St. Landry democrat., 1889-10-05
Making Calls.

In the entire category of social duties
there is none in the practice OF which so
much harm results as in the social call
The conventional farcical call accomplished
by driving to the door and leaving cards
is the least harmful, although it may be
ridiculous. l acquired detestation for
fashionable calls years ago while visiting
relatives in New York. They were peo-
pie of good standing. prominent in church
work and supposed to be models OF man
ners and morals. While l was in the sit
ting room one morning engaged 10 fancy
work with the mother and her daughters,
the servant announced visitor. Various
expressions were INDUCED in. "How
provoking p said the mother. doesn't
She know better than to call at this time
of day l' said one of the daughters. give
half a mind not to go down" said the
other. As matter cf courtesy, suppose
was invited to descend to the parlor and
be introduced to the caller, whom ex-
pected to find extremely dlsagreeable, but
who proved to be very pleasant and enter
tanning. My hostess greeted her with
such crodiality that [ was astonished, be-
ing prepared by what l had heard for at
least a GOODNESS in the reception
Being quite young at the tlmel was very
unreasonable, and | shall never recover
from the prejudice then received against
the practice of making calls. AS | have
grown older | have had no reason to recov-
er from it, The time spent by women in
making calls is in nine cases out of ten
wasted-aye. it is worse than wasted, the
effect is demoralizing. If the time were
spent in harmless small-talk, IN the use of
which there are a few gifted people, the
:.l,4 cd on tho
ground that such talk is a relaxation to the
busy thinker, but it is oftener spent IN
gossip which is far from harmless.
Many an innocent person has been made
to appear guilty, and many a guilty one
has been painted blacker than he deserved
| to be in some of the parlors where perfec-
ton of taste is displayed in the surround
| ings, and where hostess and guests pose
as exponents of charity and refnem ent.
Mrs. Lofty would scorn to receive her
visitors in dress or house similar to that
of Bddy OFlaherty, yet she gives them
the same mental feast, a little more fash
| ionably served, which Biddy offers to her
yisitors-indeed, Mrs. Lofty's feast has
| probably less of the flavor of charity than
! has Biddy's. Women of education and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS those who have
| always had the advantages Of good society
so called-ought to find more elevatiDg
| topics of conversation than those that sat
isfy the most ignorant
| By such callers rs | have described, |
have heard many different topics discussed
| The new minister is by them always con-
| sidered as to the style of his coat, the cat
of his hair, the size of his family, and
| their possible extravaganza or parsimony,
but his mission is left entirely in the back
ground. The new neighbors are classified
| according to the size OF the house, their
| dress, their entertainments but if great
wealth is indicated, their manners and
morals are not considered in the estimate.
Years ago gave up the practice OF call
| ing on people for whom | cared nothing
and who cared nothing for me. Where is
the sense in people who have nothing in
common boring each other with calls sim
ply because it is fashionable to do so In
the country, it seems to be the custom in
some neighborhoods, to run in at any
time," as the phrase is. Many farmers
wives could tell tale of a slatternly
neighbor, who will neither do her own
work nor allow her neighbors to do theirs
her mission in life seeming to be boring
her neighbors with morning calls in which
she relates the latest gossip.
But the really dangerous caller is the
insinuating gossip who half asserts, half
.-sinuates an uncharitable piece of news,
and in willy manner influences her hostess
to exercise an opinion, then goes from
house to house with the original tale ano
all its accumulations yet such women are
tolerated in ''good society"
A young friend of mine who was work
ing hard to pass difficult examination fol
teachers certificate, came to me one day
begging that she might use little room
in my house for study. 81 shall never
accomplish anything at home" said she
yesterday received ten callers, and to-
day may have as many more. At thi!
rate, l shall never get a certificate tt
teach" pitied the poor girl. 1t is hare
enough for women who have nothing elSt
to do, to receive ten callers day, but TO
working woman, the drain on he
strength is enormous.
Some people pride themselves on tn
length of their calling list. l take prid
and pleasure in the shortness of mine, no
because l wish to be eccentric Il do not ad
mire eccentric people,, but because m.
mission in life is more important than tina
of entertaining people in whom l have n
interest. A few tried, trusted and congenia
friends are sufficient for me; the rest o
mankind I can treat with kindness ant
courtesy whenever occasion demands. bu
cannot throw open my house or devot
my time to their entertainments Ls~sd1
Name, IN Country Gentleman.