The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 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 Wright. He went to spend q fort
night, but they made him 40 happy that
he remained . beloved and honored
guest for forty gears. t,rz...
Few of us would care to make so long
visit as that, but it might be worth the
while for us all to try and learn the
secret of making ourselves agreeable
and welcome guests. To have s'a nice
time" when visiting is delightful, but to
leave behind us pleasant impression is
worth a great deal more.
An agreeable guest is q title which
any one may be proud to deserve. A
great many people, with the best in
tentions and the kindest hearts, never
receive it, simply because they have
never considered the subject, and really
do not know how to make their stay in
another PERSONS home q pleasure in
stead of an inconvenience. If you are
one of these tthoughtless ones, you may
be sure that, although your friends are
glad to see you happy, and may enjoy
your visit on that account, your depar-
ture will be followed with sigh of re-
lief, as the family settle down to their
usual occupations, glad that the visit is
over. --. .ss-.-
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
presence in the house is an Inconvenience
and WEAKNESS at fifteen, is seldom q
welcome visitor in after-life.
The two most important characteris-
tics of 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
do as the Romans do. s--~--
r 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. Surprises are very
well in their way, but, there are few
households in which it is quite con-
venient 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, and
you will not feel that you are disturbing
any previous arrangements which they
have made for the day. Il, l..
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 al
ready begun, or some book that you are
reading, that you may be be agreeably
employed when your hostess is engaged
with her own affairs, and not be sitting
about idle, as if waiting to be enter
tanned, when her time is necessarily
taken up with something else. Make
her feel that, for small part at least
of every day, no ohe needs to have any
responsibility about amusing you.
A lady who is charming as q guest
and as hostess once said to me: 81
never take nap in the afternoon when
am at home, but 1 do when am Wis
iting, because 1 know what relief it
has sometimes been to me to have COM
pany lie down for little while after
dinner. Susan a. Broom, in st. Nich-
0lGs for January. lAt- Hi