The commonwealth., 1903-05-14

Little Things ::
:: For Visitors.

LOW easily the "spare room" may
be made to seem like home to the
guests, yet how rarely it happens that
this is done. A little thoughttulness
and care, a putting yourself in hi'
nlace' Tor moment when making
ready for company will be beneficial
both to hostess and guest.
Country-house visiting has become
sach an institution in these days tba:
there are few people who do no. spend
At a,.y rate a few days In the year
among their friends and relations.
O:c spare room, at least, is all abso-
l,te essential in all we'll to-do houses
nov, and the housewife who rea'I,
takes 4 pride in hsr establishment
s.;.u;.l manage to mase il one OF tn.
rrettlest bedrooms Iii the house. ];
il generally daintiiy furnished, and 10
all outward appearance leaves little
to be desired. Yet many visitors,
whose stay in the house would other
wise lie very pleasant, have to endure
endless dlscomforts which a little fore
sight and tact would entirely obviate
To begin with the room itself
Though the furniture be pretty, the
accessories are generally OF an inferior
kind; few forlorn pictures on the
walls. One is thankful when there are
not texts and photographs of the graves
OF deceased relatives.
The ornaments placed on the man.
t4l-piece and about the room often
leave much to be desired they sug-
gest the remnants left over from q
zeal bazaar more than anything else
Small pieces of pottery or china, in
good taste and color, are always easily
procured and are wonderfully iuex-
,ensive.
However small a visitors room may
;:e, it is always advisable to squeeze q
writing table into it. Many people pre-
er writing in their own rooms where
hey can he quiet and undisturbed, and
Il hostess should see that they are duly
provided with writing materials The
nkstand should be full, the paper rack
md blotting book we'll supplied, new
.,ens should be in the holders, there
>hould be pen-wiper, ard also an al
nanac with the correct day OF The
Month indicated, and a waste paper
,asket under the table.
If the room be large enough for two
people, two small beds are preferable tt
ne large one. When the room is oc
:apied by a single lady, she is often
glad OF the extra bed on which to lay
ONE of her things. It is a wise plar
% have a nightlight on the mante
piece; many people habitually use
hem, and if they have not brough
my with them they would not cart
% ask for one.
often wonder why more flowers and
ferns are not placed in the room before
friend arrives. A glass of flowers i,
generally to be seen on the dressing ia
Die, and that Is all. Except in mid
winter, flowers are easy to procure, ani
ferns are cheap all the year rouud.
graceful tern in pretty pot placed or
he writing table and two small one
N the mantelpiece would improve th,
appearance of any room, however pref
).
The bookcase should be filled will
books suitable to the taste of the occu
,ier, and not, as is often the case, dot
sed with few novels placed indiscrim
:nately and left all the year round. 1
he hostess has good photograph OF 8
dear friend or relative OF the guest, an,
she places it in frame on the dressing
)r writing table, the kind thought il
i!ways keenly appreciated.
A few actions like these would show
she visitor that she herself was indi
vidually considered, aud not one Of th,
many "spare people" who from time t,
lime occupy the "spare room." In tact
she room should be arranged as far q
possible with a view to the temporar,
'ccupler's tastes and character; il
would take only few minutes On tn,
part OF the hostess, and surely the re
suit would be worth the outlay of tim,
,nd thought.