The role of the political hostess remained important throughout the 19th century, & not just in the great houses of Westminster & Mayfair; played well, it gave a woman a great deal of influence
As ever, one gets some of the most intriguing insights from the works of the less famous, who perhaps have the advantage of being more observer than participant in high politics
One such was the 1st Earl Midleton who wrote his memoirs, Records & Reflections, in 1939:
Until the 1880s leading hostesses entertained political supporters on Wednesday & Saturday evenings at much-sought-after dinner-parties, & the ministry did not live in a ring-fence. I had seen so many budding difficulties checked in this way
The motor car changed political society:
The greater latitude of life has many advantages. Anyone who is bored in London can arrange his weekend a few hours in advance by telephone, & arrive by motor without troubling his host for conveyance. 50 years ago there were no such facilities & no one, unless a recluse by nature, would have cut himself off from all contact with the world outside politics by refusing a formal invitation 6 weeks ahead, & condemning himself to a horrid Sunday in London
But then:
Because of Ireland & Home Rule, for a long period after 1885 leaders of the Liberal Party were not welcomed at social gatherings in Conservative houses
You get the feeling that political socialising has never really been the same since. Of course life has changed completely, MPs are no longer drawn from the same narrow social group, &, not least, the role of women has changed
There may be all sorts of cross party groupings in the House of Commons & many good personal friendships, but somehow you cannot imagine Alistair Darling greeting George Osborne enthusiastically at some grand evening party
There seem to be some who object to even reading what the other side has to say for itself
This is madness, for the first rule of any battle is: Know thine enemy
Link
Cross-party social whirl evokes life a century ago
The Bush years have accelerated another trend in Washington – the increasing polarisation of the city’s social life along partisan lines. Social contact between the two parties – a powerful political lubricant – has been reduced dramatically - Martin Fletcher Times 5/11/08
