Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-07-12
gadies' Golamm.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

There is no invitation so common,
and none so seldom accepted. as this
free and easy tender of ones home to a
guest. From the way people conduct
themselves in their own homes-what
with their peevishness, hardness SLOW
enliness, surliness, ond the other neSseS
we shouldn't care to have the invita-
ton taken very literally by them in any
home in which we had part or lot
but it is not practicable and would it
not be more pleasant all around, to have
agreeable people feel more at home than
they often do in their friends home?
All visitors feel that in some places
there is an atmosphere that is congenial
and pleasant, and conducive to freedom
and enjoyment while in others-though
the welcome be just as warm and the
friends no less kind and dear-they are
never unconscious that they are visitors.
The house is in an abnormal condition
of spick-and-span orderliness, to start
with and one feels that in no home
are the papers and books always picked
up, the work put out of sight and every
thing kept with its best foot forward.
In most sensible, not to say cultivated,
families, the essential vulgarity of load
ing down with an unusual and unneces-
sary variety of food, because friend
chances to be present, is no longer seen !;
but in too many the entire matter of the
family eating is made to turn upon the
guests appetite or readiness. How en-
tirely at home one feels this is writ
ironical, as A. Ward used to say to
come down to breakfast quarter of an
hour late and find poter faa0ilias read
ing the advertisements in his crumpled
morning paper, with one eye wandering
to the clock the housewife with the
shadow of a frown upon her politely I'M
plucked brow, and the children palpa-
bly, cross from waiting! The guest
shouldn't be late. of course, but he Of
ten takes that liberty when at homo and
would feel much better to find the fam
lily to the table than waiting for him.
y The consciousness of throwing every
, thing out of gear in the family machin-
cry makes one realize very uncomforta-
bly, that he is not at home
Then the children are often kept on
dress parade, during the presence Of
transient guests. 1t causes pain to a
childloving and sensitive man to know
: that the children are debarred of their
natural blessed freedom by his presence
His own little ones at home climb to
his back or knee, tease for stories, play
games, and have good time after sup.
per; and while the average parent
doesn't take so much interest In Other
peoples children no one not so utterly
1 selfish that his comfort does not deserve
to be considered, likes to see children
robbed of any of their little rights and
customs by stupid conventionality. re
I quiring them to be dressed up and keep
still.
1t may further be truly said of hos
pitality, that as rule, entertaining
does not entertain. Public men are no
! the only people who like plenty of let
ting alone. The friend into whose HON,
our coming means only an extra plate
l and chair at the table and room a
y the Preside; whose easy chair is our
4 for reading, resting or chatting; who's
q home circle is enlarged, not broken u
by our entrance; whose greeting show
I that he is conscious of receiving as wei
y as imparting pleasure; who preserves
4 his own individuality and recognize
4 ours; over whose roof tree waves tn
1 flag of freedom-isn't this the place W
/ all love to 60?