Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-06

| excusable, stalk into the presence OF the
| hostess with overcoats Cd, having left
their hats in the hsll, and, after receiving
rsther thsn fferirg salutstions, "slump''
into the easiest chsiI in the room, lear
back and inspect the interior with
the eye OF cred.torisl appraiser. a
monetary spssm of common-sense
would, one nigh. think, teach q native
rarchmsn that hat and overcoat should
go together; that, II one is dispensed
with In the snte-cham0e!, the other
should also be lsid sside.
Ga the other hsDd,sth hostess should
not rerna upon the hat and cane
brought into her presence bv one who
pays ceremonious first call in the tsy-
time, or who, although an hebitue Ct the
house, thus indicates his intention OF
staying but short time. Fashisr,
So now ser, prescrioes that he shefld
carry hat and cane into the drawing
room with him, and, shcn,d
The atmosphere be oppressiveIy warn,
unbuttop snd throw open his cvercost
without removing 1t. This refers, as we
have ssld,to formal morning or afternoon
calls. Some very nice, well bred woMerj
will insist upon relieving the visiSr St
what thsy imagine are ife'
cumbrances. A safe rule fin
such cases is to let the esllerssAave,
bis own way, and take the conseq uehces.
He ic surely capable OF divessing him
self OF his cutter garment, and setting
nat aud cane down On the carpet should
ne ind thl m troublesome. As soor ask
woman arraJed in elegant walking cos
tome TON country phrase-"LSy Of
her things" SO TO say to her masculine
attendant: "Do let me take your hail"
Everybody should know enough to geek
out the hostess at once, or entering salon
or psrlor or drawn room. be there few
or many present. Yet have seen guests
turn aside, OF lireer to address fellow
guests nearer the door thsp the cons picu-
Gus position occupied by the hostess and
her daughters, or the friends who ere
c-iYe" with her.
"Surely hsse hot seen you before this
EVENING"" said hostess to 9 man who
came up to make his adieux at the close
OF an evening reception. 81 did not
know you were here"
an Pr said the graceful creature,
patron!ziDgly blapd, with an indie
scribsble touch Of spologetic compass
sion for the defrauded lady, dsshiug
suavity and patronage. 81 saw you
we're pretty busy with others when l
cs meiiu, and concluded you bad plenty of
people to entertain you, so I've been TAX
ing care of myself"
As he might at Congress Hall or the
Windsorl
The disposition to regard a friends
home as hotel, and the repasts served
therein as free lunches, betrays the IN
derbred guest beyond the possibility OF
rehabilitation. One token of this
inclination has been referred to in the
establishment of bis contented person in
the most luxurious chair he espies, or
lolliDg On the sofa. he carries forward
the neat design by lingering bric-a brsc,
opening and shutting books, scTutinizine
wall paper, frescoes, and furniture;
sometimes turning up the corner of
rug, pincbirg draperies with
hsberdasherly touch, and, when
not prevented by iDtractaoie
casters, tipping his chair on the hind legs.
Why what the indignant military critic Of
the Jackson ststue at Washington called
"r'srIn'" chair should express the tx.
tIeme Of ease better than one left in the
normal quadruped position, is reconcile
question. It must, or 1t would not be
brought to the front so often that chair
tipped backward might serve IS the crest
Of the independent Yankee the world
over. A further and quite indubitable
evidence Of quite: at-home- ativeness is
the subdued whistle or hum with which
the guest regeles himself when not talk
ing. He can compliment his entertainers
no more highly than by becoming hu-
man kettle on the hob, and singing him
self up to the bubblirg point Of CONVEX
satlon.
The visitor owes 1t to .ne person whose
house he enters to dress as BELTS the &C.
casion of his comlrg. For men, the
dress coat-in slang psrlsnce, "claw-
hammer" or "swallow-rail''-while mad
MISSILE before 6 O'Clock D. m, is always
safe habit for an evening call, while,
perhsps, not 80 indispensable in
friends drswiDg-room IS
at the dilner-table. That the
custom Of wearing this when paying calls
after dark to ladies is becoming so nearly
invariable is 8 pleasing token that cer-
tain degree Of courteous routine Is tenn
pering the national unceremoniousness
A lady caller wears q handsome walking
or carriage costume, and, IL the weather
be cold, may leave her fur cloak in the
hall. On regular cat Home" days or
evenings, q correct and elegant costume,
IS to bonnet, gloves, etc =, is imperative.
The feelings of the hostess are of more
consequence in this matter than the con-
venience of the visitor. The former ought
not to be obliged to conione or apologize,
even to herself, for the dowdyishness Of
friends and acqusintances. Every woman
ON such OCCASIONS, feels priceful enjoy
ment in the appearance Of those who help
to furnish her rooms. There is an atmos-
phere Of exhilaratlon in groups Of we'll
appointed people disposed about the
apartment which engenders cheer and
mirth.
As has, been intimated, first call
should not be long, unless peculiar cir
warrant 1t, such as previous
intimacy elsewhere, as at watering
places, or ship oard, or In the homes of
other friends. How thoroughly this is
appreciated by those versed in society's
creed may be exempli1ed by a
recent incident.
A British edventurer imposed himcelf
upon the "best circles" In one of our |
large cities IS gentleman Of noble |
lineage, and carried on the deception with |
such clever audacity that months elapsed |
before he WAS unmasked. Hav- !
Ing been q noblemsn's valet. he used his