New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-22
HOSPITALITY,

who claim to belong to the same class.
HOSPITALITY.
1t is mistake to think that wealth
necessary for the exercise of hospitality
Few are wealthy; all removed above ali
solute want should be hospitable. Til
much lauded, but much misunderstood
virtue, does not consist in the giving O
grand entertainments, in setting befor
guests tables laden with all the luxurie
OF the season, in disturbing the order o
| ones household for weeks in order t,
make great display for one night, tina
crowds OF people mostly as Indifferent to
ward the host as he is toward them, may
proclaim the entertainment the most costly
and elegant of.the season. This is but an
ostentatious shift to pay off ones social
obligations at wholesale in order to be free
OF them for a long time. True hospitality
comes from the heart. 1t is seen in the
kindly sparkle Of the eye, the cordial tone
OF the voice, the freely outstretched hand,
the holiday aspect which shows genuine
pleasure at the presence of the welcomed
visitor. True hospitality shares with its
guest the best it has, but does not
place the entertainment above the en-
tertainer. Its first thought is one Of
pleasure at sight of the visitor, not one of
sol'cltude as to what shall be given him
to eat or drink. Eating and drinking are
needful, nay, Indispensable, but good
taste regards them as incidentals, not as
the principal features of social inter-
course. To children indeed the refresh
ments constitute "the party" likewise to
that class SO admirably hit off By Dickens.
in the famous invitation to soiree, ito
consist of leg of boiled mutton. to be
served punctaally at eight O'clock" How
many there are who, though too well-in-
formed to cali leg of mutton "a soiree,"
yet act at soirees when the supper time
comes as if it were the main feature of the
How their eyes glisten as
ley roam over the well-flled table. tax
ng in at glance turkey and truffles.
lock and champagne; how they chafe at
he custom which restraints them from
lelplng themselves until after all the
aides are served; and how they pitch in |
when the time comes, and guzzle and |
'ormandize as though they never had seen |
feast before and never expected to see
mother.
No, such grand displays are not, as a
eneral thing, the offspring of spirit q |
ospitality; which is rather seen in a will
ngness to receive friends or strangers
and informally, sharing with
hem what one has, and participating
18th them in tina: social intercourse, that
xchange of sentiment and opinion which
nllvens the mind and seasons a simple
spast SO that it affords more pleasure
ian the choicest dainties without it. We
not, OF course, mean to condemn ele
int and costly entertainments. These
e well enough when the giving of them
not such tax upon the nerves and
brit of the entertainer as to disable him
r the proper duties of a host; but we do
can to say that hospitality, and that of
e best kind, is quite possible without
EN-. Sad were it indeed if only the
ealthy could enjoy the luxury OF attract
g friendly visitors to their houses and
ltably entertaining them. But it is not
We have seen lady who might be
lied poor preside at tea table to which
e had invited chance guests, with the
ace of an empress, although the meal
INSISTED of nothing but what had been
epared for her own family, toast and
!. This simple repast, however, was so
II prepared and so set off by the neat a
SIS of the table linen, the welcome with C
itch it was offered, the sprightly con- r.
:sation of the hostess, and the good p
'eding OF her children, that the guests n
re. more than satisfied. b
What we might add on this subject has e,
IN so well said already by our great p
lerican philosopher that we can not Ell
better than to quote: IL
let man, then, say, "My house is here L
he county for the culture of the county: &C
eating-house and sleeping house for =.
velers it shall be, but it shall be much I'd
re. l pray you, 0 excellent wife, not to N
aber yourself and me to get rich dinner os
this man or this woman who has
,hted at our gate, nor a bed-chamber al
de ready at too great cost. These til
,gs, if they are curious in, they can get e
a dollar in any village. But let this
niger, if he will, in your looks, in your alb
emit and behavior, read your heart and sit
nestness. your thought and will, which -
AN not buy at any price, in any village e'
ity, and which he may we'll travel fifty fol-
IS and dine sparely and sleep hard in ~,
or to behold. Certainly, let the board on
pread and let the bed be dressed for the is
'eler; but let not the emphasis of hos mr.
lily be in these things. Honor to the
Sc where they are simple to the verge
ardship, SO that there the intellect is
Ike and reads the laws of the universe,
soul worships truth and love, honor
courtesy flow into all deeds" w