The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-15
SOCIAL CHLLS
ON THURSDAYS
Walls Concerning Visits on
Housemaids' Afternoons.
Frequently the Mistress Is Sadly
Put Out by Friends who Find
Her Doing Housework.

! Writing of making afternoon calls or
| Thursdays, that day being in many places
| the servant girls outing day, Dorothy
Maddox says:
Utter want of consideration is shown
other women by the woman who DELHI
| erately arrays herself in her fine clothes
| for a Thursday afternoon call. / often
wonder if thoughtlessness dictates this
| move. or if there is a spice of deviltry
! in 1t.
Thursday afternoon Is recognized as be-
! longing almost exclusively to our maids
| They have by unanimous consent Sc
lected this day TO get a breathing spell
from work. We know this to woman
If there was any reasonable ignorance
upon this point the Thursday afternoon
caller might be entitled to some consid-
I GRAFTON.
AS it is. she arrives generally just as
the mistress with one maid is deep in the
mysteries of starting the pots to boiling.
| Who Is to answer the bell but very
| Hurried soul who makes for the front
door with little catch in her breath.
her heart humping like mad and hoping
against hope that she will be spared the
modification of caller.
There stands a smiling vision in its
best clothes and waiting for a welcome.
1t Is "A strained reception that is given,
for the visitor in question has arrived at
an unfortunate moment. Like a fash
the lady of the house remembers an in
vitation given this person to inspect her
new home. So this is the first call The
dining table is set. The beauty of
that room is ruined In the eyes of the
harassed one. "A tumutuous list of i'm
projections go racing through her brain.
OF tumbled hair, a back-number waist
gingham apron, etc. and it is only by a
mighty effort that she pulls herself into
hOSpitable shape.
Meanwhile the intruder is either decid-
edly mortified at her want of tact or is
Immensely amused that she has caught
another woman in a trap. l know women
well enough to believe that many of them
are just wicked enough to enjoy corner
ing one of their sex i'm this very fashion
/ was told the other day that the
Thursday afternoon caller posed as ex-
empt from consideration pertaining to
domestic matters; that she had no need
To worry herself over such triviality as
a servants afternoon out; and that she
was exceedingly anxious to let women
know Of her good luck. that Thursday
afternoon she selected for impressing less
fortunate women with the perfection OF
her household service
This may be most unjust as a solu-
ton Of tactless proceeding. Let the
reason be what IL may. the Thursday
afternoon visitor is a nuisance She has
been the means of compelling many
family 10 go supperless or dinnerless long
past the hour for supping or dining.
And In many instances her social fncII-
nations have completely spoiled all
chances for decent meal. The after
noon caller is hard to move. She STAYS
on and on. II is one of her recognized
faults As If the mere fact of calling
was not enough she must accentuate her
want OF good taste by outsaying the
prescribed time limit
The Thursday afternoon caller is with
out doubt an annoyance. l take great
pleasure in telling her so. and trust that
word 10 the wise will be sufficient.