The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-16
(Rrom the Springfield Republican,
A FEW WORDS ABOUT VISITS.
The Modern Idea of Hospitality.

The Modern Idea of Hospitality.
The poetry OF the world Is fast dying out
Love means good bargain. Devotion means
going to church in the morning on comfortable
Sundays, and hospitality-well, we are forget
ting what that does mean. 1t is tradltioh,
the rounding period of our grandmothers, ep-
itaphs.
am maiden lady, little ancient, yet not
old. teach all the year round, except in
vacation. Last winter married schOOlmate
living in N-wrote me pressing invitation
10 visit her. "Come any time" she said !:
.We are always delighted to see you; only be
sure and come, dear NJ" l am not creduious
in the matter of invitations, having certain
horrible examples OF imposition ever before my
eyes; but this one l really thought must ac-
cept. The summer vacation came, and a
bright June day brought me tc the home of
my friend. soon spied her as came near
the houte drawing her baby i'm the yard, look
ing very fresh and pretty in her BRIGHT pink
dress. hurried a little, all ready for warm
embrace. Lot the tips of her fingers, a tiny
kiss on one check, and "Tm very happy to sec
you, Margaret" in a tone that means to SEN
sitive ears, 81 win be polite, but j wish you
were in Joppa." My heart sank but there
was no help for it. Into the house 1 must go,
and there must stay ten mortal days. The
invitation mood had passed off.
resolved to make myself useful, and began
vigorous embroidering of baby-hoods and GRO
cheting of baby-sacks; but soon made the
pleasing discovery that all this was calculated
upon beforehand. These were things that Wis
itors would be likely to do! l did think in
time to refrain from adding to the washing
and ironing, and expressed the utmost indif.
ference to certain rides and excursions plan
ned in the evident hope that l shouldn't wish to
60. The price of provisions was discussed at
table in way that made me afraid to take a
second cup of tea or piece of cake, though the
basket was always passed with the ginger
bread side towards me. =.
The ten days came to an end Ipacked my
trunk with a lighter heart than | had felt
since unpacked it, stretched my conscience
woefully to say what pleasant time had
had, and sped away with unutterable refec-
lions. After riding five or six hours in cars
and stage, the reflections were somewhat dull
ed by decided sensation of faintness; for you
must know that the custom OF putting up
luncheon for departing guests is quite obso-
lete. No matter if you are well aware they
will have no chance to get even coffee and
cake before night. Ask them no questions
Bid them goodbye with smiling face Urge
them to come again very soon, and say "This
has been only a call; we want long visit
next time" Then shut the door and Give
There are myths about sharing the last crust
with friend. There was certainly something
in the geography about savage tribes, who rev
erence even a mortal foe under the title of
guest. Alas for the romantic faith of child
hood. They had probably reckoned the value
of the venison steak they had eaten, after they
had gone. Don't be too indignant on the gen
eral subject. You know very well you didn't
dare to ask your old friend George White
T. 70 writ
hadn't seen him before in dozen years. You
didn't like to risk the storm with madam. 1t
wasn't in her plans to have company to din
ner that day. She's very systematic house
keeper. l tod you was an old maid, but
did once have brothers and sisters and a home.
like other people; SO Pm not SO impractical as
you think. I know the hidden mysteries of
housekeeping-the biscuit made in a hurry for
unexpected company, the TRADE from Bridget,
who "won't stir step to carry wather up stairs
aither dom all this days ironin'" 1 know
the hurry to finish sewing before the arrival
of guests and the hurry after they had gone to
make up the lost time; but to grudge all this
effort was not the custom when l was young.
To tell you the truth think it was the relis-
ion in our little home that made it so easy to
entertain guests in season and out Of season
The mothers cheerful selffolgetfulress only
emphasized the fathers serious voice. reading
az pTdycLo, Oot hospitality WliuOuI gfuQElQg.'
1t rarely occurred to us to think of the trouble
accompany. five did we were soon asham-
ed Of it, and as for the visits Of real friends
they were the great delight of the year. How
Observation-Disclosures old-fashioned we were!
Gail Hamilton has sensible chapter in "a
New Atmosphere" on public meetings, ami
versaries, &c. where the heavy burden of en-
tertaining falls on already overtasked house
keepers. Sensible as it was, we recoiled lit
flo II, rna1iDr IL baaauca If 70,
sets quite too strongly that way already. We
know well the headaches and various miser-
I les that result from the unusual sweeping and
busting and cooking and smiling of these an
niFersary occasions. We know too the part
ing look of gratitude, the warm pressure of
the hand, the fearful eye that somehow
strangely reminded enc of the distant music, 4
"Inasmuch as We have done it unto one of the
least of these, We have done it unto me-"
After all, it is fancy of ours that we don't
live just to have as easy, time as possible,
and that generous hospitality needn't be CON
fined to the rich. Itrefiects no great honor
on our common nature, if the struggle to make
small means meet high prices must blunt our
affection, cool our ardor, and change the gent
al, graceful courtesy of hearty friendship into a
mere calculation Of trouble and expense. No
matter on what "hamely fare we din" or how
often the "hodden gray" has to be made over;
uo lSI Us WoiOHc ouI lleuuS Will simple,
old-time sincerity, to share it just as it is. Ill
We can't have all the new magazines on the
table, or many pictures'on the walls, we can
be SO trTleiy affectionate, so thoughtful of our
visitors comfort, SO thoroughly hospitable, in
the true old sense of the word, that there viii
always be in their memories halo round our
plain, quiet home. If we can have all these
comforts for ourselves, it argues miserable,
INDECENT selishness not to rejoice in sharing
them with our friends. We want another
Mrs. Opie to write new chapter on white
Lies,-the lies of invitation,-and new apos-
tie to preach on the beauty of ministering.