Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-02-27
RULES FOR VISITORS,
Nine Sugges tions Based on Common Sens
and Every-D Day Etiquette.

RULES FOR VISITORS.
Nine Suggestions Based on Common Sense
and Every-Day Etiquette.
l. Never give pheasant surprises"
Nobody likes to be taken unawares
In the midst Of possible house clean
ing, sickness, or even the weekly
washing. There is nothing q hospi
table housewife more thoroughly enjoys
than putting the finishing touches to
guests room and seeing that every
thing is swept and garnished ready for
her welcome.
z. State beforehand the length OF
your visit.-Every hostess wants tc
make the most of the time devoted to
her. She can not do this unless she
knows what the time will be and can
plan accordingly. 1t would be a dis.
appointment to her to have crowded
all your entertainment into one week
and then find that the visit was to be
heightened out to three. Be sure tc
tell definitely the road and train on
which you will go, and. if your arrival
is to be near the dinner or supper hour,
whether you will have lunched on the
train.
8. Adapt yourself to the habits Of
the family visited.-The city visitor
may not be accustomed to rising till
nine o'clock, but if the regular break
fast hour is half-past five, you are in
courtesy bound to be ready for it. II
is always we'll to inquire at night if a
rising-bell is rung, and then time oul
movements accordingly. Not less an
noying to housekeeper than late ris.
ing is too early rising. To one accus-
toned to country hours it is doubtless
very trying 10 rise at five and wait till
eight or h6lf-past for breakfast, but
the remedy is in your own hands. You
may lie in bed till half-past seven. II
one wishes to rise early and read OF
write before breakfast, and it can be
done without disturbing others, there
is no objection to it; but never go dowr
stairs until very near the breakfast
hour.
4. Avoid giving unnecessary trouble.
"A thoughtless guest is seldom a very
agreeable one. 1t may only be thought
lessness that prompts one to prolong
calls long past a hostess supper hour,
but it makes one a very uncomfortable
visitor to have, nevertheless. To
many housel1eepers it is a great an
noyance to have guests things-bon.
nets, parasols, work, etc.-left lying
at random. 1t is especially annoying
to some persons to have their guests
leave their poclet-books and jewelry
around. Keep them in your trunk,
when not in use, and keep your trunk
locked. Some hostesses specially re.
quest this. Another thing to avoid is
calling upon servants for extra serv.
ices. If you have laundry work to be
done, look up a laundress instead OF
asking the lady of the house to have it
done for you, even though it may be
but a triding service. AS rule serv-
ants resent such things unless special
! ly paid for them, and even then it in
terferes with the regular work.
5. Be helpful in an unobtrusive
way.-If your friend does her own
work or has only one servant, there
are many little ways in which you can
assist her. OF course you will take care
OF your own room, but if there is sufi-
Gent intimacy you may do more with
out giving otfense. You may wipe the
dishes, make her bed and help in
many ways that will suggest them
selves to you, but you must do it in an
unobtrusive way-and don't go in the
kitchen while she is getting meal.
g. Don't affect to be entertained
Nothing makes one more uncomfort.
able than to go back to the parlor
after absence to find the guest waiting
stif1y for her return, without doing
any thing to entertain herself You
know she will be busy for awhile
after breakfast Take this time to go
to your room to write letters, or
take up the morning paper or a
book, and when she returns
let her see that you have been enter
tanned during her absence. Have your
fancy work or your crocheting and she
will feel better about leaving you.
When you know that she is specially
busy take one of the children-the
m ost troublesome one-for walk. or
make call; in short, when you know
that she must absent herself, forestal]
her by making some excuse to absent
yourself.
z. Pay your own small bills.-Be on
hand when the trunk comes and pay
the expressman. Supply yourself with
change, stamps and stationery before
1eaving home. When visiting in the
city buy your own street-car ticket,
then there will be no small talk over
which shall or shall not pay.
8. Do not fail to write on returning
home, and express your pleasure in the
visit.
I 9. Never retail family secrets learned
from lengthy visit.-Your friend has
taken you into her ''holy of holes,
enter it not with irreverent feet, bring
not from it a. thOughtless tOnrue.-