Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-05-07
HOSPITALITY,
as DecfiDe Due to Increased OUTLAY for
Decoration and Display.


IL IS well to realize in all the ap-
Pointments OF life that there are always
some things that must be left out. and.
trying to choose wisely. arrange our
Plans OF life accordingly; for, while
lime endues US with its power if also
imposes its restrictions. The question
Is constantly submitted to us, This or
I that? not This and that"
While many things must be crowded
out margin should ALWAYS be left for
meeting, and greeting, and enjoying in
tercourse with one another Nothing
can take the place of the conversation
OF living men and women. The meet
ing OF thought with thought. of mind
with mind, OF heart with heart, is es-
sential to the full and healthful devel-
opment OF every individual heart and
mind and soul.
We Americans, it is said, are hur-
FED, driven people. 1t is true that the
struggle for existence is an all-absorb-
ing struggle. 1t is quite as true that
existence" grows to be more and
more comprehensive term. So many
sential that are in reality quite separ-
ate from the real needs and necessities
OF simple living. The taste for .pretty
things is being carried to a great and
unsatisfying extreme. Elaboration in
dress and in house decoration and ap-
pointments is usurping a place that
should be devoted to other and better
things. Tastefulness and the love of
beauty are both desirable and useful;
1t is the excess that is to be deplored,
where strength and mind and money
are used in a way that too often, is
but robbIng from the real resources
OF life, its development, necessities and
duties
All those who can afford to indulge
In dainty and expensive furnishing,
without trenching upon an insufficient
income or upon life's higher duties and
nobler uses, may surely do so. But
those who can not afford it should be
content to have homes which are true
and pure in their simplicity. Simpli-
city IS not in the least akin to mean
ness, and one can keep the home neat
and clean and tasteful without any
elaboration of decorative ornaments.
The decline of hospitality is largely
due to the increased demand Sup
posed demand) for outlay and eXpendi-
ture, for decoration and Display. In
older mes people were. honestly and
heartily hospitable, because it was not
customary to make much change from
the ordinary custom of the house.
Then a housekeeper hearing of the
coming of guests was not discOnserted
at the news; an additional desert per-
haps, or one or two additional dishes,
would be ali that she need add to the
clean table-linen to be in readiness for
the guests, whose coming she did not
dread because she felt they did not
come to criticise, but to enjoy them
selves. If the same feeling on the part
of both hosts and guests could now be
general, how much greater pleasure.
freedom and benefit would be found in
the interchange OF hospitality.
If we could be wiling to entertain
our friends with whatever means and
appliances we have at hand, we could
greet our guests with cordially instead
of the frequent all-too-evident anxiety.
We are too anxious about the appear
ance of the 'best ROOM, about the dis
play of the rare china and about the
display of our culinary arts; too desir
Gus to put out of sight the little
..homely," comfortable ways of daily
pany parade, to be able to enjoy our
selves or 10 give enjoyment to others.
A guest who receives an earnest,
hearty welcome. who feels that his
coming does not disarrange, or greatly
add to the household plans or cares, is
a guest placed at once at ease.
1t is not from having every outward
want supplied that one derives the great
est enioyment; but from being made
sensible that ones presence is dear
and desired. What matters it if our
guests can purchase dozen luxuries
to our none? Had they chosen to en-
JOY their Injuries they might have re-
manned at home to do so; but they
have come to us. 1t would be simple
courtesy, at the very least, to suppose
they have come for ourselves, not for
what we can give them
We should be blind, in any envious
or emulous way. to the CLEAN of the
gold or silver OF those richer than our
selves when we are regulating our own
household appo ntments. If we make
more display than we can afford We
are unjust and untrue to ourselves.
We can offer what we are justly
able to do, considering our means,
strength and circumstances; filling all
deficiencies with cordial goodwill, of
which the grace will reach deeper, and
the charm will charm more fully and
bless more wisely, than any mere col
lection of rare furnishing or elabora-
ton of collation. can do.
A plain, unpretentiOus meal. atwhich
the souls of the guests have been light
ened, the hearts warmed and the minds
uuickened by genial and earnest inter-
course, is within the reach of all. All
true-hearted intercourse is elevating;
there is nothing VIII CHI can give to
youth so liberal an education as to
mingle with and listen to those who
are cultivated. who are full of high and
noble thoughts and aims, those who
are simple, earnest and sincere, the
disciples of truth and love, OF faith and
duty.
Peter said: "Silver and gold have /
none, but such as l have give l to
thee" and his saving might well be
taken as a motto in social life. 1t Is
that which we have that we are to give,
not that which we have not; we are not
to strive to appear other than we are;
not to strive to make display to
which there is no inward truth or pos
session. Ii we have good feeling, we
can give that; if we have love, We can
give that: if we have goodwill and
char ty, we can give of those; if we
have education and refinement. we can
o,;ve of those: and, with our stock