The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
THE ART OF ENTERTAINING.
Safe Rules 20 Observe In Order 10 be suo-
oo0s1uI

Safe Rules 10 observe In Order 70 be suc-
oossful
Il is not infrequently said that the ars OF
hospitality ID dead, just a. it il from time
to time said that every other good thing
which ever blessed the race of mankind il
the wise dead and departed, saysths Boston
Courier. There are those who excuse them-
selves from entertaining by saying that
guests nowadays demand 70 much that
it is not possible to satisfy them
unless one has resources such a. are pos
sessed by only two or three persons in .
generation. and that il one cannot come mp
to the standard set by people Of enormous
wealth, it il idle to attempt to do any
thing.
That all this Is the most arrant nonsense
is probably known to the Utmost hearts Ct
the very persons who proclaim it, and it 10
one Of the many plausible excuses that SELF
ishness 10 fond Of making rather than to
take the trouble needed to do anything for
others. The spirit Of hospitality IL a.
the blessings for which all men should join
in thankfalness to tho gods that it ID inn
mortal. The men and women Of to-day
are as ready rs they have ever been to per-
ceive when they are entertained in q per.
functory manner, and are ready to respond
to genuine kindness.
ways has been, 10 to have the guests pleased.
If one gives an entertainment for tho sake
Of showing his ingenuity it is AZ futile % IL
he gave it to display his wealth, and only .
little less vulgar. Given the true spirit Of
hospitality the real wish that tho Rueste
shall be happy as first principle, then ell
mont of the delightfulnsss Of the occasion,
but this is the essential.
One Of the chief practical difficulties with
entertaining is that hosts do not give the
right sort of care to their entertainments.
They do certain things, usually in tho way
of providing what shall be eaten and what
musicale this is apt to be the extent Of their
cares. How many hosts or hostessss follow
the example OF that clever French
woman who said, my dinners are
famous because never give one
without having fully planned out the
lines of conversation with reference to
showing each guest at his best" A famous
the habit Of secluding himself for ! fort
night before one of his dinners for the pur-
pose of studying up clever bon mots; but
such a case could hardly result In anything
but display Of wit In which the guests
were merely the audience, and the ideal en-
t01V6Au1uk 10 WuoI0 VA0 0O0t W8A00 no O10-
play of himself or his cleverness beyond
what is needful to keep things in motion.
It is one Of the safest and most important
rules Of successful entertaining to leave
nothing to chance. It il we'll to plan before
hand everything which is to fill up the meas
ure of the time allotted to the guests. II
something else comes in to crowd our part
Of the programme, there is no harm done.
and the doleful possibility Of empty time ID
avoided. 1t is of still more importance that
the guests be selected with view to fitting
we'll together, whether it be upon tho prin-
ciple of likeness or Of contrast. Many q
promising dinner has been spoiled by the
Introduction of single homogeneous guest,
who has thrown the company out Of har-
mony and rendered all the efforts Of the
host useless to effect pleasant whole.
1t is difficult not to conclude that the
genuine entertainer, like the genuine poet,
is rather born than made by education or
precept, and yet even the poet needs educa-
tion and experience. and the way to learn
to entertain is to entertain. He or she
who is beginning should write in letters OF
light upon the memory 'Never undertake
to do what one cannot do WE'LL" and
"Never labor for the glory Of the host al
the expense or the pleasure of the guest;''
and then If one has a friendly heart and a
due regard for simplicity, the rest il not sc