The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-09-16
TEE IDEAL EOSIE s..

Some of US are fortunate enough t.
have met and been entertained by the
Ideal Hostess in her own house. All
OF us would like to initiate her IN oul
own homes. Very few of Us can do So
but IN q sort of despairing admlrat1o1
We would like to make little study Of
her methods.
Yes, methods; for as surely as grape;
do not grow upon thorns, the brilliant
successes of our IDEAL Hostess, are moi
the result of accident. An ''eTening'
at her house is full OF charm-not to
one alone, or to some specially favored
CLIQUE, but to all of her guests. Here
are Greybead and Goldilocks; the
de6utante, and the still young woman
who has begun to fear that she is get
ting passee; the ltterateur, the bust
ness man, and men of the learned pro-
fessions; the college undergraduate,
and the young man whose ambition
never ran in that direction, and both
single and married ladies OF certain
and uncertain ages aud habits Of
thought. There are perhaps between
forty and fifty persons IN all, and one
might expect to find some discontented
ones IN the diversity.
Not at all. Listen to them as they
leave the house!
The youngster who has never had an
"evening out" before, is ravished be-
cause Mrs. Charming has invited him
to come again. Chow often do you
think it would be proper for ne to GO
next Winter?" he asks confdentlally
of the spinster aunt, whose escort he
has been on this happy occasion. Yet
he has not here met for the frst
time some sail enchanting fair" II
is the only charm of the whole Which
has impressed him.
The spinster is also treading upon
air. She has met two persons whom
she has long desired to know. She has
not merely seen them at a distance;
pains have been taken that she should
have few minutes converse with each.
She, too, feels that she wishes it were
"proper'' to go every evening next
winter.
A man whose presence is much sought
for at social entertainments of all sorts,
and who is correspondingly difficult to
secure for them, remarks to his wife as
he mounts the stairs Of the L. on his
homewsrd way, 81 haven't had such a
delightful evening for years. If we're
in the city next winter, do let US come
as often as possible" while the wife re-
plies, just as they reach the platform,
ssOh, If everybody's evenings were like
this one, how delightful society would
bel"
Gas we'll try to dissect soap bubble
as to look for the cause OF all this
charm," says another, still under the
influence of the spell.
Perhaps 80, but it helps the would
be blower of soap bubbles to know that
certain combination Of soap, water
and air is necessary before he can make
his bubbles; so We shall try to find out
what are the materials used by our
Ideal Hostess to make her "eVenlngs'
so universally enjoyed.
F1ksr.-We Judge, she has carefully
studied the little material things which
90 to making physical comfort and dis.
comfort. OF hot night her rooms are
as cool as they can be made, yet no
e,sagreeable draughts are felt, because
it is the upper sashes which are showed
down. and not the lower which are up,
and the gas, Instead of being at highest
fare, is turned low and shaded. This
thou ghtfulness pervades all the minor
arrangements.
Knowing that she cannot be person;
ally ubiquitous, our Ideal Hostess al.
most seems 80 by reason of the ablQ
coadjutors whom her tact enlists to
help her carry out her intentions OF
'tgiving every one q good time. )"
Three or four of these scattered about,
keeping the ball rolling, are of i'm
mense advantage, as everybody knows,
but only an Ideal Hostess would know
how to select them, and, having
selected, to keep them we'll in hand,
like so many talented young Brig adiera
carrying out the wishes Of the Com
mander-in-C Chief.
Perhaps the greatest secret of all is
the self-forgetfulness of this charming
Commander. Her Evenings" are not
hers, but those of her guests, to such
degr that all feel under obligations
to perform the duties of hosts to all
their neighbors in the same way thai
the prlvates in an army feel that upon
each individually devolves degree oi
responsibility for the success Of the
whole.
HELEN EvERTsoN SMITH.