The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-02-14
HOW TO ENTERTAIN A GUEST.

st. Nicholas had something to say,
not very long ago, to those who wished
to be agreeable guests. 1t seems hard
ly fair that these should have all the
advice, since there are some people
whom you enjoy receiving in your own
house who do not know exactly how to
manage matters when they have COM
pany at their own homes.
Now we will have little talk on the
other side of this question of entertain
ment, and will speak of those frequent
occasions when, as DIR. Holmes says,
The visitor becomes the visitee.
There are some people who seem to
consider that the obligation is all over
when the guest has arrived, but, in real
ity, it has just begun. You are re-
sponsible in some degree for the happi-
ness of your visitors from the time they
enter your house until they leave it.
Young girls who have no household
cares should feel this obligation espe-
cially, but some who do feel it do not
know how to make their visitors happy
and at ease, and SO are uncomfortable
all the time they stay, and because they
feel that they do not succeed, become
discouraged, and at last stop trying.
Indeed, there is nothing more discour-
aging than to feel that you ought to do
q thing, and not know exactly how or
where to begin; but few words of
help, carefully remembered, may give
one wonderful start in the right direc-
ton, so here they are, for those of you
who are looking forward to receiving
visits from your young friends, with a
sort of dread, lest they may not have
what they call ga good time"
1t is not in the finest houses, or in the
gayest places, that guests always enjoy
themselves the most. You must have
something better than elegant rooms,
or all the sights and sounds of
a big city, to make your home
attractive and pleasant. 1t is a
very low grade of hospitality which
trusts in good dinners and fine houses
alone. 1t must be amore subtle charm
than either of these which will make
your house a home to your friends.
All who have ever made visits them
selves know this to be true. A cordial
welcome, readiness to oblige, kind
thoughtfulness of the pleasure of 9TH
ers instead of your own, are three gold
en- rules for hostess to remember.
Let us look at some of the smaller
details.
In the first place, have the guests
room in readiness beforehand, so as
not to be constantly supplying deficien-
cies after she comes. Put few inter-
esting books on the table, and writing
materials, if it be only a common pen
Gil, pen and ink-bottle, with few sheets
of paper.
Try and make the room show your
guest that she was expected, and that
her coming was looked forward to with
pleasure.
A few flowers on the bureau, an easy
chair by the pleasantest window-these
are some of the little touches which
make the pleasantest room seem home
like.
If your visitors are strangers, or I'M
accustomed to travelling, try to meet
them at the station, or to send some
one for them. The sight of a familiar
face among the crowd takes away that
first home-sick feeling which comes to
young people as, tired and travel-worn,
they step from the boat or cars into the
sights and sounds of strange place.
When your friend is once established
in the guest-chamber, remember that
it becomes her castle, and is as much
her own as if she was at home; so do
not be running in and out too familiar
" without an invitation. Let her feel
that when you go there the order of
things is reversed, and that then you
are the guest and she is the hostess.
Let the pleasures which you choose
for her entertainment be of kind
which you are sure she will enjoy. 1t
is no kindness to insist on taking a
nervous, timid girl on q fast drive, or
out rowing If she is afraid of the water,
under the impression that visitors must
be taken somewhere, when all the time
she is wishing she was on solidground.