The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-04-29

grace are DIS IuuCit utC&ON AZ JOQE OWH pdflOT
as in that of your friend. Do not strive to
make visitors depart from your household
pleased with your afability and kindness
that is common courtesy, and may be found
in the humblest cottage. The main object
81 a woman of fashion is to make herself
talked about Notoriety, notoriety that's
the thing; and if you do hot put proper
estimate on yourself no one else will.
In the first place, everything in the receipt
ion room should be in state Of disorder,
exploding the old idea that "order is Heav-
ems first law Confusion gives the visitor
an idea Of rush Of company; no time to
arrange things, Ct cetcra. Besides, it is vul-
gar-thc humblest housewife takes pride
in the neatness Of her little parlor, and it
would be rctrogading were the ton to initiate
the plebeans See that the chairs are in the
order of skirmishcrs, the books scattercdover
the foo, or son the lounges; the piano forte
covered with loose sheets of music, !, and the
hearth-rug turned upside down. This con
fusion in Fashionable parlance is termed negze-
pc, and fills the visitor with kind Of awe
for the perfect DON -carcitiveness Of the mis-
trcss Of the house.
When company is announced morning
visitors, for instance receive them in your
morning wrapper, while seated on avis-a-vis
with the latest sensation novel in your hand
drawl out a welcome and, languidly closing
the book, apologize for the appearance Of
your parlor and your own appearance by
stating that you can never find a moments
rest-that you are absolutely annoyed. by
friends and acquaintance SO that the do
mestics have no time to set things to rights.
| If your visitor should snuff his or her nose
as the fumes Of the kitchen will sometimes
rise to the parlor-extend an invitation to
| dinner, with tie refined expression Of
''Stay and take pot-luck."
If you are amarried lady-give your visi-
| tor a synopsis of your domestic concerns
let him know what brute your husband is,
and sigh heavily over the vanished pleasures
Of your girlhood days. Having enlightened
the listener as far as policy would require,
obtain all the information from him, that you
possibly can, as to his own affairs or those Of
your mutual acquaintances. By thus man
aging,,.you will fill your budget with plenty
of material for the next scandal soirce.
If you are mending your husbands stock
| ings when visitor is announced, hide the
article you are rcnovating, and take up your
| crochet needle. 10 mend husbands clothes
is vulgar & -9A
The good old fashion Of asking visitor to
take some refreshments, has become obsolete,
restaurants are too common now -a-days; and
if the visitor is gentleman from the coun
try-he certainly has the instinct to follow
his nose and allay the cravings of his APPETITE
at the nearest eating house.
! The duties of hospitality are fatiguing and
troublesome; still they constitute an indispcn-
able obligation. Hospitality, in the days Of
our granamothers, so much audcd by old TO-
gies, was stiff and formal Plenty Of good
cheer and comfortable bed-a warm press
Of the hand and CHEEKY s'nake yourself at
| home"-are now considered decidedly vulgar.
Make your guests as uncomfortable as posi-
bic, for by that means you will the sooner
get rid of them. Let them know your ex-
clusiyeness by affected manners, sncering
ways, rough movements, hard countcnance,
impertinent signs and looks, simpering smiles,
clownish gestures or prudish stiffness, will
certainly give them an exalted idea Of your
education and Danish them from your thrcsh
hold forever. ''"
Young ladies', little habituated to the
| world, ought to be on their guard against ex-
cessiye modesty, for it not only PARALLELS their
powers, renders them awkward, and gives
them a silly air, but it may even cause them
to be accused of being outre and unfashion-
bic. No one nowadays, will praise you for
being bashful-you must follow the ton or
you will be forever cast into oblivion. If a
i young lady dapces-it is entirely savage to
preserve graceful and easy carriage Of fig
ure-the foot must not be raised from the
foor-the movement must be langushing
and mincing, the carriage as stiff as a drill
sergeant's, the look stern and repulsiye.-
Besides, it would be considered violation OF
etiquette to preserve the figures Of the quad
4 rille-throw everything into confusion
i Make CONFUSION COMPOUNDED" by your perfect
nonchalance, and if any one politely attempts
to set you right, tell them to attend to their
i own business. Life, at best, is but dance
/ and if you can contrive to make yourself
conspicuous, you will triumph. If you wish
to preserve the good opinion Of the elite you
/ should be careful as to- the order Of your visits
and whom you visitor, more properly speak
Il ing-p atronize. IF you are par ticularly anx-
i ious to preserve the acquaintance Of a GER
tain person-call once day, and that. too,
1 without any formal invitation. There arc
some persons whom you may think proper. to
visit once in two weeks others once month
and then again others whom you may visit
4 but once year and only leave your card. Al
ways visit in proportion TO the advantage
| you will gain. IF you know the lady Of the
| house keeps good fare, time your witt SO as
to hit the regular dinner hour
Il Always parade the cards you receive ON tho
centre table or looking glass; and, fyou have
not enough to cover the table OR obscure the
mirror, borrow some from a friend who plac
es little or 60 value upon them. This display
will give the casual visitor some idea OF thu
host of friends and admirers you retain.
Il is not considered etiquette to carry chill
dren. lap-dogs, monkies, parrots or pet cats OF
visit of cerimony. This is wrong; a lady
with a portable. menagerie, ought to be. consld
ed a woman Of taste and connoiseur ia natu
ural history. m .s s7 Cd 5ya .a
Young married ladies should be extremel,
, circumspect when they go abroad. The,
should be seen with their husbands as seldom
t as possible, for the good reason that pcopl
> may say that he is tied to her apron string
: and that one is afraid to trust the other gu
!, of sight. In small towns where gossip is re
t.;lod1i, ,,,,op t;t;oa to sSnit the mark et-he