Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-31

E look after her, I
!: = :. !: :: !: !:
YS& - would really be over
NSl& joyed to have her
M<~T|M \ visit me- But you
TNV> " WV know Miriam. don't
NJ Il " suppose she ever
tidied up room in
her life, and there must be a hole in her
head where the bump of order should be
located. 1 am sure if my five boys were
girls they would make better guests than
some people know. Seems to ME that a
hostess has some rights that guest is
bound to respect"
1 really felt sorry for Mrs. Minturn when
she told me that she was to entertain
Miriam for week, for ] know just what
she will have to put up with have learn
ed that by experience in having Miriam as
guest myself. She is sweet, amiable
girl, but oh, so needless. The first thing
she did was to leave the gas jet burning
after curling her topknot, which is an
expensive incident in big house; then the
! wind blew the lace curtain over 1t, and de-
stroyed set of Irish point that has been
in our family for ages and that money
couldn't possibly replace, but, bless you'
Marian never thought of replacing them.
She was sweetly sorry for the mishap,
and offered to paint spray Of roses across
the crack in the dressing table mirror
caused by the neat, Dut tQaI was all. f1eT
next act of vandalism was to set my pretty
painted guest chamber washbowl on the
window ledge with mass Of wild flowers
in it one night, and during a sudden wind
storm it was blown out and smashed on
the lead Of the bakers boy, who came
with some rolls for breakfast, which, by
the way. Miriam was never known to get
down to in time.
Then she was always uncertain about the
lunch hour. and unless there We're men in
the horizon she never thought it necessary
to dress for dinner. Her horrid little toy
terrier was never so happy as when play
ing tag with Rose-in- blooms pet flowers,
and she had a most insinuating way of
coaxing Jude to wash out pocket handker-
chiefs and stockings, white dress or clean
pair of gloves for her. Yes indeed. I
know Miriam, to my sorrow.
How to he an Agreeable Guest.
Why can't people who will visit make
themselves acceptable to their friends?
There is such a vast difference in guests
Some are so agreeable and unobstrusive
and so much a part of the family that
there Is rot the slightest friction Of the
household machinery; and others are so
insufferably arrogant or outrageously heed
less of all regard for the comfort of others,
so fussy and finical, that the pleasantest
thing to remember of their sojourn under
ones roof tree is the cordial manner in
which we waved them farewell. OF course
there are people SO pachydermatousy built
that Congressional Library full Of rules
for Polite Procedure and bad Breaks
of the 400 would make no impression.
In fact, the class of people who make ILL
bred nuisarces of themselves do not read,
and they would freeze you at a glance If
you were to suggest that there were gaps
In their breed ding that needed mehding. But
there are people who are only needless,
who would really make charming guests if
they would stop to think moment, and
anybody of average intelligence and good
M tfYr 0nn hyy inc nhc tfrv,
learn exactly how to be agreeable and ac-
ceptable guests. Just at this season hun
d. eds of young girls are taking vacation
visit to some friend, or contemplating one.
and of course they want to appear well
and leave an Impression that will make
them welcome another time.
In the first place, be sure that your friend
wants to see you just at this time. Write
her that you wish to visit her, and have
her name the time when you will least in
commode her; and. If she follows the SEN
sfble habit of the English and French, she
will ret a limit to your stay. We have
scarcely got to that yet, but it is an excel
lent point. Surprise visits are not always
the enjoyable things that they are intended
to be, because there Is always danger that
the friend was contemplating a visit her.
self. or that she had other guests coming
who would fill her house beyond its capac-
ity If you were added.
If you notify your friend, she has a
chance to grange her plans so as to do
justice to ALL. Then 1t might be that the
other guests were not Just to your liking,
and that would occasion bad feeling and
discomfort all around. When you expect
your friends to meet you, be sure and state
the railway, the hour Of the day and the
day of the month that you will arrive. Be
very particular about this If your friend
resides in country place and has to call
for you at city station. And do give
your letter of information chance to
reach her by sending it day or two in ad-
vance of yourself.
Some Topics to Avoid.
Don't load yourself down with baggage.
Your friend may rot have room for your
trunks and bags and other traps. While a
guest try to adapt yourself to the tastes Of
your friends and the customs Of the house.
If there should be differences of religion
and politics, never permit either to enter
into the subject matter of your converse
ton. Remember that the greatest wars
that the world has ever known grew cut of
the discussion Of political and religious
subjects. More prospects have been wreck
ed, harder feelings engendered between
erstwhile bosom friends, more feuds hatch
ed, more crimes committed in the name Of
politics or religion than through any other
causes.
Do not ride your hobbies when you are
somebody's guest, no matter how firmly
you believe in various isms; it is the worst
of taste to air them, for they r1ay run
counter to those OF your if'end, ANA IL
might cause a GOODNESS and constraint. I
think 1t was Marion Harland who said in
this connection: I'VE should adjust our
TASTE sight, smell to the different condi-
lions of the homes we visit. 1t is far from
pleasant to feel that our guest has. with
the plummet line of her superior wisdom.
fathomed our shadows in domestic econ
omy or family government-found disa-
greeable odor or discovered the skeleton in
our closet"
I think that hits the nail squarely on the
head. Half the horrid scandals and gossip
in circulation are the result Of betrayal Of
confidence. the contemplate abuse of the
sacred privileges Of friendship which have
given the guest the entrance into the heart
of the family circle, where skeletons but
thinly yelled are discovered and hopeless,
living sorrows chow their cankered sores.
If you are ignorant of every other grace
or accomplishment learn to hold your
tongue when you cannot speak good of
those whose salt you have eaten, whose
bread you have broken.
Promptness at Meals.
Whatever other lapses you make, be on
time at your meals. There is no aggrava-
ton in all housekeeper's ills like that Of
being unable to get her family to meals.
There are certain dishes that are ruined
If they have to stand five minutes after
hainp cooked the coffee gets fat the rnuf-