Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-11-08
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ENTERTAINING.
The Art of Making Your Guests Feel
Con, able and Otherwise.

Comfortable and Otherwise.
There is "a very funny story told of a man
who visited for a long time in a house with
a woman he adorcd, and owing to the as
siduous attention of his hostess found no
opportunity to declare Lis devotion. In
sheer desperation, AS he was about to de
part, he scrubbed on his menu card, "Will
you marry me-" and sent it to the lady in
the drawing room Tell the gentleman
yes" was the message returned.
Apropos of which story "A writer in the
New York Sun reminds people that few
hostesses appreciate that the fundamental
principle in the art Of fine entertaining is
to gracefully leave your guests alone after
having given them the freedom of your
castle and provided them with every com
fort and convenience possible within its
environment.
Every one remembers the unutterable
exhaustion of visiting in a household
where the hostess, with the kindliest aud
best motives in the world, demands the
complete sacrifice of ones individuality
and inclination to the pleasures She pro
vides and the plans she formulates; where
the hurried round of drives. visits and
banquets preciudes all .e.iity for rest.
where the letters you ought to write. the
books you like to read and the sweet self
communion which all but shallow natures
enjoy must he neglected for want Of time
between fete and festival.
The theory OF entertaining is nowhere so
thoroughly understood and SO exquistely
carried out rs in English country houses
where the guest is taken in as one of the
family. left entirely to follow his own bent
through the long mornings, and only ex
pected to be on duty at the full dress pa
ra,le of the formal dinner. And this idea
may he carried ont even in small house
holds where only one maid, and perhaps
that one incompetent, Is included in the
meuage, If the hostess is hospiiable enough
to receive her guest as one OF the family.
The least sign of effort, either in the
preparation of meals or che provisions ful
enjoyment on the part of the hostess, un
consciously defeats her intention to please
her guest.
There is opportunity for the expression
Ct pretty courtesy and welcome in the ar
rangement of the guest chamber, whicb
should have all the little comforts and con
venicuces that are not easily transported
OF that may be forgotten,
If a person comes for long stay in youi
household the visit will be most satisfac
tory if you are not constantly together
Every one needs at times intervals Of soil
tude--retiremen within the self house--tt
make co'npani"nsbip which precedes and
follows more delightful, as We sip OH
sherbet after the roast, to prepare for the
game.
Smart Dog
Mrs. Roberts. of Waterville. Me. own
dog which is entitled TO rank with an,
of them in point Of intelligence. Dnrin;
an absence of the owner from home tb
dog was left in care of neighbors, wh,
in turn went ON a vacation, taking the
animal with them. This was not agree
able to his doSship, and ne starte'
overland from one Of the coast town
in Knox eotnty for home. Night over
took him at Liberty, and he went t.
the Sanford House, like any traveller
to put up. His collar revealed his iden
tity, and he was properly cared for an|
i'll the morning sent on his way rejdie-
ing, reaching home in dns season. Gan
gor Commercial.