Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
A POPULAR HOSTESS
A Pussy Woman Will Never
Earn the Name.
AN ART TO STUD Y
THE ALL-YEAR-RoUND IS THE
IDEAL MODEL.
The One the Men Like Approves Of
Smoke and Has Real Cozy
Corners for Them.
Written for The Evening Star.


The most popular hostess is she who
the quality of omnipresence. In other
words, she is never obtrusive, yet one feels
her presence in the hundred and one small
comforts and pleasures with which she
surrounds her guests.
This is particularly true Of the hostess
who entertains the weekend house parties
now so much in vogue. These are nothing
If not leisurely, restful gatherings. and the
hostess whose tendency is to fuss over
her guests should never undertake house
party.
She who really entertains visitors, In the
truest sense of the word, prepares for them
with infinite care, then gives them an OPP
portunity to enjoy the fruits of this prepa-
ration in peace and comfort. She makes
her guest chamber comfortable, but does
not drop In at inopportune moments to ask
whether everything Is all right. She notes
signs OF restlessness and has something
ready to suggest. but she does not interrupt
when all signs point to restfulness.
She gives her visitor~to understand that
the driving is capital. the cross country
walks delightful, the billiard room in readi-
over-entertained guest from pillar to post
in endeavoring to perform her self-imposed
role Of the strenuous hostess
The hostess who asks questions when
with nervous headache or for some less
tangible reason, and does not thrust nos
trums or unavailable advice upon you. is a
blessing to be appreciated. Every woman
has her pet headache remedy. and there
are moments when the most social crea-
lures want to be alone.
Not an All-Year-Round.
A good summer hostess may cut
sorry figure in winter and vice versa. A
woman who Is all sparkle and vivacity in
winter may be but wilted flower in hot
weather; and a woman who is all froth and
flutter on the summer piazza may grow
heavy eyed and irritable under the strain
Of the winter season. 1t is the woman Of
equabe nerves and temper. who entertains
because it is a pleasure and not duty,
that makes the best all-the-year-round
hostess.
The hostess who invites you to tea in
summer and then receives you in elaborate
toilet and flushed face, suggests trouble
in the kitchen. The thought that she has
had to send into town hastily for refresh-
ments, because there has been a small
strike in the pantry, does not serve as an
appetizer. The woman who sits at the head
Of the table, turning a polite but deaf car
to the man on either hand and keeping an
anxious eye on her one maid, is not an
ideal hostess. She makes her guests wish
that she had taken less pains in preparation
and received them with more genuine in
terest. While the primal motive Of dining
is to secure food, in the social code it has
a higher status-the gathering of congenlal
spirits.
An Ideal Hostess.
The hostess who feels 1t a pleasure to
entertain is a positive ms piration. She who
elects to entertain as duty had better
pause. She is. starting on thorny path
which seldom leads to social success. Much
nonsense is written about the social life
being trade, a profession. Perhaps there
there are those who climb for the sake of
reaching the apex, nothing more. But
there are a few sensible persons left who
want to have pleasure en- route.
The wife who receives a few Of her hus-
bands friends with some such remark as
'just In time for a rubber of whist and
rabbit" Is cutting one of the links in that
chain which binds her husband to his bach
elor pleasures and his club. And II she
knows how to concoct rabbit without maxi
ing a great how-de-do over 1t, If she is
deft smiling and graceful, the men will pro-
nounce her as charming as If she had In
chances out of ten, if they be bachelors.
they will sigh and announce that Jones is
a lucky dog
1t pays to cultivate the chatting dish
habit, If one wants to entertain simply,
easily and often. There are. so many jolly
little dishes to be evolved from a chatting
dish that small book devoted to the
art is worth buying and using Remember
always that elaboration in connection with
a chatting dish is bad form.
Another trick which makes a hostess ex-
ceedingly popular is studying the art of
making light drinks. OF course, there is
nothing simpler than to send out to the kit
chen for a pitcher of lemonade, or claret
punch, when ones porch is full of guests,
but there's a better method still, especially
If woman would be the idol Of her men
friends. Let her practice in secret the mix
ing Of a few standard drinks, until she is
as deft-whisper it low-as the professional
artist in this line Let her learn how to
stir the shaver Ice until it clinks
enticingly. Let her learn how to
pour the caret in a long, sparkling stream.
like an expert. Then, with an air OF assur-
ance, she can bid her maid bring out the
ingredients upon low wicker table, and,
in less time than it takes to tell the tale,
she VIII have them all, men and women,
watching her with fascinated interest.
What He Cannot Stand.
Just a word to the woman who dislkes
Never entertain your husbands
friends unless you have a den or smoking
room for them. If there is one thing which
tries a husbands soul, especially if he be a
newly wed husband, it is to apologize to
his friends for the fact that his wife can
best of Havanas. Protect your dainty draw
ing room by all means, but have a corner
no matter how small, where your husband
may take the men after dinner or Just
before bed time for their cozy chat and
smoke.
A New York man who recently returned
from visit with prim New England rela-
tives, tells how the men of the house have
built a shanty, something on the lines of
a large dog house, in which they have in
stalled a small oil stove, and whittier they
retire many times a day to smoke.
The average man objects to seeing the
he likes and respects given ever to
the cigarette habit He hates yellow stain
on the finger of the woman he loves but he
does not object to accepting a match from
those same fair fingers. and he has a sin
cere regard for the hostess who has an
ash tray about and matches within reach.
Pleases Everybody.
Another hostess who can depend upon
gaining popularity is she who brings lust
the right sort Of people together-not the
match making sort, however. She so selects
her guests that they may please one another
as well as herself.
In the same class Is the woman who has
cozy corners that are really coy in her
home, and a plenty of pretty girls to share
them with the men. A hostess who wants
attention from all the men and who is