Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-24
Hostess and Guest.


From Chambers Journal.
Do not exercise your mind too much about
amusing your guest, Is the good advice of n
writer in Chambers Journal. have often thought
That IN some foreign countries, and notably in
many parts of America, the relation OF host and
guest was u sort OF double slavery. The host
has the comfort and amusement of his guest SO
painfully at heart that both undergo Tor the
Time being an amount OF social mIsery that
entirely spoils the fl eedOm and pleasure OF the
visit. In our country it is different. Go to
spend week in an EnglishmanS house, and
you may be sure that neither your host nor hos
tess VIII bother you about trifling matters I'M
less you seem To desire it. Everything goes on
as though you were not there, and
yet, per contra, the house and its be-
longinss are practically yours so Ing as
bad taste to pursue visitor with continual
offers OF amusement. If treated as a member
OF the family and suffered to amuse himself,
ne Will generally do very well, and will feel
much happier and more at ease than when he
Is too closely looked after. l have heard per-
sons complain bitterly OF undue attentions and
continual running after, from which they have
suffered far more acutey than ii actually ne
elected. Nv here is Mrs. Dash? Who is sitting
gracious! is it possible she has been lett by her
self? Go at once, Mary. Julia. or Tommy,
ana aia SIT with her, and amuse her until have
hapless Mrs. Dash is struggling to get letter or
two written, or a bill OF account made up. and
is consrutulating herself upon the unwonted
luxury of a few delicious moments of absolute
quiet. She is reveling in the thought of
being left alone, when, 10! Miss Mary, aged 10,
Comes awkwardly in and stands smiling in the
window, or sits sideways upon the piano stool
stunning with one hand at the notes, which
is her idea OF keeping the visitor company until
mamma comes. Or. Master Tommy, aged H.
enters with q burst Of noise. and proceeds TO
relate to the afflicted guest how ne and Jack
Jones are in the same Latin class; and how said
Jones is beyond him in Euclid, thoug n inferior
in something else; and how Brown licked Black
for calling MIN "a duuce--with Variety vi otner
Information, by no means Interesting to uncOn-
cerned parties. To this annoyance there are lew
OF US VINO nave not been subjected. A greater
error Oh jud ,ment can scarcely be committed.
10 make Il guest feel miOrtable aud at home
leave him pretty much To his own devices. To
be always striving to ainuse him is a poor COM
plIment TO his own resources.
A hostess who cannot preserve her serenity
upon even the most crucial occasions. is lack
Ing IN one Of the most essential qualities OF an
entertainer. The thong Itiess sp1iiing OF her
best wine, the sOling OF ner wnIest titulecoth,
nay. even the smashing OF a whole lrayIul OF
her best Old family china, should not cause one
muscle Of her cOuntenance to change.
On the other hand, All affected ignorance re-
Spectlng the contents OF the days Diii OF fare is
at times almost as fatal as the opposite extreme.
l Was yseli present at "a dinner party at which
one OF the untutOred slableneIpers had been
brought In, on All emergency, 10 assist. ''W hat
are these, JOnn?' inquired the langud hostess,
as John tremOitngiy thrust forward IL dish OF
tartletS just under her right elbow. Il don't
know Yam, rs,aliy," lie replied; but think
they're tuppence apiece!"