Among  the  notable  entertainments  in  this  house
were  the  formal  dinner  and  reception  given  to  the
British  Boundary  Commission  headed  by  Lord
Herschell,  and  the  still  larger  and  more  elaborate
dinner  and  reception  given  to  Albert,  Prince  of
the  Belgians,  on  his  visit  to  this  country.  At
this  entertainment,  the  Prince,  instead  of  being
placed  in  the  seclusion  of  royalty,  and  having  a
select  few  presented  to  him,  was  asked  to  take
his  place  in  the  receiving  line  and  to  shake  hands
with  all  the  guests  presented.  The  Prince  ex-
pressed in  a  most  kindly  way  his  gratification
with  his  unusual  reception.  Here  also  ministers
and  ambassadors  from  foreign  countries  were
entertained,   often  without  formality.
These  social  duties  made  great  demands  on
Mrs.  Hobart,  which  were  met  with  cheerful  kind-
ness and  unfailing  tact.  Her  own  great  sorrow,
still  fresh  in  memory,  was  hidden  from  sight  as
she  received  her  guests  with  cordial  words,  and
sought  to  make  them  all  feel  at  ease.  No  one
in  the  large  assemblies,  seeming  alone  and  un-
noticed, escaped  her  attention.     There  are  many


120  Garret  Augustus  Hobart

who  remember  with  gratitude  the  kind  thought-
fulness  of  the  hostess  to  them  as  strangers.  M.
Rod,  the  French  Academician,  paid  Mrs.  Hobart
a  graceful  compliment,  saying:  "Mrs.  Hobart
gave  you  her  hand  and  a  smile  of  welcome,  and
you  felt  she  was  truly  glad  to  see  you,  and  that  it
was  not  a  perfunctory  ceremony  gone  through  so
many  times  a  week  according  to  official  etiquette."
It  is  not  a  wonder  that  a  deep  regret  was  expressed
when  it  was  announced  that  Mr.  Hobart  was  too
seriously  ill  to  cherish  a  hope  of  recovery,  and
that  this  home  would  never  open  again  its  doors
with  these  genial  hosts  to  welcome  all  who
entered.
