What put all this into my head is something which the English Annex has been showing me.  Most of my readers are somewhat acquainted with our own church and village celebrations.  They know how they are organized; the women always being the chief motors, and the machinery very much the same in one case as in another.  Perhaps they would like to hear how such things are managed in England; and that is just what they may learn from the pamphlet which was shown me by the English Annex, and of which I will give them a brief account.

Some of us remember the Rev. Mr. Haweis, his lectures and his violin, which interested and amused us here in Boston a few years ago.  Now Mr. Haweis, assisted by his intelligent and spirited wife, has charge of the parish of St. James, Westmoreland Street, Marylebone, London.  On entering upon the twenty-fifth year of his incumbency in Marylebone, and the twenty-eighth of his ministry in the diocese of London, it was thought a good idea to have an “Evening Conversazione and Fete.”  We can imagine just how such a meeting would be organized in one of our towns.  Ministers, deacons, perhaps a member of Congress, possibly a Senator, and even, conceivably, his Excellency the Governor, and a long list of ladies lend their names to give lustre to the occasion.  It is all very pleasant, unpretending, unceremonious, cheerful, well ordered, commendable, but not imposing.

Now look at our Marylebone parish celebration, and hold your breath while the procession of great names passes before you.  You learn at the outset that it is held under royal patronage, and read the names of two royal highnesses, one highness, a prince, and a princess.  Then comes a list before which if you do not turn pale, you must certainly be in the habit of rouging:  three earls, seven lords, three bishops, two generals (one of them Lord Wolseley), one admiral, four baronets, nine knights, a crowd of right honorable and honorable ladies (many of them peeresses), and a mob of other personages, among whom I find Mr. Howells, Bret Harte, and myself.

Perhaps we are disposed to smile at seeing so much made of titles; but after what we have learned of Lord Timothy Dexter and the high-sounding names appropriated by many of our own compatriots, who have no more claim to them than we plain Misters and Misseses, we may feel to them something as our late friend Mr. Appleton felt to the real green turtle soup set before him, when he said that it was almost as good as mock.

The entertainment on this occasion was of the most varied character.  The programme makes the following announcement: 

        Friday, 4 July, 18-.

     At 8 P. M. the Doors will Open. 
     Mr. Haweis will receive his Friends. 
     The Royal Handbell Ringers will Ring. 
     The Fish-pond will be Fished. 
     The Stalls will be Visited. 
     The Phonograph will Utter.

Refreshments will be called for, and they will come,—­Tea, Coffee, and Cooling Drinks.  Spirits will not be called for, from the Vasty Deep or anywhere else,—­nor would they come if they were.