St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-19
HOSPITALITY.
Entertainer and Guest Have OBJ
legations Neither should Shirk.

Entert Amer and Guest Have OBJ
legations Neither should Shirk.
Whoever, as honored guest in home
has felt the radiation of warm well
come, been a sharer in the family joys
and even sympathizer in its sorrows,
has not wished that the tact of the hos
tess was commodity that could be
transferred? asks clever writer. Who
that has found refuge in the heart and
home OF such friend has not long felt
the spirit of peace that de-
scended like a benson, and re-
membered it years long after, when
the friends voice was silent and
the home circle broken? Made first for
the family and its comfort, still every
home should extend its good influence
to others. This is the great privilege
of the home. the openingo of its iOOrs not
only to those who will contribute to its
Joy, but also to those who have need of
its brightness and peace. The home
maker, then, has two distinct offices;
on the one side that of bringing out all
that is best in the members of the fam
lily circle, on the other side as hostess
she should dispense gracious hospital
ity to her guests.
In return for this hospitality the guest
has obligations TO fulfill. Having been
admitted to the inner CIRCLE all the
home life should become to her sacred
possession. In the army spy is Of all
Offenders most loathed and held IN
greatest scorn. In the social circle the
woman VINO accepts the privileges grant
ed guest deserves the contempt OF all
high-minded, -principIed persons
when she makes the knowledge thus
gained basis for gossip.
The LAS" where one visits may have
their own peculiar way of economizlng;
the 'B'S' may have eccentric habits in
some other way; the "C's" may have a
crochety member in the family, and so
on through the list of ones acquaint-
ances. All knowledge of the person
alities should be as a sealed book, when
to speak of them would be to hurt or
offend. 1t may be little aside from
the subject to speak Of the temptation
to which nurses are exposed in this
matter and Ito their shame be it Said)
often yield, The word of caution is SO
needed the editor will pardon its seem
ing irreleVancy.
A person in pain and weakness does
not always display the most lovable siIe
of his or her character. and the nurse
must of necessity learn much she would
not know save through her peculiar
office. The moment she retails this
knowledge for the amusement of others,
or to indulge her own desire to tell
something spicy or startling, she be-
| comes a social Judas who should be
| tabooed by all who know her fault-a
! fault so grave it may be almost called a
! sin. No degree of skill, nor faithful
ness in nursing, should save her from
| this OStracism.
To return to the obligations of aguest,
first of all. never. if possible to do 9th
erWise, surprise your hostess by an I'M
| announced appearance. ltmay be very
| amusing to you to see the look of sur
prise upon the face of your hostess as
| she meets you at the door. but it seldom
| aWakenS feeling of amusement in her
| mind. With postal cards only a cent
| apiece the least courtesy one can show
| ones entertainer is to announce one s
| intended coming. Sudden illness, the
necessary absence OF some member OF
| the family, house repairing or cleaning
| and various other contingencies you
may be ignorant.of, may take your COM
| ing at certain time inOpportune and
| your presence an Intrusion when under
| other circumstances your visit would be
welcome.
Secondly, state definitely the length
of your intended stay unless your host
ess has determined this point for you,
and having made your decision abide
| by it, unless unexpected circumstances
make it reasonable to change your plan.
| Should time or circumstances estrange
one from the friend of whose hospital
| ity one has partaken there should still
remain feeling of honor that will hold
oil Uj :
| edge of the family life gained while one
was a guest in that house. Nor should
one ever accept of hospitality in home
or from all acquaintance one does not
respect TO use all acquaintance
| house as convenience, or social step
ping-stOne, is to diShOnOr ones self and
wrong the giver.
The woman who is glad to find hel
| friends out when she calls upon them
| who strikes the names off her calling
| list as a merchant would strike Of
money obligations discharged, who gives
| a reception and is 80 glad' when it is
over because she has paid her social OBJ
| legations, has crude idea OF hospitality
Hos; different from the simple inter
change of thought and kindness, be-
slowed as opportunity and circumstances
afforded, in the home OF the Alcotts
| Hawthorne, Emersons and Fullers. Nc
ostentation. no trying to. be like some
one else. to vie with those of greater
means, and play the part of a socia
hypocrite generally. Unaffected, true
refined and intelligent, each one was a
| his ease in these circles. The frienC
who offers in gracious way the bes
that her meager purse affords, who /:
truly glad to have one come and regret
full to have one go, is higher in socla
eth les than her pretentious sister will
her gorgeous receptions. given because
sit is the way ali our set do"