Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15

the cofree machine, greater variety OF
cakes was forthcoming and, If the guests
were expected, ices or some other unusual
dainty But when the Anticipated equipage
of neghboring prince entered the drive
way then, indeed, there was hurrying
10 and fro; the larder was ranSacked for
dainties, my hostess cap ribbons stiffened
Visibly and the very dogs on the place
seemed to wag their tails with unusual
deferencei
500, too. when the Duke Won was in
Vited to dinner there were salmon and flet
with mushrooms and pheasants, &C., wash
ed down with the finest Veuve Cliquot and
Johannesberger, but when the weak little
pot-bellied parson came to dine he was
RECALLED on carp, mutton ard the sour wine
OF the country. But the true, friendly,
hoSpitable spirit was always observable
in spite of these differences in the style
of entertainment, and every one was at
his ease and thoroughly satisfied.
That there is so little real hospitality
among us m these fin de steele days, is more
Mans schemes and ambitions tempt to
higher flights and to deepr falls than
woman's. Men are less prone to show and
pretense. They care vastly more for solid
comfort than for expensive details, and
are far reader to bid their friends, even
those who can be of no use to them in
the scramble, heartily welcome to their
table and fireside, and every woman
knows how much more satisfactory guests
they make. But it is the woman who
manages the function of hospitality in
IL
guests and arranges the entertainment,
and, as 1T is above all things the hearts
desire of the woman of today to shine,
shine she will-if not by her own personal
traits in the reflected light of the people
she gets around her.
Consequently she asks to her house not
the people she really likes, and admireS
and respects, but the people who have en-
tcrtained, or may entertain, her and hers;
the people who have helped, or may help,
in some cherished scheme; and the people
whose names will look we'll in the society
columns next day-titled foreigners and ce-
leDrltles, people who have arrived
The Lion Hunters.
To secure a fine specimen of a lion, the
typical fashionable hostess will tell fibs
enough to give the recording angel
writers paralysis" and eat humble pie
enough to ruin the digestion of whole
ostrich farm, not to mention the petty
meannesses and makeshifts and subter-
fgges resorted to when the means are not
equal to the end.
An instance of the latter sort recently
came to the writer's knowledge. A woman
prominent in the fashionable set of an
eastern city, not a thousand miles from
Washington, was about to give a dinner.
Desiring TO make it as attractive as pos
sible, she had the effrontery to write to a
brilliant and successful professional must
clan, whom she had never met, stating
that, while she was anxious to have some
fine music after her dinner, she was not
able to pay for II, and in fiattering terms
asked the young artist to play for her, Of
fering sum for her services that was
under the circumstances, a positive insult,
though not meant a. such.
The answer first written was follows:
Dear Madam: If your caterer florist,
dressmaker and servants will agree to
sist you II giving the proposed entertain
ment by accepting one-ifth of their regu-
lar pay l shall be glad to do the same.
Yours, &c.
Needless to say that this was not the
answer sent; but would it have been too
severe treatment for the offense?
Naturally, many people of moderate
means hesitate to offer such entertainment
as lies in their power to furnish, not so
much from false pride as from a feeling
that unless things are up to the fashion
able standard their guests will be bored.
High thinking and plain living" never
were universally popular, but there prob
ably never was time when high living
and no thinking at all were so absolutely
the standard of society as at the present
day.
There are scores of houses where, but for
this indifference to or ignorance of the true
value of things, the latch string would be
always out in the CHEEKY, honest, old way;
where friends and neiGhbors or chance ac-
quaintances, without regard to superficial
qualities would be made welcome to the
warmth of the fireside, to such good cheer
as belonged to the house, to genial con-
versation; houses where the real meets
the real, and each goes his way, COM
forted, strengthened. for the race and the
conflict.
But such centers of pure hospitality are
known only to the privileged few. Most
of us must accept the glittering mockery
of society, or live isolated lonely lives
Sometimes IT happens that two meet in the
chattering crowd, and clasp hands and
look into each others face, and each says
to himself: Now, there is one l want to
know-to have Tor a friend!" But the
crowd pushes I'm between. and like ships
that pass in the night, they drift away,
never to meet again this side the grave.
SIGNET.