The Van Buren press., 1897-12-04
ENTERTAINING GUESTS
Proper observances Between city
and Country People.

and Country People.
Not the least important Of The duties
of housekeeping is providing for the
proper entertainment Of guests. This
IS Christian duty. Given to hospi-
tality" was The apostles characterize
ton of those fitted fer the office Of dea-
con. but to all he urges the memorable
words: BE not careful 10 entertain
strangers. for thereby some have en-
tertained angels unawares." We should
aiways make cur guests good angels TO
us, bringing Us their own independent
views. broadening eur pFeconeeived
opinions. and giving Us much such con.
tact with the outside world at our own
iiresides as men and women may get by
travel.
Far too often the benefit of social in
tercOurSe with guests Is lost through
too much carelesSHess about serving
them. Il Was thus that Martha in the
elden time lost the benefit from the
Masters discourse while She was busily
and with the best Of motives providing
for HIS bodily wants. The Master re-
UHht0 Ills AS At>N AAA4NA ia ~ Lime
and less beneficial TO her than it would
be TO initiate the example OF Mary. If
guest merely wants service he can get
a much as he wants and can pay for oil
tie hotel. What he comes into your
household for IS TO made a part Of IL
Often among old-fashioned people
comes the protest not to make any dif-
ferent arrangement in the household
because of the new guest. Yet this is
what the care-loving and painsiaklng
class of people are most sure to do. The
result is that the guests are constantly
reminded by the artificial ways Of the
household that they are disturbing its
usual course. They are glad to 60 and
the householder is glad te have fneiA
SO.
How much better Il would be Il the
natural desire Of every guest TO be taken
IS one of the family were regarded.
Even If the association be but tem-
perary. II should be natural and cordial
On both sides Take guests easily and
make them at home is best both for
the guests and for those who entertain
them. Where guest is made to feel at
home he is truly welcomed. Every
here else lie Is merely tolerated, and
must quickly become conscious Of the
fact.
Sometimes Il is the guest who Is at
fault through attempts TO change. and,
a. he may suppose. reform methods in
families which he enters. This, how
ever is not very commonly the ease.
The guest is a stranger in the house.
while the householder has the rightful
feeling that il is his business to control
he management of his own affairs. The
guest greatly violates the proprieties of
ais position if he arrogantly assumes
IL dictate how the family shall live.
This is so obvious that it is rarely ut
tempted 1t is the householder, who,
in her desire TO please her guests, is
most often at fault in this matter.
There is much closer communication
between city and country residents
than used to be the case. There is far
more travel than formerly, and the BIZ
cycle is taking city residents into eoun-
try places removed from railroads and
trolley lines. 1t is good thing for both
parties, as is everything which brings
members of different classes in society
into closer relations with each other.
When the city people visit the country
they usually throw off some of the re-
siraints imposed by city life. This may
be, and sometimes is, overdone. The
graces of courtesy and true politeness
which is founded in good will TO others
aer as common among country people
as anywhere else. If city people neg
lect these graees when they go TO the
country, thinking they will not be ap-
preciated, they make a great mistake.
Country people visit their friends in the
city as guests far too little. Many time
the city householder finds that his coun-
try friend, instead of visiting him, has
put up at the ehotel Thisisnot courteous,
and, therefore, is not to be commended.
Frequently there are not convenienees
in city households for entertaining
many more than usual, but no house
hold can be deemed complete for its
present occupants if there cannot be
made room IN il for the accommodation
n a fr;apd "a oruest -RoSfon Rudget.