The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-14
exist between a guest and host.
Kindly Consideration.

That Is the keynote Of the whole art
of rendering yourself agreeable as a host.
When acting In that capacity, let 1t be
your business first. last and at all times
to make your guest not only contented
with his accommodations, but with him
self.
The highest wisdom is to be kind, the
truest wit Is shown by your unfailing
consideration.
Live in a wholesome fear Of injuring
the feelings or trespassing on the rights
Of those whom you entertain.
Let every guest realize that you feel
the greatest goodwill and don't be salts
fed to let the will take the place of the
deed in the demonstration of your esteem.
The handclasp Of host, for instance,
should be firm, close. cordial.
I have seen an old gentleman OF so
show as exquisite g. cordiality in welcom-
ing to his house a miss Of Is as he mani
tested on the arrival Of an eminent SEN
ator. The child blushed with happiness.
The old gentleman, by touch Of his hand,
had put her at her ease; he had made
her feel so welcome, SO important as his
guest and as contributing to his pleasure.
Your art Is only a veneer, and your
kindness but an arrant hypocrisy, If you
do not look equally pleased to see the
plainly, as well as the richly, dressed ar
rival
The most aristocratic gentleman Is,
You are no better than snob and a
! vulgarian II, by your manner and the
| ass1dufty of your courtesy, you permit
any guest to feel that he is less interest
| Ing, less important, less companionable to
| you than another.
Branch Of Diplomacy.
Your duties when entertaining include
principles Of unfailing politeness that are
| followed by the professional diplomat.
AT your own table be neither silent nor
! egotlst1cal. You may not have the self
confidence to lead in conversation, but you
can fiatter your guests as much by giving
the most cheerful and careful attention
to what they have to say as by saying a
great deal yourself
| Devote less time and effort at your din
ner table to telling your own choice Jokes
and stories than you do to drawing out
the best in those about you. Give your
very heartiest applause to any flashes of
humor that others may show, and never,
under any circumstances, betray the least
acrimony in discussion.
The really wise. the truly diplomatic
host, never argues with a guest at all, or
If he does, and the situation grows In the
least strained. he readily and gracefully
yields his point.
agreeable host is never SO supremely
demonstrated as in his imperturable good
temper. The irate host, like the general
who has lost his head, brings fright and
disorder into the ranks of those who look
to him for comfort and guidance. K
| have heard well meaning young man
turn in his seat and denounce stupid SER
want in forcible language. This was done
at a restaurant, where the young man
entertained six of us. at dinner The
waiter was reniss, and we smiled In con-
strained fashion and promptly lost our
appetites.
Now that host was much more in the
wrong than was the waiter. The servant
knewno better,and we were ready to cver--
look his errors and forget them, but the
host had broken an old, and beautiful
sacred law Of hospitality. We could have
eaten our cold soup happily and cheer
fully had nothing been said, but our host
had lost his self-control and he ruined
our dinners. J.
He meant well, and in our behalf, to be
sure, but he was no diplomat; he had evi-
IDENTIFY undergone little training in the dis
sipline of his own feelings. He forgot tc
consider u.s. and he made dismal failure
. in his attempt to render himself agree
able. Better dinner of herbs, served In
an atmosphere of serenity and cheerfu
philosophy, than a stalled OK dished UP In
wrath.