Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-01
NOR AT HOME.
This Little Phrase Ia Subject 10 Mush
Misconstruction.

xAis Little Fnrase Ia subject DO Mueh
DEMONSTRATION.
1t is pity that the simple phrase,
mot at home" is subject to SO much mis-
construction in the minds of well-mean-
ing people. 1t simply means that the
lady of the house is not at home for CALI
ers. 1t implies no falsehood; it has be-
come the set phrase, and one which no
one, however pushing, can find excuse
to ignore Almost any phrase that
could be substituted for 1t would SAVIOR
of personal slight to the caller. No
woman in these busy days can afford to
be continually at the mercy of thought
less visitors, whose time, possibly,
hangs heavily on their hands. For this
reason, wise persons who have a largc
circle of friends select certain days for
"at home days" AT home" cards do
not imply that this is the only tims
when the sender is in her own domicile.
The old Scottish professor, who is cred
tied with answering such cards with
polite assurance that he was glad to
know his friend would be nc home" and
he himself would be at home on the
night named, was no more mistaken
than the visitor. who feels momentary
slight at the words mot at home" All
that is necessary is to leave n card or,
II II is an informal call in the country,
the name, and consider a call due. Ii
Is pity that busy women with largs
acquaintance in the country do not
often avail themselves of a set day for
visitors, even at the risk of being
thought little stiff and formal. In
every village there are certain persons
who have no appreciation of time, who
are continually in search of some one
to entertain them. Such persons not
only waste their own time, but are the
source of an immense amount of waste
time in others, and ought to be guarded
against by strict rules.
There is also the itinerant vender,
who infringes upon the time of the
country housekeeper, because she IS
usually more easy Of access than her
city sister 1t is no falsehood to say you
are mot at home" to such persons. To
be at home means in this phrase to be a.
leisure for company. The visits of
agents to private families in the pursuit
of trade are impertinent. A mans home
should be his castle, free from intrusion
from all except those who are welcome
guests. The average farmer, and all
those who have no special office for the
transaction of business, cannot strictly
adhere to this rule, ard must receive
business callers at their houses, but
this is no reason why the farmers house
should be invaded by the hordes who
seek this means Of advancing their own
ends. The old-fashioned peddler was
often blessing in out-of-way localities,
but only in the most unsettled parts of
the country is he welcome to-day. The
agent who insists on leaving packages,
and takes up valuable time discussing
the merits of the special articles he
sells, is an unmitigated nuisance.
American people are proverbially
kindly, and often buy of the itinerant
vender from pure sympathy. This SYM
pathy is misplaced, and the fellow ought
to find another method of earning his
living that does not prey upon time,
which he has no right to use. No wom-
an who is busy housekeeper can afford
to be Eat home" to such callers.-N. Y.
Tribune.