The Mena star., 1898-11-30
INoPPoRTUNE VISITS.
Dropping In on Bnsy Housewives When They Are In the Midst of
 Their Work.

be the means or aNeTliHB f4OiHSoiS or social catastrophe, and prove blessing alike to the one who utters 1t and the one who listens to ii, but often times it is nnsaid. If. however, you are woman, and have dropped in at an unreasonable hour In the forenoon to have n nice little chat with friend wLo has q family. but no domestic, you will doubtless be regaIed by q lot Of apologies about the condition of the rooms her own and the chidren's ap- 3earance, etc.. when you are the one who should apologize. not she. What possible right had you to intrude on the busy morning hours of woman whose duties are so numerous that it is only the most careful planning and gtrictest economy of time that she can secure even a part of the afternoon hours to make the numerous tiny gar ments which the family purse is too slender to hire made? Perhaps you are one of those generous souls who in- sist on coming right out into the kitch- cn. never stopping to think of the numerous pretty shifts which are per haps resorted to in its retired and economic precincts, which, if prae- ticed by the wasteful but well-paid cook in your own kitchen, would in- sure your lasting appreciation. but which, used by a poor woman 0 make . tempting repast out of the rather scant remains of a previous dinner, seem to her so thoroughly poverty stricken. that she would rather waste half the forenoon. and risk making the children late for school by the tardncss of the midday meal, than have you witness its preparation.
 At rare intervals, one meets n wom- an who is so proud of her skill in con- cocting tempting morsels from frag- fments and condiments. that she rather enjoys taking the friends who drop in near dinner time out to see how she succeeds in making a delicious soup from the bits of meat and bones trimmed from the breakfast steak, to- gether with the pieces of celery which were not quite nice for the table, finely minced with little rice to give it body; how she converts remnants of beef, pork and veal into such appetiz- ing croquettes with just n dash of onion to season them; what creamy mass her mashed potatoes are; and vhat really nice dessert can be made from biscnit dough cut in pretty shapes, on each of which a generous eMyer of apple has been placed and ~ in pudding dish with the boil -f b&water, sugar, butter and grated sf beg which would have been re- II aGaltd for a sauce, and with which theg n&, Ebe pasted while baking. You>stay aV partake of the simple. bps dainti- lyHerved, meal which has fbeen pre- paired with such ease and ,Gelerity, for getting that with this woman economy ssa virtue, not necessity. It is with those who are compelled to scheme, sacrifieh and retrench. that the little pen Ahifts are such modification, snsNv tsne that might be avoided if sm. sts when not specially invited, n ays3uld select the time when most leis- ;g.re might be expected, thus making ', their visits pleasure and recreation instead of dread and interruption.
 Then there are the busy women who paint or write, who wish to devote the fresh morning hours to their work, but not finding it necessary to occupy all their time in that manner are always ready and glad to see their friends in the afternoon. 1t was such a woman you heard complaining that some one had dropped in just as she was about half through putting the sky or a large canvas. The stereotyped, Il can't stay more than few minutes had deceived her. She had stopped her work, and dared not resume lest it be taken as an indication of dismissal. until two hours and a half of small gossip and platitudes, from a woman she was not very fond of, had rendered her paint so "tacky" she must either fv 1t dry and paint it all over, or else
 it all off the canvas.
 c short calls indefinitely pro-
 cd are so very misleading. Even
 ie guests are ones dear familiars,
 aey are ''in hurry, and only
 ,ped q moment as we were pass
 you will hardly excuse yourself
 finish the few little things you
 Jed to do, or change your dress, or
 ange your disordered tresses, all of
 ch you might have done before sit
 down for a good old-fashioned
 t. had you even faintly surmised
 se hours instead of ten minutes
 i'd have been it's duration.
 ecause one leads leisurely ex-