The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-08-22

in hurry. He doesn't believe the
stories that ere circulated.
Sunday is day OF rest. and The clever
hostess who entertains on that day con-
tributes. by the informality Of her en-
tertainment, to good. restful time.
There are a few homes among the
young married people where the Sun
day tea is feature. They Get no exact
hour, though all their friends know
that their house and their dining rooms
are open from 8 o'clock on. Nothing
hot is served except chafing-dish It'd bits
and tea. and these may be made at any
time during the evening. They are Of
ten made two or three times during the
evening in eastern cities. as the occasion
demands. But in the cities where the
custom is more general the favored
guests at these Sunday evening reun.
ions stroll into the tea table just as
his appetite moves him, and any one Of
the group assumes for the moment the
duties Of hostess. small side table
holds nuts and conserves and bon bons,
and large punch bowl for those who
prefer something stronger than tea.
Bicycle teas are quite the proper thing
ut all summer resorts. The elaborate
ness OF some make them quite notable
affairs. Saturday afternoon teas are
becoming the features of the week at
these places. The inside life OF summer
society Is to be found at one OF these
weekly gatherings. There the gossip Of
the place centers. Around these small
tables are the golf players and richly
clad ladies whose well-appointed traps
flash up to the door and fash away
again. The afternoon tea on the Eat
home" day is not fad Of today, but was
q social function as long ago as Queen
Anne's reign. Then, as now, both ladies
and gentlemen were invited, and men,
ton is made Of certain fashionable
women who thus visited seven houses
in single afternoon. Once more the
afternoon tea is in reality time set
apart by a hostess to receive formal
calls from every person on her visiting
list. II present, the card Of the guest is
left in the basket; or, il absent. sent by
mail on the day Of the "tea" proves that
they fulfilled this social obligation.
It is said that an afternoon call, in re-
cos milton of this form Of hospitality, is
neither expected nor required, as the
hostess Of the afternoon tea is the social
debtor of her guests after it is over. In
palmer phrasing. her dear five hundred
friends" have called upon her, and it re-
maius for her to do likewise in return.
With the dinner, the wedding reception,
ETC., it is rudeness not to make formal
visit within the prescribed time.
London society is discussing two
subjects OF great Importance and Of
greater interest. What does society
care about the boundaries Of Venezuela
or the jamestown raid when it is said
that William Waldorf Astor is a favored
sutton for the hand OF the Princess Vic
toria. the only unmarried daughter Of
the Prince OF Wales, and that Queen
Victo is seriously thinking OF abdica-
ton? The foundation for tn first re-
port is the fact that William Waldorf
Astor's gift of a diamond Of immense
size and of absolute purity to the Prin-
cess Maud was accepted, not that it was
presented anybody who had diamond
would give it to prince but that
it was accepted. For, in spite of his
impecunious condition, the prince is
very scrupulous about accepting pres