Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-09
,roach They have found that the most

proach. They have found that the most
enviable heights of social leadership are
attained by her whose innate tact prompts
her to set her guests at ease at once, to
present them to each other with graceful
alacrity, to bring them into pleasant, or,
at least, Conversations relations with one
another, to strike keynote of good-fellow-
ship and encourage men and women alike
to unbend, expand and show the charming
side of their characters. This model host
ess has the faculty of getting about among
her guests. bringing kindred natures to-
gether with a nod gesture, a touch
with spontaneous, hearty good will. She
does not limit her attentions to ''lion,"
TO somebody in particular, to a woman
OF Importance or a man of fame. On the
contrary. she gives pleasure to all, wheth-
er young and pretty or middle-aged and
PLAIN; whether quiet and retiring or as
sured and brilliant; because if she thinks
1t worth while to invite them, she thinks
1t worth while to amuse and entertain
them In short, the salon has been re-
VlVed. and to win success in it's delicate
social fntricacies Is the pinnacle of the
clever woman's ambition. Therefore, since
there are so many professional attractions
offered to guests at the present day
operate SongsterS, dramatic stars, concert
hall pets-it is necessary for a hostess to
prove herself very attractive in order to
avert from her afternoons" the reputa-
ton of "ghastly failures"
The recent case of a hostess that re-
CURED all her charm of manner to enable
her to rise above social emergency has
given rise to many comments upon the
want OF consideration with which Ameri-
cans are not infrequently treated by Eng
lish visitors. To this lady Mr. Beerbohm
Tree HAD brought letters of introduction,
and she responded to them by arranging
for him and Mrs. Tree an afternoon recen-
ton. She invited her pleasantest friends
to meet them, converted her beautiful 5th
avenue home into a floral fairyland and
altogether, provided a very complimentary
entertainment. The hour came and the
guests assembled-all but the Trees When
expectation was at its height there arrived
a message from the famous actor-he and
Mrs. Tree would be unable to keep their
engagement, as rehearsal was "on." mas
much as he played with his Haymarket
company only, and was his own manager,
as far as his movements were concerned,
he alone was responsible for calling the
rehearsal at that time. The reception was
notably a case of Hamlet with Hamlet
left out" yet the skillful grace of the hos
tess rose above her disappointment and
gave compensation that Madame de Main-
tenor might have enyied on that celebrated
occasion when her cook failed her, and no
one realized 1t, because she replaced the
missing dish with so charming story. By
the way, Mr.. Beerbohm Tree rivals the
"Sinjons" and 'Chumleys" in the mumbling
of his name, for quite regardless of SPELL
Ing, he is pronounced Burbum. Another
name which ought to have a place in the
Is Jerome X Jerome. Then we might learn
in time to call him what cultivated English
people call him-Jurrumky Jurrum!
Receptions in Studios.
Among the pleasantest receptions given
In New York those that have the most en-
ticing flavor are the studio receptions
The Trilby mania has not only brought
studio life into everybody's home and
,everybody's business, but 1t has given a
smack of Bohemia to the quarters Of every
artist After spending many delightful
hours in hospitablo studies. am convinced
that a jolly informally and conviviality
prevails among them, which is one of the
enchanting features of the ideal Bohemia;
but the picturesque discomforts and make
shift Inconvenience that imagination leads
US TO expect-these are fading away.
I will sketch a studio reception from a
recollection of the past month, which is a
fair example Of the up-to-date Bohemia.
The artists apartment is spacious one,
furnished in a perfectly conventional and
thoroughly comfortable manner, though
lifted above commonplace monotony by
daring strokes, here and there, of individu-
atty In decoration, by unique bit Of old
brocade carelessly tossed over the hilt Of
an ancient weapon suspended against the
wall, and collection of antique Holland
jugs arrayed in bullying, grinning attrac-
tiveness behind the glass doors Of Dutch
cabinet. OF course the floor Is strewn with