The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-08

Hospitality seems 10 be an extinct
virtue. Grand parties We have in plenty
OF all kinds, where those who have
vitality sufficient 10 attend them, and
purses long enough g. compete with the
vulgar show attending them. may return
such hollow civih1es, and "have il
over, ms they express IT,
'' Rare Il orer p There's Just the fly
in tho ointment The old-fashioned,
genuine hospitality never was lover. ="
Nobody wanted il tower" A simple,
elegant little tea, well-cooked. we'll
served, plain family dinner, ones friend
was always welcome 10 JOIN, without a
printed card Of invitation weeks hetore.
hand, accompanied with n whispered, 81
hopo 10 gracious they won't accept T.
But that, alas II all In the past, Fash
ION has decrced an elaborate show of
sood, dishes and dress Families pinch
themselves a whole year for one grand
display VI this kind, in the endoavor 10
complete with those whose means per.
lnRS my justify tins barren style OF en-
tertaihing, aud where stupofaction and u
consequent lack OF intelligent converse
ton are the only result. save long bill
Of expense. The consequence is, that
people whose time is valuable, and
whose vitality IS too precious to expend
in this way, refuse all such invitations
BOt the unfortunate part of il is, that
many OF them do not revive the old sim
pie hospitality; and when expostulatel /
with upon setting better example, only
reply, that the prevailing taste for show
has 80 vitiated everything that there are
few who care 10 80 where il is not the
order 81 the entertainment
Now we don't believe this We have
too often heard sensible, cultivated, re-
fined mea and women dcplore it. TO
credit this idea But they are mel.
strom Mrs. So and So is a particular
friend, and "she thinks she must 20
through with this vulgar parade, or.
" her husband likes il. etc Now ii
isn't that there are ''few who don't like
it; hutit Is true that there are few who
have the independence TO inauguate n
different state of things-to be f-ulg
hoslNitable without excessive upholstery,
or gastronomy, or fine millinery.
To my mind, there il something bet
ter than sitting hours 10 see servants
tlexterouSly place and take away dishes,
One sees that at home in lesser degree,
and with less waste of time. One can
converse with ones hostess there, and
she VIII not answer ut random, because
her mind il occupied with professions
Of birds and sugar aud wines Little
ehiltisen's faces, like flowers, are there,
in place OF a Stih bouquet Of flowers and
silver pyramids ohseuring ones ris-G-ris.
Thsrs is a home flavor which puts the
most modest guest at ease, and permits
him or her 10 hring forth something in
the way Of conversation that is not the
mfaned product OF half dozen kinds
of wine-somsthing 10 remember and
think OF afterward with pleasure, instead
OF blushing next day 10 associate with
the speaker.
lsay there are people, and the best
kind OF people too, who mach prefer this
style Of entertainment but they should
not rest there. They should inaugurate
Sameihing better in their place, instead
only OF retiring in disgust under the
shelter Of their own roofs, and living
only for their own family circles. They
owe, duty also to society, and il should
be paid hy setting n sensible example of
old-fashioned simplicity in hospitality,
.Ehieh in time may reform this matter.
People who yaluetheir brains want them
IN decent condition for the next morn
ing, and the next morning after that,
and cannot afford to waste them in this
manner. II is q matter OF dollars and
cents with them, Fd have You to know
as well as matter Of taste il, indeed /
may be pardoned for putting forward
an idea 50 practical. They wish to retire
early, for one thing; they prefer out
doorair for another, when they are of
duty with the pen, instead that Of a
close, stified room, and the spectacle OF
feeding and drinking till sense and wit
give out. This is plain talking, but il
won't hurt You, my friends, to have
little occasionally. FANNY FERN.