The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-25
Entertaining ComnnninY.

(Fretu tho rovi6ence JonrnalJ lI-f.
The art oGtrue hospitality has yet to be
learned in most Of our homes. We fail Ia
TeCOgniz@ the fact hat the poorest enter
ttainment, excepting positive neglect, is,
to be constantly entertained, alike annoy
ing TO the guest, and irksOme TO the host.
In our anxiety to do our best for our Wis.
itors, whether frieuds Or strangers, we
forget that II Is luxury, at times, to be
let Gl0nc;tO have the privilege Of being
silent, moody, even; 70 let the world, and
everybody and everything in It Jog along
AS though we had no personal interest in
the matter. We need these respites
every day; they are hardly less necessary
thnn sleep At night. II VIC have been
moro than usually excited or subjected to
nm unCOmnOnnervous stfAin, by putting
on cur best appearance before those whose
attentions we arc anxious to reciprocate,
there is all the more need of this indul-
geuce in SOCIAL and mental diStd6iRe. It
is happy thing for lady to see when
her guest would De best pleased TO be left
to himself to be free 10 lounge, to read,
to walk, or, II he must do 1t, 10 smoke.
She, too, should, In the meantime, unhend
her sOlictudes in regard to the enjoyment
OF her visitors, graduating her attendance
upon them to compliance with the law
requiring alternate action and rest even
In social communications and enjoyments.
We oil can think Of people whom We de-
light In visiting, because we feel 50 much
"at home" with them. They have an un.
obtrusiVe way Of making u.s. feel easy and
free 10 partake Of their good cheer with
out holding tho cup to our lips all the
time II we have eaten enough, we do
not feel constrained to nibble Of another
round OF dishes for fear oil offending table
etiquette. If we have had enough oil the
"lJw of soul and feast OF reason" we
may relapse into silence. without embar.
rassmcnt that Our stock OF wit and wis
dom Is running low. ~ We feel easy be.
cause our friends arc so. Active enjoy
ments may come liket the waters from in.
termittent springs, but they arc all the
sWeeter than as though furnished In con.
slant flow by toe force pump. How pain
fully different Is Il when the matter Of en-.
tertainmcnt for us IS made thing Of dis
tressiug concern; the fear being that they
shall not make themselves agreeable all
the time; that We may discover some
thing not In perfect order In the appoint |
ments OF our room at night; that the food
Is not to our liking, because we do not
consume twice as much as even hungry |
people ought to, that something or other
will be amiss or go wrong, and that we
shall tell everybody Hll about it. From
such place deliver US
Nobody Of sense expects TO find every.
thing as well as 1t might be; and the per-
son who does go spying out the loose
Joints in the household should be given a
wide berth-out Of doors. We would no!
say, by any means, that there should be
absolutely mo difference for company"
II is most certainly pleasant and right 10 |
give expression to our better, feelings by |
rendering to those whom it may be our |
duty or privilege to entertain, the best
which may be at command, observing,
too, that regard for personal attire and
behavior which we instinctivelY adopt
as the badge Of true respectlor others
The Golden Rule Is the thing 10 practice.
No one who knows OF the great labor at.
tending elaborate preparations for visl-
tors and the unnatural excitability Of en-
tertaining them, would feel the slightest
In so taxing tho Inequalities
Of their friends, especially II tho work
comes largely upon the mistress herself.
Proffer, then, a hearty welcome, rather
than TO distress yourself and guests by the
betrayal Of chagrin that your house is not
q palace. Talk when you ioel like 1t, and
confer similar liberty upon your visitors.
Don't spoil a meal BY apologizing for It's
want Of delicacies. Good appetites and
good digestion are promoted by cheerful.
ness; go let cheerfulness reign at the table,
as well as in the psrlor. II We so con-
duct when people come to sec us,whether
for call or for longer time, rs to en-
Joy ourselves in their company, we have
probably done the best thing for their en-
ioyment, too.