The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-02-13
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/
/ ton under favorable conditions. There
must be no feeling of haste, no solicit
/ tude about another engagement, no
uncongenial presence, no conventional
stiffness. Then calling will tend TO
genuine spiritual growth, in spite of
present waste of energy in enjoying
\ this form of human intercourse. Call
I ing affords glimpse of friends in their
homes. 1t opens up new vistas of
I friends friends. 1t suggests new lines
! OF thought. 1t brings new interests
and new points of view. An afternoon
OF calling, TOO, can supply the end of
thought for a whole weeks philoso-
ply, even if the itinerant caller did
not recognize new food for thought in
her journeying.
Ny latest paying of visits brings me
threefold reward. a strengthening
of friendship in some cases; a certain
unburdening Of conscience in other
cases. and in all an instructive expert
ence with the portals of Honolulu
homes. WelI-kept driveways wind
hospitable steps. These are guarded by
/ sentinel palms which point TO the in
viting open rooms, apparently but just
now occupied. Here is the first flaw
/ in hospitality. Where is the bell?
/ How make ones presence known?
Knock at the door? rattle the blinds?
call to the unseen hostess or boldly pro-
coed TO the kitchen, assured that there
at least someone may be found? Alas,
that the very doorway of lovely home
should be stumbling block TO the eX-
pectant guest!
With the cordial hostess at the TIRES
hold or some obsequious celestial to
guide. there is no need of bell or knock
err Lacking such gracious leading,
one may we'll be puzzled. The electric
lights may be turned on-that button
might have been the door bell!-or the
caller may enter the dining-room and
prematurely sound the alarm for dim
ner AS a last resort one filings down
cards and departs with all the sensa-
tions of a burglar in his first attempt
at housebreaking.
/ would have you realize that such
tragedies are not infrequent, especial
" in the momentous first call" To
prevent needless modification, every
hostess in our land should crown her
hospitality with this last grace-the
convenient bell whose blithe tongue
shall announce the coming guest. The
tiny electric bell is upon the whole
most satisfactory, because it's trill can
be heard in the remote corners of the |
large mansion. For the cosy cottage, |
II aoII ha1l &c nr1nr oh
or its larger Benares brother. More |
pretentions are the colonial knockers. |
and the swinging liberty bells with
their dangling cords of red, white and
blue. But the fancy that is most poe
tic is the chime-gong, with its hollow
metal hemispheres each vibrating in
a different tone.
One thing more / beg. Do not cul- |
tivate your consciousness of the I'M |
calling. Least of all harbor a griev-
ance because others cannot return your |
visits as promptly as they could wish. |
You can ruin bright day by indulg- |
ing in a frigid bow or a querulouS word |
intended TO punish the social derelict. |
Do not Rather rejoice in your friends |
who come: and if they come not, go
on your own way rejoicing. Never, as
YOU prize your self-respect and theirs, |
rail at them for hardness. Let us not
lose the sweetness of life by brooding
over fancied Sights. The explana-
tions usually come sometime. Mean
while be great-souled. Cherish no
evil thoughts.
To those who are making new homes
let me offer a suggestion. Consider
c.,II 4 md
the gate. Remember that they are like
a traveling-suit in being your letter of
recommendation. Sacrifice your lawn
and shrubbery little if you must
only have your gate calm in its sense of
adequacy. and your road wide enough
for dignity. Go back TO the Saracenic
builders for this thought of hosDita
lily visible even in gates and doors.
They made a special study of the en-
trance. 1t must be cordial, first of all.
Ample. to add symmetry and dignity
to the building, yet not large enough
for an elephant to pass through. The
arched vestibule with its door was
their solution. Our greatest success
seems to be the porte-cOchere, which
is hospitable thought running out to
meet the guest.
When once a new house is ready for
occupancy. there is a resignation to
its bald newness that falls upon its
inmates while trees and vines are
growing. If you die, but know it, you
can make the garishness far less OBJ
iectionabIe by planting two kinds Of
growing greenery at the same time.
The plants that grow quickly and
rankly like bananas. the Honolulu
vine" morning glory and the passion
flower. will soon make a grateful tenn
porary screen while their less precoci-
Gus friends. the alamanda. bignonia
and perennial shrubs and trees are
painstakingly building up their feet
and inches to be a permanent satisfac
ton. once they have grown. SIBYL.