The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-10
IDEAS tor TWn1nem.

c~pouuStt WRITES TO the "Rhaladei-
phia Press":-'Wnl YOU kindly tell me the
correct thing iE a case Of this kinds? /
nave q friend who is about TO undertake
work In my native city. Ny people still
reside There, and I know that by introduce
ton to them this young girl would be sure
OF a welcome in many homes. Now, should
l write to them concerning her, or what
should I do? Would 1t be the correct Thing
to offer her an Introduction among my
own peopie?"
It would be not only a thoroughly cor
rect thing, but an exceedingly friendly one
under usual conditions. You should go
about the Introduction in this way
First OF all assure yourself that the
young woman of whom you speak desires
friends when she goes to your native city
upon business. She probably will be most
eager to avail herself of the offer which
you hold out. If such is the case. you are
doing a very courteous thing in profrering
the hospitality of your family. You might
suggest that You would gladly write a let
ter or letters of introduction which she
could present In person.
If she accepts your courtesy, write a
pleasant little note to your people inform
ing them in an informal way thai the
bearer is a. friend of yours: that she is
about to begin work in a strange city, and
that you are sure that Introduction and
acquaintance will prove an equal pleasure
to both.
Give this little note into your friends
hands. Leave it unsealed. Nothing is a
surer sign of the woman who knows not
the correct thing than a letter of intro
duction sealed. A letter sent through the
mails, dfiating a little further upon the
merits of your friend and the length of
your mutual acquaintance. will prepare
your people for her coming.
Yes. There Is no pleasanter evidence of
friendship than a letter of this kind.
While staying alone In a strange city it is
real enjoyment to meet those known to
you by name and family with whom home
subjects may be talked over.
But a ward Of caution Is necessary. The
matter of introducing a stranger into the
hous of friend is one of real responsible
ity. First of all, you must be sure that
the pleasure would be mutual. And, sec
ondly. you must know well enough the one
introduced. You are. in a way, a guaran-
tee for the personality and character OF
the one you send.
Once that the letter Is. written there is
no repeal. You rave asked hospitality for
your journeying friend. Your stay-at
home friend cannot, under ban of discour-
tesy. omit asking the FORMER to visit be-
meath her roof-tree.
The harm done by careless letters of in
PRODUCTION is widespread. I know of a
Philadelphian who thoughtlessly gave a
letter for this purpose last year. the
woman for whom the letter was written
being known to the giyer by slightest ac-
quaintance only. The letter was addressed
to a very occupied and very influential
business man in London. To the horror
of the Philadelphia the woman proved to
be entirely other than he believed. She
borrowed a goodish sum of money from
the Londoner-which sum has not since
been repatd-and inflicted upon him other
annoyances in an almost endless list.
While it is a thorough courtesy to
offer a letter introducing your friend
1t is a mistake to thrust one upon her
or him. It sometimes happens that the
distances between one part OF the city
G-AA 6AtShA4< ~ LAk1t
visiting and accepting invitations would
mean a goodish waste of time. Be care
ful in this regard.
Moreover, 1t may be hat your friend
going to a strange city will remain but
a few weeks and will not have time to
accept Inequalities. Watch this point,
also. One unfortunate young fellow, who
ran across to London last year, bore
with him in his trunk SO many letters
of Introduction that he was obliged to
draw the line. He confessed ~ruefully
that the matter lay between completing
his visits or returning home without a
view of the tower of London.
Moreover, one poor girl studying art in
Paris dreaded the letters for yet an
other reason. II wish I had come with
out introductions," she groaned. you
see. I live in the Latin Quarter, where
We don't dress expensiyely or in even
ing costume at all. My letters are all ia
the swell part of the city. OF course.
they invite me to entertainments and
things of that kind, and, of course.
have had to purchase extra gowns.
can hardly afford 1t. But then It does
look SO unappreciative and rude to stay
away from affairs given. part of the time
in ones honor"
Some years ago 1t was regarded as
quite the thing IN the most fashionable
circles to use colored table cloths for
breakfast and luncheon.
For a time these were tabooed In the
more fashionable homes, but of late
they are enjoying a season of pros
perfty, especially in families where
there are a number of small children.
AS a rule the use of colored cloths In
a home is a continual trial of the taste
of the mistress, and the masters of the
house, are apt to a man, to detest them
but though they get service soil they do
not really show liza point, by the
way. of most questionable cleanliness
which fact has probably established
Them in many homes.
It is possible, however. to successfully
revolt against them. and more than one
housekeeper has done so by doing away
with any cloth for the first two means
OF the day and for Sunday nights sup
per. Two fringed napkins, each half a
yard square, are laid diamond shaped
the length of the bare table, the space
between their adjacent points being
filled by the low dish, on its circular
dolly. which holds the Chinese Lilies.
ferns. moss or whatever bit Of green Is
used.
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