River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-08
I'm COUNTRY HOMES.
Formally and the Airing of Faas
ShouId he Aroided

should BE Avoided.
Too much formality has grown Up In
the last ten or fifteen years, even in
small country establishments. The
winter regime extends itself to our
most torrid months, and all the con-
vcntional 'do-as-you-please" life of
earlier days has disappeared. If one
could only see il in that way, we might
cease 70 grum5le at our difficult climate,
If we took advantage of its intensity
of summer heat TO simplify and relax
social requirements. If we could bring
about system of American etiquette
in dress, ordering of meals, etc. in ac-
cordance with the burden of high tenn
perature laid upon us. we would add
materially to our happiness.
There is such unbounded and peculiar
joy in the various '.fads" one loves to
cultivate that we become unconscious
how fatiguing our successes may be to
those who do not share our fancies. To
insist that our friends shall infinitely
study the growth of our roses and teach
them how we attained our extraor-
binary successes: TO seat them for
hours turning over our collections Of
photographs; to make them see how
fine our buildings are; to cause them TO
take long walks against every habit of
their lives, or long drives, when. per-
haps. they live in terror of horses. is
a widespread and jealous form of error
from which few guests at country
houses escape. Let your guests feel
that for the time the house, the place,
the very landscape Is theirs. Show
them the ingress and egress to the IL
brary. the garden. the music room. and
let them give some indication of what
they would like TO do with these lovely
possessions, and if they frankly seem
to find most pleasure in doing nothing.
believe them and let them have their
way.
have in mind most beautiful home,
a very brilliant hostess and a dear fam
lily of children. But visit at this house
is more fatiguing than to examine a
museum, and so much is crowded upon
your attention in the course of a sum-
mer day that 1 have heard a most af-
fectionate friend say: 81 really have
not the strength 10 go there"
When you ask young girl TO be
your guest do not leave her companion
less. All girlish pleasures are doubled
by sharing, and in country house
those delicious hours of undress and
resting after the golf links, the tennis
court or the long ride bring such con-
fidences and iutimacies as grow mo-
where else. Only let the two young
women have kindred tastes and come
from the same social lotteries il pos
sible.
There should also be merciful re-
membrapce of the appetites that COM
try air and exercise develop. Why one
is always hungry at IL o'clock in the
morning N a bracing country atmos-
phere I cannot tell, but l well know
that II tray of some simple refresh
ment is placed within reach it will never
be neglected. l have received the dis
turbed condolences of fellow guests TO
whom the hostess. glaneing a. the
clock after some morning drive or walk,
said, pleasantly: TOO near luncheon. |
see. to offer you anything to cat" No
one wants To he bothered by sitting
down and making a serious business OF
it, but a well-appointed tray with small
sandwiches. biscuit. etc, pitcher OF
milk and some simple cakes, from
which one can help himself, are most
acceptable.
II Your home affords the space and
attendance for a "house party" so
called, do not mingle untried elements
because you personally like them; peo-
pie with strong, peculiar views and a
tendency TO dwell upon them are not
good guests for these informal gath
erings. Even too enthusiastic musi-
Clans who never wish TO leave the piano
are apt TO bore some one. The charac-
tiers which have the fewest sharp edges
conglomerate most readily. and a we'll
assorted 'house party" in the right
house gives groundwork for as much
pleasure as social life affords anywhere
in the world.
In an ideal country gathering the
invitations should include the informa'
ton that only very simple dress viii be
required. and there can be no ques-
ton that It is out of keeping with the
whole arrangement that the circle
should be enlarged by an influx of all
the neighboring society.-N. Y. Post.