The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-07
TRUE HOSPITALITY.


a Discussion of 1T in a Very Entertaining
Ma, r. by "Wyandot Dewdrop."
DEAR H. L. CAS- 1 have joined the
regular corps of contributors and have
been assigned TO appear in the first issue
of every month l make nv bow and will
give a lew thoughts on hOspitality-as
we the American nation are at present
entertaining and expect for the next five
or six months to welcome and entertain
representatives from every nation and
country of this round world, and We wish
to impress all foreigners with the magani-
nous hospitality give accord them in
the cities and homes which they enter as
our guests.
There is much expressed in this word
hospitality, much more than we at a
casual glance would think possible. We
can tell when We enter a home, as if by
instinct, whether true hospitality reigns
there or not The spirit OF hospitality is
shown in every act and movement Of the
host and hostess. If we are received in a
life nor earnestness in our reception,
though words bid US welcome,
We know hospitality is not there.
There is a genuine ring of friendliness in
the words of host and hostess that at
once make US feel at home, and that We
are not unwelcome intruders
And there Is also the other extreme, of
making too great show and such bus.
tie of com otion over the arrival of COM
pany that its hollOwness is at once de-
tected, and that is not true hospitality.
To try to dazzle and outshine guests with
the magnitude and splendor of their re-
ceptiOn and entertainment at our homes
is simply folly. Guests feel i'll at ease
when they notice the extra work and
sometimes heavy expense their coming
causes the family, and perhaps a retrench-
ment of expenses is necessary in other d.
rectiOns TO meet the display made before
company. All the extra work of having
everything in readiness and sweet and
clean, has made the hostess so tired and
worn out she can hardly drag herself
around. much less prove an interesting
entertainer 10 her friends. How much
easier it would have been for herself
and family and pleasanter for the
guests If only few preparations out OF
the ordinary had been made. In the best
regulated households a little preparation
must be made when company is expected.
Though wealth and beautiful surround
ings are not necessary for the full enjoy
those desirable "delusions of life" were
theirs they would entertain their friends
in royal style and their homes should be-
come noted for tn cir hospitality. Wealth
Is not essential to hospitality the plainest
cottage with the humblest interior and
the true spirit within will give the most
intellectual mind an enjoyable time. We
do not always have the incest visit with
rich people at their luxurious homes no,
have in mind a very humble log dwelling
with no pretensions to anything within
but the bare necessities of lie, and vet
every one that chances that way il well
coined TO all that the home contains in
generous way, and many distinguished
people have partaken OF the hospitality
so freely given. st. Paul says in
his wise counsel. "be not forget
full to entertain strangers, for thereby
many hayeientertalned angels unawares"
| Even tia scriptures command us to share
| our homes and all that is within them
| Though it be ever go little) in a kind
hearted spirit to all that may enter, and
who could do better than entertain gels,
| Gods pure spirits?
Once, when far from home, we found
I ourselves at night at a poor but friendly
! home. Imagine our surprise when bid
| den 10 partake of the evening meal with
/ TITO ldmly COuElbLlnR OF the IhLn6T,
mother and nine children under fourteen
years old. and the aged grandfather and
| hired girl. The family was not the sur
prise but the meal, which consisted
| wholly and entirely o. boiled potatoes
with the jackets and no salt or anything
else on the table to season with. We
| kindly asked II We could be supplied with
salt. oh, yes but they had learned TO
eat potatoes without salt. Coffee we
had to drink with our potatoes else
how could we have swallowed them
| When the meal Was nearly finished the
grandfather arose from the table, walked
across the room to the cupboard and
/ brought a loaf of bread under his arm and
laid il on the table beside the bread knife.
/ for each one to help himself or herself, as
the case might be.
And this was a kind. christian family.
| A blessing was asked before and believe
after the meal, and a most enjoyable
evening was spent They were interest
| ing and cheerful. only they did not be-
lieve in extra "fxin's" for guests.
Flora Nightingale" are you going 10
attend the reunion2
"Muriel. will you be in Vaulne Satur-
dav afternoon, the 10Th? j shall pass
through there and would like to meet
| you.
leila" and "Nons," I. too, would like
to see some letters on fancy work on the
page.
! "Romping Rose" you have my sympa-