Arizona republican., 1897-09-28
WOMEN'S INTERESTS.

Autumn house parties are the most enioyable features of American coun- try life. It is not only because au tumn is the most beautiful of our seasons and the most comfortable, but also because there is so much to do. In midsummer, when it seems asking a great favor to invite guest to exert himself in any more violent fashion than that of drinking claret cup or swinging in a hammock, the hostess has to be constantly on the alert in order to provide entertain ment and still not bore her guests In winter the allurements of the city and the difficulty of keeping even steam heated house warm embitter the life of the country house owner. But in the autumn all is lovely, ev- cry one is good natured and willing to be amused, and Nature herself aids in the general festivities by putting 1 on her most gorgeous robes and send 1 ing beautiful weather Golf and cy- l cling, driving and riding, long tramps ] in the crisp autumn air and countless 1 other delightful diversions are readily seized upon by the happy hostess and the strangers within her gates.
 The invitations to large and ultra 1 fashionable country houses, where shooting and other Anglomaniac pas i times are part of the programme, do not often exceed a four days stay, 1 from Tuesday to Saturday, or from 1 Friday to Tuesday usually But the i ideal house party is entertained for ten or twelve days and is composed of married couple, one or two bachelors and one or two pretty girls
 The ladies are intimate friends of the hostess and no effort is required on her part for their entertainment beyond letting them do exactly as they like as regards the disposal of their time out of doors. Cycling now l occupies so many hours of most wo- 1 mems day that it relieves a hostess of any responsibility concerning the af- ternoon drive, formerly an important feature of a country house visit, and therefore guests are encouraged to bring their bicycles with them.
 The train by which to travel is usu- ally mentioned iii the invitation, and l between and p. m. the general hour selected, tea is invariably offered inn mediately on arrival, and the ladies are not shown to their rooms until after 6 o'clock, which gives time for a pleasant chat with the hostess. 1 When lady does not bring a maid 1 with her the hostess either offers the service of her own maid, or remarks that probably her guest has a little unpacking to do before dinner, and by this it is understood that her time is at her own disposal until the din her hour. Unless a httle considera- ton is shown on this point, ladies are often in doubt as to whether they are expected to appear again before dinner or not. When guests arrive in time for luncheon, which they are seldom invited to do, they are ex- pected to return to the drawing room as soon as they have taken off their hats, etc., and not to spend the time between arrival and luncheon in at tending to unpacking their trunks
 The hostess naturally desires to hold a little conversation with a new ar rival before going in to luncheon, be- ing at leisure to do so, therefore to keep her expectant for half an hour or so is discourteous. This is triv- ial matter in itself, yet it is one upon
 which hesitation appears not unfre-
 quently to arise, and in this instance the unpacking should be postponed
 until after tea.