New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
At AFTERNOON TEA.
TIE DUTIES or TIE AVERAGE HOSTESS.
From The Boston Courier.

From The Boston Courier.
There to be some misunderstanding abroad
In the community, and very likely elsewhere well
In Boston, In regard 10 the true functions Of the
hostess at afternoon tea ana the Editor who goe,
lie l. the only person alive who knows the exact truth
about everything Is willing TO give an Otherwise n-
The duties Of hostess at an afternoon tea. then.
far more simple than they are at most social
come everybody who arrives with either the air Of
greeting her dearest friends or with the blase and
weared air Of who has got beyond the point where
any mortal Of the ,lghc, possible interest to her
II is at the option Of the hostess which OF these man
woman She selects the one which is most becoming
to her style Of face and figure and dresses to suit the
This being done. or rather this point being attended
to- the only other duty Of the hostess which Is Of any
special Importance /, the breaking up of any inter
estng and pleasant conversation II she pcrceives-
and il is her duty to be on the watch with eagle eyes
that two persons are enjoying one Others society.
or that couple chatting together with any ANNA
ton it Is imperative that she should swoop down upon
There YOU two cannot stay here talking all the
afternoon ,.., =. ...
conversation the person in the company who is most
completely dssgreea6 TO h H TO r ana arrange
This is the great and most imperative object Of an
afternoon tea The n9 m nop within Eo ea
ing distance for more than an nlsgniicaht iractlon
of moment; and IT is by her power OF making thing,
uupleasaa that her CleyereSs ana social SAVIOR falIc
This necIiar form Of social torture is mltigaed by
the mart which The guest Is expected to play 1t Is
his right and privilege to do all in his power TO
cumyent the schemes OF the hostess for his unhapp
ness and to arrange the most pleasant possible tetc
a-tctcs in her despite. The longer he can proOng
them. moreover, the greater Is his rank rs a social
lion.
An afternoon tea thus becomes sort of game. in
which the cleveraess of the hostess Is pttcd against
thc ccverness of the guest. The odds in favor Of the
bostess arc the conrarety Of circumstances, the
MENTIONS OF society which forbid the victims to leave
thc unwelcome partners to whom they are presented
except in cercmonious and the fact that for the
time being the guests under her ord FRS.
ON the mart OF the guests however, is the fact that
there are 30 many couples that IL IS an exceedingly
clever hostess who can keep track OF them all, and
also the nos sbility Of getting into some sly and
secluded nook where she will not think to look OF
coure the hostess knows the corners In her house
pretty thoroughly but she has rot the time while at
lending 10 SO many guests to run out every few mo-
ments to explore the conservatory II Is oPen to look
under Tho stairs in the hall. 20 peer into the bay
windows and 10 examine aiN ale We which the Mend
ish foresight OF ma Alrhltect mas smussied
The odds are abou' even In the game IT /, evident;
ard 20, "a vol il The Editors painful conviction
TINT il IL always the hostess who gets the better In the
game!
Johnson's Friends Wilson-Johnson Is very super
nRfNT ls.tI.