queen Victoria at Osborne House (https://www.msu.edu/~graye/emma/chronolo.html).

4 July 1899, Tuesday

Muriel Wilson was at a garden party hosted by Lady Rothschild and Mrs. Leopold Rothschild after the end of the Women’s Congress: <quote>Not the least interesting features of the Women's Congress have been the social entertainments. On Tuesday, after the final sessions had been held, Lady Rothschild and Mrs. Leopold Rothschild invited the delegates to a garden party at Gunnersbury Park. Special trains conveyed the guests to Mill-hill Station. The guests were received by Lady and Mrs. Leopold Rothschild, the former in black lace over pale mauve silk, and the latter in blue and white muslin, and Lady Battersea, in a charming light grey and white frock and a little yellow bonnet that suited her to perfection. By five o'clock the grounds were crowded, and among the well known people to be seen walking about there were Lady Battersea, Lady Harcourt, Mr. and Lady Clementine Walsh, the latter in pale grey and white, Lord and Lady Gosford, and with them Lady Aldra Acheson; Lady Alice Stanley, in rose-pink; Mrs. Rolands [Ronalds?] in white; Mr. and Lady Barbara Smith, and Mrs. Maguire in a becoming frock of pale yellow. Lady Kilmorey, who came quite early in the afternoon wore white muslin, with a large straw hat with roses; Lady Chelsea, in mauve; and Miss Muriel Wilson, in a lovely dress of pale blue, with transparent lace sleeves, and large white hat with roses, looked particularly well. Lady Blandford was in pale grey; Mrs Arthur Sassoon was also in grey. Among some of the late arrivals were Lord and Lady Crewe, with Lady Annabel Milnes, Lady Crewe in a pretty white dress. From the terraces the scene was magnificent. The park stretched over a velvety green lawn, dotted with beds of of [sic] exquisite flowers; bridged over with roses, that gave them the appearance of great baskets. A fountain, with pond lilies nestling in its shadowy spots, lay at the left. At another side of the lawn was an artificial lake, with boats and boatmen at the disposal of visitors. A string band at the bank and a second marquee afforded rest, music, and refreshment to those who preferred to remain in a little world of their own. A three band played lively airs for the American bicycle polo team, who gave an exhibition of their skill on the lawn. And both circus and stage were utilised for the afternoon amusements.</quote> (1899-07-08 Bridgnorth Journal)

15 July 1899, Saturday

Lord Kenyon, Mr. Schomburg McDonnell (Lord Salisbury's private secretary), Colonel Dawson, Mr. H. Ridgway, Lady Gerard, the Hon. Miss Gerard, Mrs. Hartmann, and Mdlle Jancourt arrived at Broughton Castle on Saturday night on a weekend visit to Lord and Lady Algernon Gordon Lennox.

August 1899

28 August 1899

Summer Bank Holiday

October 1899

31 October 1899, Tuesday

Halloween.

November 1899

5 November 1899, Sunday

Guy Fawkes Day

23 November 1899, Thursday

Captain C.S. Schreiber attended a Royal and Imperial Dinner Party at Windsor Castle:

The Imperial and Royal dinner party included their Imperial Majesties the German Emperor and Empress, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, her Royal Highness Princess Louise Marchioness of Lorne and Marquis of Lorne, their Royal Highnesses Princess Henry of Battenberg, Princess Victoria of Wales, his Serene Highness and her Grand Ducal Highness Prince and Princess Louis of Battenberg, his Highness Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein, the Duchess of Buccleuch, Mistress of the Robes; Fraulein von Gersdorff, the Countess Stollberg, the Dowager Lady Ampthill, the Danish Minster, Mons. de Bille; the Belgian Minister, Baron Whettnall; the Portuguese Minister, Mons. de Soveral ; the Greek Chargé d'Affaires, Mons. Metaxas; the Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, his Excellency Count von Bülow, his Excellency Count Eulenburg, his Excellency General von Plessen, Lord Suffield, the Right Hon. Sir Frank Lascelles, Lord Colville of Culross, Sir Francis Knollys, Vice-Admiral Sir John Fullerton, Major-General Swaine, commanding North-Western District, and Signor de Martino.

The band of the Royal Artillery, conducted by Cavaliere L. Zavertal, played the following selection of music in St. George's Hall in the evening:

March from tlie Suite "Sylvia" Delibes.

Vorspiel "Das Heimchen am Herd" Goldmark.

Three Dances from the music to "Henry VIII." Ed. German.

1, Morris; 2. Shepherd's; 3. Torch.

(a) Adagietto from the Suite "L'Arlésienae" Bizet.

(b) "La Chaise-à-Porteurs" Chaminade.

Ballet Music, "Der Damon" Rubinstein.

"Abendruhe " Loeschhorn.

Angelus from the Suite "Scènes Pittoresques" Massenet.

Overture, "Cleopatra" Mancinelli.

York March.

Her Majesty's guests invited to dine at the Castle, together with the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Royal Household and the suites in attendance on the Queen's Imperial and Royal guests, had the honour of joining the Royal Circle in St. George's Hall.

The following had the honour ot receiving invitations to be present: Lord and Lady Esher, Lady Edwards, Lady and Miss Victoria Bigge, Mr. and Lady Emily Van de Weyer, Miss Loch, Miss Emily Loch, and Miss Catherine Loch, Sir Walter Parratt, the Head Master at Eton and Mrs. Warre, the Provost of Eton and Miss Hornby, Mr. E. C. Austen Leigh, M.A., Mr. A. C. Benson, M.A., Baron and Baroness Campbell von Laurentz, Lieutenant-Colonel C. N. Miles, Captain G. F. Milner, and Captain C. S. Schreiber, 1st Life Guards; Major the Hon. J. St. Aubyn, Captain the Hon. W. Cavendish, and Lieutenant and Adjutant E. Gascoigne, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards; and Colonel Swinfen, Major Bolton, and Lieutenant-Colonel Tighe, Military Knights of Windsor.

The Queen did not attend the dinner or the concert in St. George's Hall, owing to having so recently received the news of the death of her Grand Ducal Highness the Princess of Leiningen, her Majesty's niece.

December 1899

25 December 1899, Monday

Christmas Day

26 December 1899, Tuesday

Boxing Day

30 December 1899, Saturday

Arthur Conan Doyle's New Year's Eve party at Hindhead, Haslemere.

Works Cited

• [1899-05-03 Daily Telegraph] "Prince of Wales at Chester Races. Visit to Ruthin Castle. From Our Own Correspondent." Daily Telegraph & Courier 3 May 1899, Wednesday: 10 [of 16], Col. 3a–c [of 7]. British Newspaper Archive (accessed July 2019).
• [1899-05-13 Penny Illustrated Paper] "At the Opening of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden." Penny Illustrated Paper 13 May 1899, Saturday: 2 [of 16], Col. 2a, 3a [of 4]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000693/18990513/008/0002 (accessed July 2019).
• [1899-06-24 Beverley and East Riding Recorder] "East Riding Ladies at a London Bazaar." Beverley and East Riding Recorder 24 June 1899, Saturday: 5 [of 8], Col. 6b [of 6]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001565/18990624/074/0005 (accessed July 2019).
• [1899-07-08 Bridgnorth Journal] "Women’s Congress Ended." Bridgnorth Journal 8 July 1899, Saturday: 8 [of 8], Col. 3c [of 6]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001961/18990708/138/0008 (accessed July 2019).
• Gray, Eugene F. "Chronology of Events in the Life of Emma Nevada." Emma Nevada: An American Diva. https://www.msu.edu/~graye/emma/chronolo.html (retrieved 14 April 2010).