Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-28
ain him, but if he is poor white trash he


| must clear out anyhow
While ono might not exactly subscribe
to the way the old planter formulated
his opinion, the principle involved is no
bad. If man is "worth knowing BIT
Is worthy of good cheer and hospitable
| treatment.
There is one thing not to be over
looked, that there is a special danger oil
Offering stimulsnts that are too heady on
New Years day on account of the num-
Der of visits men are expected to make.
so that the inevitable repitItion of the
| glass that cheers may end by inebria-
| ting. This is serious objection to the
use Of wines on that occasion, and one
| that should be carefully weighed. 1t is
eubjecting to a cruel modification a sem
sitive young man to render him liable,
| by hospitabie intent, to do or say silly
/ things.
Then, again, some very nice young
men are at best easily muddled :, not be-
ing naturally blessed perhaps with extra
strength Of brain, and to these society
lambkins very tender treatment should
be extended and no temptation OF strong
rotations allowed.
On the other hand it is always thought
full to offer glass of choice wine to an
old gentleman. The presumption being
that, IL God has honored him with q
coronet Of silver, OF may be tina: ''bald
head' the Scripture teaches Us to re-
spect, that he has not reached his three
score and ten without having learned
how to take proper care of himself.
Again, the gradual Introduction of
native wines is really blessing, as their
general use will help to solve a difficult
problem.
One can now procure pure wine, not
intoxicating, from our own vineyards,
that are heslthful and adapted to this
exhausting climate.
When these wines can be sold at such
cheap rates as to be within the reach Of
people of moderate or restricted means,
the day of strong drinks will nave passed
away.
have been told that our native wines
could be made at such low rates as to be
as procurabls by DOOR people as the wines
are in Europe, but that the prices have
to be held at higher rates in order to in
duce the fashionable world to buy them.
This, If SO, is a sad commentary upon
the absurd American sensltiveness as re-
CARDS the outlay of money, which makes
1t needful to make an article high priced
to be held in esteem.
I would submit this reflection to So
ciety whenever it may become suscepti-
BILE Of any philanthropio considerations.
There is one rule of high breeding in
the exercise of hospitality that may well
be remembered at all times but esps-
cially in this connection, and that is.
never urge guest to partake of what
ever you may have to offer.
1t is to be supposed that the old Span
ish custom of unbounded llberality is
also ours when we entertain our friends,
although We may not choose to offer
tour house and all that it contains
with the Castilian grandiloquence of
phrase, yet the spirit of generous hospi-
tality is every here the same. We place
before our guests whatever we may have
to offer them and in doing so we take it
for granted that they will for the time
being consider our house as theirs. To
insist upon choosing for them is a sort of
tyranny, not graceful, to say the least.
Men often mplain in making q round
of visits OF this amieble insistence on the
part of the far hostess, which really de-
prives them of the liberty of choice and
actually enslsves their inclinations. 1t
multiplies, for instance. q glass of wine
on New Years day beyond prudent or
GN0h safe
A bashful young man once confided to
me that this very persistence, which oc-
ours oftensr than is agreeable. formed
one of his most dreaded social woes.
Another complained of an lawful
time' he had at a dinner in the country
on this very score, where a lynx-eyed
hostess seemed to consider him as q sort
of cormorant, keeping his plate re-
plenished with ineXorable zeal.
There is no finer point in entertaining
than to notice without seeming to do SO.
This, indeed, is that indefinable some
thing which may be felt, but not ex-
planned, and that may for the lack of a
better name be called :tact.'' How.
ever, let no one despair of its acquisi-
ton, for 1t has as its foundation good
feeling.
Can it be that this basis is counted out
Of polite society? Assuredly not. One
Of its cherished maxIms is. :Lead US
not into temptation, even with glass
Of wine, when not advisable, on New |
Years day.
After all, any inoonsiderate or foolish |
conduct that might result from the too |
free use of wine by guest. even if &C.
,ldental or unforeseen, must always be |
,ource of keenest modification to the |
hostess, and one which every lady pre-
lers to avoid.
MADELEINE VINToN DAHLGREN.