The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-26

, The last state of that guest was worse
than the first, and 1t goes without saying
that she has, tho frequently invited, never
visited that house again.
The case of the tea and toast Is illus
trative of the many seemingly slight but
quite unforgivable crimes Of which many
well ell-meaning but obtuse hostesses are
guilty.
1 can accurately prophesy the triumphs
of the woman who takes trouble over the
details relating to her guests comfort.
She sees that the guest chamber is in ex-
Quisite order when an occupant is eX-
pected. She fills vase two in the
room with fresh flowers, and lays few
Of the novels and latest magazines
on the little bedside table with reading
lamp. She finds out your rising and bed
time hour and whether you are very
timid at night or hate to share a bed
with any one.
discipinarians who asks boldly whether
you would like a fire or not, and accepts
your wistful, shivering, polite refusal as
final. She puts a match to the kindling
wood soon as she cntertainS a mere
suspicion that you are chilly, and You
can be safely trusted to accept her invi-
tatons with unbounded pleasure and Il
confidence in the care she is going to give
you so long as you are under her roof.
| Respecting a Guests Feelings.
| Don't take liberties with guests, how :
ever we'll you may know them. l always
put down in my black books the woman
| who has a best and second best guest
| room If you wish to tread the path of
| the popular hostess, never discriminate
In your accordance Of comforts, compli-
ments and attention to those who visit
| you.
Once upon a time there was a young
Mrs. Blank, who invited her husband s
oldest and best friend to visit her stimuli
| taneOusly with a man of millions whose
| acquaintance the couple had recently
made on tour out west. The millionaire
| was given the pink and white chamber
where the south breeze came in at Il
] window opening on the water view and
blJou Of private bath was attached
| The old friend was tucked into a small
| bedroom where the afternoon sun beat
fiercely, sewing machine occupied one
| corner and the family bath only was at
| his disposal.
The old and best friend accepted his
accommodations with philosophy, but like
| fraught with incident, he never went
there again." HIS feelings were hurt an6
his dignity was injured.
Questions of Costume.
In writing your invita- tions have the
| thoughtfulness to delicately imply whether
the guest is to expect good deal of gai-
| ETY., and a consequent need Of all his or hel
! best clothes, just the reverse: quiet
home time with little formality.
| Accordingly the visitors will pack thei,
| bags or dress suit cases and thus will be
avoided some sad mistakes for which G
hostess is sometimes never forgiven
I can tell you of a case in point, where
a nice young girl was asked down for
week end to a country house which she
had never visited before. The last day O
her stay she burst into my room and int
tears. She had felt mortified to find her
self hopelessly over dressed, She had fol
lowed out to view the prize pigs ant
the cow stable in an exquisite lac
trimmed foulard, she had come down t
the simple family dinner, where the chill
dren gathered, in a superb pink brocad
and point lace, and she had been oblige
to fish for crabs In an Irish lace blous
and pale blue poplin skirt fit for a Watea
scene And she had been thoroly ,niser
able.
Had the hostess only taken little pain
she might have obviatcd for her guest a
, the acute discomfort of her position.
, When to Let : Guest Alone.
The passion for over entertaining is on
of the high and well nigh ,lnforgivabl
misdemeanor of the admirable America
hostess.
My own acquaintance does not lac