The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-18
IN Important Matter Which the
Ladies Of This Country Have
Yet to Learn.
The Method Of Entertaining Where
the Hostess Herself 10 the
Chief Factor.
Knovvledre Of Human Nature Is to Woman
More Valuable Than Beauty OF
Talent-The Salon.

noon teas, itG superb ana Woll-AppOinssu
dinners, its receptions, it's musicals. lts
readings, it, discussion clubs, but NO intel.
isstual conysrsazione. AND why not? The
American woman is charming, respon-
sivs creature, clever in repartss, and with a
certain brightness of nature and aptitude
Of mind that enliven the atmosphere around
her. Her kindliness of manner and savoir-
fairs render her capable in all directions.
Bv nature she ID = social entertainer; and
get. with all these social virtues, these
charming traits, these complex charms,
she does not possess the touch
no Of the French woman, who
has accomplished 30 much IN this
respect, For a salon to exist in America 1t
does not mean . great house, great wealth
or great social prestige, it does not require
a long limo of b%lue-blood ancestry, nor has
It need for the brilliant dressing OF the
period. II ID the one entertainments where
The mistress Of she establishment has
everything within her grasp and whore tho
master should be the brilliant aeeessory.
The salon il q school where the art of con-
versation is taught; whore the flow and rip
pls of bright ideas, clever minds and
charming phrases should find their vent,
and where liberality of thought and OK
change Of ideas should predominate, whore
eycry one present should charge the air
around with an intellectual aroma. SO tnas
after leaving 1t one can think, en1oy anu
digest at pleasure.
The art of entertaining ID a rare gift. No
woman can be tho leader of = salon or form
around her . circle that has not great per-
sonal charm; but it is neither beauty nor
intellectual ACCOM- lishments. solentitc
knowledge, nor philanthropic gifts, that
WELD the sceptor of this charmed circle.
II ID the true knowledge OF human nature,
the unriyaled tact when to speak and what
to leave unsaid. the great power to INTRO
duce subjects that fill tho mind with inter
est and bring to the surface the best and
salient points Of the man or woman OF let
tiers. The genius who presides in her cote
ris knows full we'll the brainy and brilliant.
whose discussions fill those around them
modest and reserved she exercised inge-'
n .SaT to ana shine ssln' befo en' society
ever was aware they existed. The youthful
poet, the unsuccessful playwright, the lis
erary beginner-she makes them the back
ground Of the great scholar of the evening.
And it il through her announcement thas
these lights assist in new discussions, new
themes, new books and new plays. Her
clever perception and charming manner IN :
spire them with confident BELIEF In tnem-
selves and In their future:
Besides tho qualifications that are so
necessary to the pleasure and fascination Of
successful salon, the art OF receiving adds
much to the happiness and brilllanoy OF the
occasion. The hearty welcome, the genial
these give tone and vigor to thoac who en-
ter its sacred portal. And still there Is a
secret the American woman has yet to
learn.
the grandeur of her house. the splendor OF
her gowns, nor the bountifulnsss of her
table that will bring into her circle the wit,
the brilliant scientist, the ~hoaghtfu
scholar or the man of letters. Her role
aust be to cover her friends with glory,
have the chance of expression; for 1t Is not
the brilliancy Of her own gifts hat make.
tho tide of conversation run smoothly, but
it is the tact and ability to set people talk
ing, and her lack of intense literary lnsplra-
ton 10 in her favor. The queen OF the
salon must possess alertness of mind that
f%asoinates, ~vivacity that enlivens, and the
ability of seeing subjects on all sides, not
only the serious but the humorous side,
with its comedies, and its oddities.
American women as q class are not con.
v-ersationaliats. They have not the art OF
expressing themselves in that rapid success.
sion of thought that the clever French
woman INDUCES in. and this IL solely why
dinners and receptions in America are e
often dull and Misunderstanding. In fact. the
women OF LNlS Country hI0 uOb AOdAOIc' sAoJ
are seekers of literature OF a dasultory char.
acter, but they are not students. And ons
need only to visit the summer resorts to set
theae creatures Of fashion put on the piaz,
"a in the morning, turned around at noon
and taken in at night" to view their mao
tive lives, their useless existence, their va
cant minds.
or the French women whose salons were
so famous Nine. Reoamier and Nine. Mob
were the most remarkable. Nine de Re
musat, Nine. Lebrun, Mime. Dudevant, al
had their afternoons or evenings. all wer'
noted for their beauty and delightful man
nsrs, their magnetism, and womanly fas,
cinations. Their suites Of rooms werc no
furnished in tho gorgeous styles Of tn
period; their entertainments were solely al
repartee, the bright sayings and clever bon
mots filled the room with scintillating spark
that have rendered their talks famous the
world over. Did the women Of that period
POSSESS greater literary abilities? Weir
they writer's? Did they give to the worlt
sionate poems? Or were they tho great
lights that compelled every one to revolv,
around them? They were women OF
intellectual fascination, but not intellect
ual abilities. They were the miners of tn
feast. whose tongues, like a shnrp-edgss
tool. dug out the treasures of thought il
others, where q lot of wit and wisdom wa
planted here and there, ndulation ant
~aattery receiving only q secondary eonsid
Grafton. They simply amused the world
and brought together tho great men, til,
great women of the age in which the.
lived.
II the American woman of to-day wOult
form for herself u salon she must begin b.
understanding tho art of entertaining. Sh
need not be d literary woman. for they o
all people ara most untitled for the position
their minds are 30 filled with projects 0
their own that they are oblivious at time
to everything happening around them, an
they have not the sparkle, the brightness
or tho art of pleasing others will
themselves. They may raise the latcl
md admit the world on n certain evening
hut that docs not make a salon. A salon !
a work Of art in it's way. If the men VIII
frequent it are those whose minds are ful
of human thought, and interest in subject
that are discussed, whose powers of con
versation are unique and original, II TIL
women who grace it bring with them baaut.
of form and charm of manner. KNOWN,
we'll tho art of making themselves agreea
bio and attractive, only one thing remain
that the Rrande dAmc of tho salon, tn
genius of the feast, shall partake not onl,
Of qualities that nre endowed In man, bu
of tho lovelineas, the gracefulness, the in
tuitive knowledge of woman. Until this !
accomplished, America can boast of Its re
captions, its dinners, its Entertainment
but not Of its salon.
Thousands Of Suffering Women.