The Dickinson press., 1888-02-04
AT COUNTRY HOMES.
SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE
FIRST LAW OF HOSPITALITY.

An Invitation to an EnglisIman's House.
What II Impli">-Thr Americans Way
Of Doing Thing>-Embarrns>Imcut of the
Ho>t-A Rule.
There are thousands Of country-yct in one
way city likr-honrs in the suburbs of our
large cities today where twenty years ago
they mi. hi have been numbered 10y tens. Nor
is This only the natural effect from tho cause
of an ever increasing population. We are
realizing that we want raurr pleasant daily
living: that such sweet. simple home life rs
that of England is possible I" IL certain OK
tent even amidst the rush and push MId crush
of American business. We are tired of 500
ing each tacr which l,isS,, us in the crowded
streets more keen, more anxious. more sharp,
more unrc>tful than the last. .And we are
seeing the possibility nf much comfort and
enjoyment without untold riches: we are re-
alizing more and more that immense for
tunes are not the only end of man. and so are
taking time tn find ont what can he made
pleasant ON a comfortable income. and w"
gather our friends about us to lie happy to-
gcthcr. For certain it is that the pleasure of
entertaining is one nf the greatest in life.
1t isalmitted. of course, that for any STAN
dard or degree of living it takes an income
from toul to five times rs large in the United
States rs in England. but our country is to"
large. too Young to have developed all its TO-
sources rs they nave done t" each It'll" inch
of slhirc there: and wr must wait many years
f"l this thing To balance itself. Meantime We
ar: philosophical enough in kiss each joy as
II hicS
OS BEING INVITED.
Thu first thing one realizes nn being invited
to ~, E~nsll>hmauS hou>s. iSthu; one is invited
To come at n certain time and stay until Il
certain time. There Is no indefinite INVITA-
ton; Come aud make lis n visit whenever
%ou can" l.aNiitg onr with a half certainty
that one would he welcome, and n very de-
ridcl m,ccrtnilty. should one go whenever
one could. as g.. whether ONES visit would not
be very iii tIpnri. No. one starts with Il def
mite fact. ami 80 ls,"iu"ntly with some'hinStn
lay hold If and ie at ease a:.out-a knuwl-
| o.,. thai one Is wanted at such Il time aid
for >o long.
An Englishman, hastily and correctly,
from habit. reviews his engagements. both OF
Il business and social nature. and replies ut
once, thus in his turn giving his host that
certain ea~'nt knowing. Il shall be happy
to come to you OH the day YOU STATE. and can
Arrange to remain until the -" He then
states the train he will take, or. perhaps. his
host has suggested Il Tram: or, ii it is too far
ahead tn stat" positively. lie adds: ~ will
Inform You by post "r telegram n day or two
before of the hour of my arrival" The host
then is ready. his plans al" formed. the guest
is sure of his welcome, ul dtlla visitor starts of
with n pleasant ease. Ii he cannot 90 he de
rlilrs as promptly aud as definitely. But
when an American receives such an invita-
ton. what is his course: Very apt is he to
think: That's pleasure. I'm too husY to
write to-day. Anyway, l must have IL few
day, 4" think it over" and the invitation is
pushed aside for a more convenient season.
Meantime the hosts are uncomfortable and
wondering why So and SO does not write
Ill So and 50 received orr lrttcr-"if VIC
only knew that So and so could net come we
would invite some one else"
HE WRITES AT LAST.
AT last our American writes. Does he
either decline or accept: Americans arc n
positive ~race-ahout husincss-but where
social life is concerned it is only the women
who are Mt all punrtilious. No. he says:
Could not reply tn your letter ut once. and
even now am not certain if we can accept it:
will let You know in II few days" or worse
still: "Don't believe we can arrange to come
% you M the 18th. How would the 25th suit
you" Fancy the embarrassment of the host,
who has asked sornc one else for that date!
Or again, and to our shame he it said, this is
often done: Cannot come when YOU say,
hut think can arrange it later. Will let YOU
know"
oh. the %thoughtless assurance of such a
reply passeth belief, but the people who make
it are often, in other things, the most unas-
sllming persons. OF course it is only due to
tlloughtlessness and the habit of the land to
regard social duties as secondary and min
portant. Many an American hostess has had
her lunch table stand half the afternoon and
her dinner wait an hour for the arrival of Il
guest who agreed to come but forgot 10 state
the hour. After all, i'll life it is the little
things which constantly rub against the
grain, and the hosts who are put out and III
convenienced by uncertainty can never be so
glad to see the guest who causes such annoy
ances as he who says when he will come, and
comes when he says.
AS deduction tho first law of hospitality
should be that old rule, "Do unto others as
you would have them do unto YOU" And
and exact about these little things. Be sure
to accept or decline an invitation to n house
visit as promptly and as positively as one to
dinner, and 10 exactly as you agree about
the inc of arrival. no matter if it should ut
the time prove a little more convenient to 90
an hour or two earlier or luter.-Chicago
Herald.
An offended Window (iazcr.
81 remember one instance of n Scnly look