The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-10-12
Duaies OF a Hostess.
BY AUNT PATTY.

The dutias of A hostess are by no means
well understood by the majority OF iao
who would laugh at the idea that Lnts uiu
not properly entertain company lanles wa"
know just what 10 set before ti'elr E,',s,,.-
and exactly how TO order the arrangement
OF their tables A hostess has great hseu %
tact good nature, good breeding anu I,le
power OF selt-sAcrifice, IN ORDER Ai"@t -
perform her part ro PERFECTION 20 nj
woman. an undeTbred one. stupi,' or an ~,
temprrrd woman, inevitably Sehns soihe -
her quests away with feeling OF dl-satl.-
faction at their hearts, for IN 40 P'si'lon =
perfect politene-s 30 ntcesSaIs anu " oS
perfectly polite, one must at IeasI ASSUME
amiabiiITy aud self Jorge iulhess' host IA
dies entertain gentlemen better than they
do other Isdies; but many "A lady guest feels
vaguely di-sati sfrd. without quite knowing
why. when under another lady's roof. This
il more the case now, presume. than IN the
DAYS Of our grand-mothers; for then GER
tain business was In vogue, and people were
urged 10 eat, drink, be comfortable ana en-
10Y them selves and the most underbred per
son dared not omit the common Iormaiittes-
But now. when certain elegant cain l.
1.-The thing" those who have no taet, OF no
GOOD feeling fan into the much more disa-
0reeable mistake Of letting their guests Sc
yerely alone, and when the company Is a
large one, allowing persons to DO pretty
much as they can, and To feel for the most
part quite de trap
To he careful that every lady present has
an attendant cavalier, is the first duty of the
lady who, to use the Old-fashioned express
sion, "gives party" let nave known
hosteEses who have danced in every set
themselves. and have allowed invited lady
guests to remain in the unpleasant position
Of wall-flowers; while gentlemen stood
alone and felt. doubtless, quite as unpleas-
antly as the neglected ladies TO whom they
dared not speak. When inviting evening
comDanv, the most inOrdinate absorDer OF
0entlemau's attention should remember that
She is at least pretending to bring people
together to enjoy themselves, ana tlat 70
make them known to each other Is the only
means of doing so.
But setting aside parties, which are norm
bic bores when the host and hostess are not
an far to their duties, we descend TO the en-
tertainment of one or two persons:
This requires, firstly, good feeling; Sec
ondly, hearty welcome thlfuly' Teihem-
hrance of the fact that while you are hostess
Won must be content to place yourself last
nDoD the list You must encourage your
yuests to converse, and never out talk them
Neither must you allow pauses OF awful
length: nor the continuance of topics cal
cuIated to excite ill-feeling. Never talk
before guest with members OF your oW II
family on some private topic in which he
can take no interest and which you DO not
explain to him. Never argue with eaeh
other before a stranger, who must poIitely
feign deafness in consequence; ana ABOVE
all things, never talk about the person you
entertain, or ask questions concerning
private matters which may bring MN 10
ronfnsion distractions and general top
les only are suitable. Personalities are al
WAYS liberties, although it Is not good breed
ing to resent them as such, when one is the
victim.
The dividing line between impertinent
curiosity and want ofinterest inyour friends
Is a very narrow one, and most people
often step across it. We could perhaps
define it thus: Receive all information
volunteered respecting your guests private
affairs with proper show OF sympathy OF
pleasure, but never ask question without
knowing that il is desired.
Above all things, never speak of any per-
sonal peculiarity-never allow word OF
criticism To pass your lips in regard to form
or feature.