The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-02-06
oLD-TIME HOSPITALITY.
Not Much Of It In ,hs Anairs of M0dsr
Socfefy.

40. Much of IL In ths Affairs of Modsrn
Society.
Our modern ideas Of hospitality,
where invitations are issued 20 return
snvitatiops. and social obligations. as
they are known, are paid oy elegantly
Engraved bits of pasteboard PsrtAkes
zoo much of the spirit of barter 20 be
strictly agreeable TO persons OF refine
ment. Social life, however, IN the
great cities is roo complex. and the vfs-
fling lists of those who are in society
seem now far too large 90 admit of any
other arrangements. There - little or
TO spirit of hospitality in the repay
ment OF social obligations with strict
ness and commercial honesty. HosPf
salty is a far higher, sweeter thing.
II is the outcome OF love and charity
10 our fellow-man; an unselfsh desire
t0 minister TO those who are beloved
and congenial friends; a desire 10 give
without any thought Of the benefits TO
come. The highest example of hospt-
tSlity is that lord of the house who.
finding that those hidden TO bis table
1
servant TO the highways and hedges.
/ TO the lanes and streets Of the city TO
| bring in the poor. the manned. the
/ halt and blind. Something of this
/ same spirit possessed the barons OF
England when they established in their
I hall the common table to which every
one was bidden. The poor scholar. the
wandering harper and even the beggsr.
! though seated low In rank, might wei
come find at this free board. IL was
l hot until the time OF Queen Elizabeth
/ that the common table fell into disuse.
/ and the inn was the only resort of the
I traveller.
The narrow quarters into which many
Of us are compelled TO crowd our house
holds make the liberal hospitality OF
| our fathers AN impcssbility. The
manor house and the old farmhouse,
where there were always abundance OF
guest rooms and a hosPitable table
that could be set for Ia unexpected
I friend at any time are fast becoming
/ things OF the past There is no doubt
I that old-time hospitality was often
/ grossly abused by iDdolent. selhsh peo-
I rle. who remained long enough 10 wear
! their welcome threadbsrc. IL is prob
Gbly more Just, il not so Grzerous. 20
be less hospitable.
/ Many a haron in the old times was
/ impoverished by hordcs of lazy retain
I ers, who did little but Rormandize at
his expense and IL was no doubt the
abuse OF his hospitality that led % the
nbolishment of the common table of the
middle ages.
II sometimes seems a. though all
genuine. sincere hospitality was pass
ing away, but IL Is probably only =
seeming. In proportion 60 our means
1ve provide as much for -ths stranger
and entertain our friends sA much a.
our grandfathers did Tho cost OF hy-i
ing and the actual sacrifice necessary
20 make room for one or tvpo extra Gov
PRS at tho table are much greater than
In olden days. when the bountiful farm
provided all the living of the family.
and what was not eaten must go 70
waste In these more econOSnical dayH.
when copperE must bc counted 60 we'll
as silver IL one would keep tho wolf
from the door. extensive hospitality
means the sacrifice of money that
ought TO be saved against q possible day
Of need.
Young people beginning life In ths
city in four-roon hat cannot sfford
20 be as hospitable a. the2r fathers, who
lived on the old farm on larger ncans-
Modern ideas OF living demand more
OF the host than was considered neces-
sary ia more primitive times. Tho
poorest house sholder of to-day would
tcorn IN set before q guest the plain
fare OF hts fathers time. The fear OF
putlic opinion makes the poor man OF
woman strain every nerve 20 appsa< in
afau~nt circumstances. II We could
be coatcnt 70 offer our friend= our
daily fare the task Of entertaining au
occasional guest would not ~ so bur
deHsome, AID we might revive some 0f
the spirit. Of OldeD hospitality The
presence of sn occasional gzsest N al
way. a help 70 every ore Ia tfse hoylse.
Children learn IN this way ease of man
uer. and Are taught % bs o0urteOUa-
Those who live forever by themselves
ore likely ~ become narrow and sordid.
ia spite ~ their desire 70 be otherwSss.
~. y. 7 tribune.