The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-08

composition of her dinners would serve
quite we'll for the more important af-
foir of country house visits. One
young person among a grave and and
reverend company Of elders, or one
senior in a party of juniors, is natur-
ally at a loss, and one frivolous votary
of fashion alone in a literary party is
as little likely to be happy as saw
ant amid crowd of sportsmen.
A good plan is to choose some person
of Importance whom one delights par
ticularly to honor, and build the party
around him or her-asking such as are
likely to amuse the guest of honor,
y and such as will be fiattered to meet
famous artist, poet, novelist, scien-
fist, millionaire, sportsman, traveller,
musician or leader of fashion-as the
case may be. One wit should be asked
to amuse them all, but two
of the sort are liable to be
are likely to be jealous If unmarried
women are Of the party, be sure they
have an equal number of unmarried
men to match, or bitter heart burnings
and piqueS may result.
ARRIVALS.
In England there is no obligation
upon the hostess to meet her guests on
arrival. She makes all preparation
for their comfort, and then should she
be called away for any reason, the
guest is not surprised to be received
only by housekeeper or butler, and not
to see her hostess until the next meal.
The greater cordiality of American
manners dictates the presence Of some
member Of the family to meet the
guests newly arrived. There is much
to be said for this plan, as by few
words the hostess can put the guest on
courant of her plans for amusement,
a nf q h for, WOOL RI
In England each bedroom contains a
pretty scroll hanging well in view,
upon which are given the hours of
meals, and Of the going out and coming
lin Of the post.
Luggage should be arranged for at
the earliest moment possible, and a
lserVant should unlock it and unpack
the guests belongings, disposing them
in the drawers and closets. There
should always be a fresh cake of soap
and the writing table should contain
paper, pens and ink, a railway time
table, beside few postage stamps.
ADJUSTMENTS.
There is still too strong d tendency
in this country to cling to the old
fashioned idea that a guest has a
fright to expect the whole time of her
hostess, and this absurd survival
makes entertaining such burden that
of being an agreeable guest is so little
studied, that many seem unaware OF
the existence of the art at all. Said a
hostess recently, upon bidding adieu tC
a young girl-"That girl is what l call
la perfect guest. L feel no sense of re-
lief, and only regret in telling her
goodbye. She was never before time
and never too late; her room was al
weys a picture of orderliness; she liked
everything that was done to amuse
her. and yet she was ready to amuse
lherself in her own way if l was busy.
She left my daily habits unbroken, and
Immediately formed habits of her own
If l wanted to read, she hunted up an
amusing book and read too, or wrote
her letters, or sewed in contented ST
lence; yet she was ready to ride, drive
walk, swim, visit, sail, dance or make
IcallS at a moments notice and seemed
to take an active pleasure in whatever
amused US. She knew when to talk
and when to be silent, and went to her
room for an hour or two every day
and relieved me Of all responsibility con.
corning her-I shall ask for longer
visit next summer
Perhaps this is as comprehensive a
sta tement of the whole mutual duty OF
host and guest as could well be given
Amusement should be provided, and
active effort made to divert and enter
2 careful not to absorb to much of hel
hostess time, break into her daily hab
: it's or leave herself a lightweight al
| day upon the hands of the woman
: who is burdened with household duties
: or other concerns of Importance.
TIPS.
, There is a perennial outcry agains
5 the giving of tips, put whatever may
be argued as to the servant getting
full wages from her employer and mo-
being justified in levying upon hel
! masters friends, the fact remains tina
the presence of the guests does double
the ordinary duties OF the men ser
t wants and maids, and while these extra
duties are considered in their wages, i
lies in their power to do for gener
Gus visitor a thousand little favor:
. which no employer can exact, ant
these are attentions which no one
should be willing to receive without &C
acknowledgements. 1t is the people O.
limited means who make the mos
. complaint against this custom bu
they should remember that no one eX
, poets them to give more than the small
est sum and only to such Of the ser
wants as have rendered them specia
, personal services. The well-to-dC
: should remember that excessive sum:
given to servants are much worse thar
no tips at all, and that such lavish
enss is merely vulgar. To descend tt
. particulars, a person of small mean.
, staying over Sunday might easily con
!. tent themselves with a half dollar t.
the servant who has been most in evi
I dence about them. Staying the better
part of week, two or three dollar!
judiciously divided would quite suffice
For one of liberal means anything
above dollar to each servant aftel
A Sunday visit would be Superf1uouS
or double this sum for a more extended
, visit is all that would be proper.
ELIZABETH BISLAND.