River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-10
An Agreeable Guest.

The longest visit that we read of in
modern days was one which DIR. Isaac
Watts made at Lord Abney's in the Isle
of Wight. He went to spent fortnight,
but they made him so happy that he re-
NAMED beloved and honored guest for
fcrty gears.
Few of us would care to make SO long
d visit as that, but it might be worth the
while for US all to try and learn the secret
of making ourselves agreeable and well
come gtiests. To have ga nice time" when
visiting is delightful, but TO leave behind
us pleasant impression is worth great
deal more.
An agreeable guest is title which any
one may be proud to deserve. A great
many people, with the best intentions
and the kindest hearts, never receive it,
simply becattse they have never consider
ed the subject, and really do not know how
to make their stay in another person s
home pleasure instead Of an inconveni-
ence. If you are one of these thoughtless
ones, you may be sure that, although your
friends are glad to see yon happy, and
may enjoy your visit on that account,
your departure Will be followed with a
sigh of relief, as the family settle down to
their usual occupations, glad that the
visit is over.
A great many different qualities and
habits go to make up the character of
one whom people are always glad to see,
and these last must be proved while we
are young, if we expect to wear them
gracefully. A young person whose pre-
sence in the hotse is an Inconvenience
and WEAKNESS at fifteen, Is seldom a
welcome visitor in after-life.
The two most important characteristics
of a guest are tact and observation, and
these will lead you to notice and do just
what will give pleasure to your friends
in their different opinions and ways OF
living. Apply in its best sense the max
im-"When you are in Rome do as the
Romans do (" Unless you have some
good reason for not doing so, let your
friends know the day, and, if possible, the
hour when YOU expect to arrive. Sur
prises are very well in their way, bu
there are few households in which it is
quite convenient to have friend drop in
without warning for a protracted visit
If they know that you are coming, they
will have the pleasure of preparing for
you and looking forward to your arrival,
aud you will not feel that you are dis
turbing any previous arrangements
which they have made for the day.
Let your friends know, if possible soon
after you arrive, about how long you
mean to stay with them, as they might
not like to ask the question, and would
still find it convenient to know whether
your visit is to have duration of three
DAYS or three weeks. Take with you
some work that you have already begun,
or some book that you are reading, that
you may be agreeably employed when
your hostess is engaged with her own
affairs, and not be sitting about idle, as II
waiting to be entertained, when her time
is necessarily taken up with something
else, Make her feel that, for q small
part at least of every day, no one needs
to have any responsibility abort anus
ing you.
A lady who is charming as guest
and as hostess once said to me; i new
er take nap in the afternoon when | am
at home, but I do when | an visiting,
because l know what relief It has some
times been to me to have company lie
down for little while, after dinner
Susan A. Broom, St.Nicholas for January