The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-28

host and such prompt obedience to the
very best and highest laws of etiquette.
Happy is the social fate Of that man
or woman who can master a trying situa-
ton by dint of self sacrificing CAIN of
demeanor. 1t is a gracious gift in the
guest who can and will smile In the face
of trying circumstance. No matter If
the clumsy servant spills soup on your
pretty evening gown, If there Is a cry
of fire, or a serious accident befa-len
the dessert, you can earn the everlasting
gratitude OF your hostess and the pleasant
envy of your fellow guests by ns ain
ing satisfying and infectious compoSure.
Should you, by chance, turn over the
claret pitcher, keep your wits about you:
offer an apology. and then talk Of some
thing else. Never notice errors or short
ceminss in the management Of the en-
tertainment. and do not report them else
where when they have occurred.
If you are asked to sing or play for the
dedication OF any company, give your
song or sonata readily. and an encore If
that is insisted upon. Do not wait to
be begged for an exhibition of your tai
ents.
1t is a species Of beautiful unselfshness
to be abe to contribute to the pleasure
Of others, and to the man or woman who
knows how to do things in a sweet AND
ready spirit belongs the rich spoils Of
many nice invitations and much atten.
ton that Is complimentary.
For my own part, like and enjoy what
the scornfuliy superior and often stupidity
! selfish individual calls "parlor tricks"
When the mother OF really nice, but
neither beautiful nor rich girl asked my
advice In the social training of her daugh-
ter, promptly replied: Teach her some
drawing-room accomplishments. If she Is
not musically inclined, let her learn how
to recite with dainty charm the sweet
and gay verses Of our minor poets, Aus.
ten, Dobsen, Henley, Scotland, etc. Per
feet her in the art of playing the best
kind Of hand at any draW ing room game
| of cards. telling fortunes, de.ineating char
| acter or reading aloud, even in a finished
style.
1t does not make a great deal Of diff
ference what she learns to do, provided
she does the thing we'll and in the right
spirit, for 1t is the desire to be kind and
to contribute something to the happiness
Of others that makes the irresistibly at
,tractive guest"
Your Fellow Guests.
You may not like Mrs. Jones; Mr.
Brown, perhaps has been unforgivably
rude, and Miss Robinson appears to be
a dowdy and doubtful looking person
but If you find them assembled at the
all, with the most beautiful courtesy
You owe this to Mrs. Bank; just as you
owe her consideration for her fine china
and glass.
More than this, you know-or you ought
! to know-that your hostess friends are
persona grata to you just as long as they
are under her roof, whatever enmity you
may cherish for them outside, and tina,
you insult her in neglecting one of them
To illustrate my meaning, shall rehearse
little scene, enacted before my eyes
in New York drawing-room. by a man
and woman who considered their host and
hostess before themselves. By their
| charming tact and really self-sacrifcine
grace Of manner, they saved trying hour
and carried off triumphantly situation
that might have proved distressing in the
extreme.
| Both guests in this case were new
| acquaintance Of the hostess, who was
unaware that, while they bore different
names, they had once been man and wife
So innocent was she of the knowledge
| Of their true relationship that she intro.
| duced the divorced couple and sent then
in to the dinner table together.
Without moments embarrassing hest
tation or word of explanation the gen
! tleman bowed, smiled and offered the lady
his arm; with equal grace and seeming
good humor the lady accepted the tenn
porary truce and went in to dinner Not
until a year afterward, when the estranged
couple were reconciled and remarked die
the hostess OF that dinner party know
how unse fishly her guests had sacrificed
themselves to spare her discomfort, ever