Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-12-30
social Customs.

Il. wHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor.


The party.giving season is near at
hand, aud will soon be fairly begun.
Social entertainments, except in purely
fashionable circles, are growing sim
pier and more agreeable year after year,
The elaborately unsuccessful attempt to
entertain guests which was once deemed
an indispensable part of hostess duty
is so no longer. Guests are allowed to
wander about as they choose, talking to
whom they please, or not talking at all,
as suits them best; and beyond care
ful oversight of their comfort and pleas
ure, she does not feel responsible for
them. To present TO each other such
persons as she thinks have kindred
tastes or interests, is one Of the neces-
sites of her position; but to try to
make people converse who have nothing
in common, is almost disconrtesy on
her part While 1T is usually more
agreeable to be introduced to your
neighbor at a reception, since hearing
his name will probably give you key to
his personality, yet the lack of an in
PRODUCTION should not. prevent your
speaking to him, if you be so inclined-
the fact of meeting him in your friend s
house being sufficient Endorsement of
his position.
The pleasantest parties in New York
are frequently the weekly, fortnightly or
monthly receptions, given on specific
evenings, where even handsome street
dress is permissible; and where bright
conversation supersedes formal suppers,
clever epigrams adding a stimulus that
wine cannot yield. To these gatherings
the people are hidden verbally-the lady
simply telling her friends, when she
meets them, that she is at home on such
and such an evening, and shall be glad
to see them. Then the guest is at lib
erty to 90 at once or half dozen times
as he chooses. Sometimes slight re-
freshment of ices, cake, coffee or choco-
nothing at all; in which
case the sole expense is for little extra
gas and a few flowers.
The wide use of flowers for social
reunions is an imported custom of
rather modern date, but, like most bor-
rowed habits, we have carried 1T to an
extreme unheara of abroad. At fash
ionable parties the bill for flowers will
often be one Of the largest, sometimes
reaching thousands of dollars. Charm
inO as floral decorations are, there IS
such a thing as too great a profusion.
The heavy uerfume of tube roses, hello
trope, and tea roses in hot and crowded
room frequently produces faint and
sickly atmosphere, extremely unpleasant
to many persons. In arranging BoTSF2
for parties, therefore, it is better to select
fully twice as many nonodorous as
odorous blossoms. Potted plants IN
bloom are lovely in lighted Craving
rooms. and artistically disposed IN Gdd
corners about the house. The effect OF
begonias and other foliage plants
against pale tinted walls isyery stFiklng.
There is no house, however old, no room,
however ugly, that can not be rendered
attractive by an abundance, not sSper-
fluffy, of flowers.
At the most elegant aud veil arranged
one point has Of late been
noticeable Elaborate and
expensive suppers, though the rule, are
not positive necessities, as once they
we're; thus receptions are placed within
reach of many who VIII be delighted to
give the social ball a kindly pgsh, but
Who can not afford the needless cost and
iisplsg of ambitious entertainments.
There is really growing to be some
hing which may be strictly called soci'
sty in America. We GEe Discovering
hat society does not mean eoliecAon I
IF rich people, whose possessions per
nit to them any sort Of extravagAncei |
,nt that it means all sort Of peeele;
hose who baya much money and these |
yho have litlie; those who are clever
md those who arc duil; tbSse whose
mansions hold hundreds and those wlese
,arlors are crowded With fifty. And tke
asst is the most important discovery.
The left-out feeling that many persons
4 moderate means have had is passing
.Say. They find they can take a grace
al part ia aGoisl life without too great
% outlay Of time En5 money and they
mbracs the opportunity VIII cordial
~. Society must always be % dinereni
4 this country from what it is anywhere
lse that 10 comparison is possible, /
Iut il cannot fail 70 bsre a freedom and
ariety very attractive.