The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-22
NOT AT HOME
This Little Phrase Il Subject 70 Much
Aasc0astractioa.


This Little Phrase Il Subject t. Much
Aascoastractioa.
1t is a pity that the simple phrase,
mot az home" is subject toso much min.
construction in the minds Of weil-meaA-
ing people. It simply means that the
lady of the house is lot at home for cali
ers. 1t implies NO falsehood; it has be.
come the sat phrase, and one which ne
one, however pushing, can find excuse
to ignore. Almost any phrase that
could be substituted for it would SAVIOR
of personal slight 10 the caller. Ma
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 q large
circle OF friends select certain days for
''at home days" AT home" cards de
not imply that this Is the only time
when the sender is in her own domicile
The odd Scottish professor, who is cred
tied with answering such cards with 4
polite assurance that he was glad t.
know his friend would be at home" an6
he himself would be at home on tn,
night named, was no more mistaken
than the visitor, who feels momentar,
slight at the words mot at home" Al
that is necessary is to leave a card or
K It Is an informal call in the country
the name. and consider a call Sae. 1
IS pity that busy women with larg:
acquaintance in the country do no
often avail themselves of set day fol
visitors, even at the risk Of beins
thought a little stiff and formal. II
every village there are certain person,
who have no appreciation of time. whs
are continually in search of some one
to entertain them. Such persons moi
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
country housekeeper, because she i,
usually more easy of access than heI
city sister. II IS no falsehood to say yo1
are mot at home" to such persons. Ts
be at home means in this phrase TO be a
leisure for company. The visits o.
agents to private families in the pursui,
of trade are impertinent. A mans homi
should be his castle, free from in trusior
from all except those who are welcome
guests. The average farmer. and al
those who have no special Office for the
transaction of business, cannot strictly
adhere to this rule, and must receive
business callers at their houses, but
this is no reason why the farmers house
should be invaded by the hordes whs
seek this means of advancing their owr
ends. The old-fashioned peddler wa.
often blessing in out-of-way localities
but only in the most unsettled parts OF
the country is he welcome to-day. TIL.
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 itineran'
vender from pure sympathy. This sym
pathy Is misplaced, and the fellow ough
TO find another method of earning hit
living that does not prey upon time
which he has no right to use. No won
an VINO is a busy bousekeeper can AFFORD
10 be at home" 10 such callers.-N. Y
Tribune.