The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-06

much attention to guests In the house
and too little is rather puzzlipg to an
inexperienced hostess. There are people
who dread having company because ths
presence of even the most Agreeable OUT
siders in the home upsets ordinary ar
lrangemcnts, disturbs the usual order OF
things, and entails considerable extra eX-
lperse. lii other homes The proud boast
is made that no fuss or trouble is caused
by. the coming of guests, ana the latter
faro so very much left alone that they
have some cause to feel neglected. 1t needs
only u backward glance and not ~ very
long one. to convince an observer that
hospitality In our country Is under a
cloud and on the wane, that provision
Isl not everywhere made for a guest and
that the guest chamber Itself Is becoming
a thing OF the past. In the simplest
homes, there used to DO u spare room,
Beautifully appointed and almost as sa-
cred iii tho eyes OF the children rs the
parlor ITSELF but one does not often find
this now. City living In contracted quar-;
tehs Is so common thaa families have much
ado to accommodate their own members
and their own belongings, using every
available incls of space for the purpose,
and engaging roms for Uncle John and
Aunt Mary from tho country In an ad-
jacent boarding house, or sending some
s
cousins and tho kin to other degrees
come to town.
Suburban homes and tho blessed roomy
farm houses or the moment still afford
quarters for guests, but the spirit OF
hospitality Is lacking, has taken wings
and flown away.
surely there Is 81 golden mean to be
found. TO entertain in a simple way Is a
fine art. Unless we do open wide our
doors and our hearts, too, SO that some
one beside the home folk may enter, we
shall grow cramped and unreceptivc and
1csc much of the grace and spontaneity
Of life. a guest brings ina new element
and introduces q flavor that adds zest TO
the comonplaccs which are growing over
familiar. A spice OF novelty comes with
almost any guest. 1t is well for us to
have a Whit OF another atmosphere and
we'll for children to sec and hear the
manners and tho talk Of people not Of
the family circle. a well-bred or travelled
guest clevates the tone Of the home, slim
ulates home life and sharpens up every
one by the keen contact ats. q new ideas.
10 entertain with simplicity 1t is not
needful to 80 to great trouble. spend
very much money! or do anything that.
savors Of ostcntatfon and a desire for
display. The ordinary maners OF a home
should be polite and courteous, defercn-
lal to the old and Kind to the young.
SUCH manners would be quite good
enough for any one of the royalties OF Eu-
rope. should he happen to take refuge
under our plain American roof-tree. For
the rest, If the food IS always we'll cook
ed and nourishing, It will be good
enough to setsbcfore whoever comes along
More attention perhaps may be given to
the service Of o. meal than Is needful
when we are alone. The finest napery
and the prcttIest china, the brightest
Isilver and glass are easily put oil the
table In honor OF guest, and no one
need fear that plain dinner of throe
courses, and nosrmore, will not amply
suffice to satisfy company II it be beau
tifully served and accompanied by cheer
full smiles and pleasant chnt
a hostess makes a great mistake who
so devotes her time to the preparation
Of food that she has no vitality left to
pick mp loose threads and knit friend
ship anew.
Before the arrival of guests, especially
| If they are expected to remain for some
days or q week, it is the part Of wisdom
to get all extra work well out OF the
way. For Instance, have dresmaker
in the house the Same week that you en-
terrain. an old school friend, or your
husbands maiden aunt. Let the sewing
wait Till you have leisure unless 1t can
be finished before the guests advent. No
body In her senses would invite house
party while decora tors, paper-hangers
and house cleaners were carrying OH
campaign. One thing mt .,ime. II you
please dear lady..A perfectly clean we'll
swept and well-dusted house certi1es In
Its every nook and corner to your glad
nuess that friends are coming. and 1t
|ls.therefore worth while to get the week S
sweeping done before you have company,
and omit it while the company remains
with YOU.
AS to the guests room. Its essentials
are comparatively few; among them be-
Ing a comfortable bed, with good mat
tress and spring, soft spreads, fine sheets,
good pillows, warm blankets and an eX-
ira duvet at the foot Of the bed for
greater warmth III the night II neces-
sary Not long ago, I read nm amusing
story of n good bishop who was enter
tanned for the snightnt the house Of an
admiring friend, and was asked in the
morning how he had slept. His answer
was rather vague and hesitating, and
the hostess suddenly remembered with
horror that she had some weeks before
hidden part of her silver in her spare
room bed under the mattress and had
forgotten TO remove y IT, NO WONDER inc
bishop found the bed hard and lumpy.
Bathing facilities should be In Il guest
room, including plenty OF towels, delicate
toilet soap and an nbundanceEof water.
Hot water In a jug should be taken to Il
guests room In the morning, and by the
bedside there should DO q candle and
matches even though there be gas or a
lamp in the room. The dressing bureau
should be supplied with good mirror,
pins, ncdle and thread and any other
little thing n guest may possibly want,
1t is a good plan to have paper. envelopes,
pens, ink and postage stamps In guests
room, as well as one or two books to
cheer n sleepes hour, or fill n little space
Of waiting for the announcement Of n
meal. Notice that all this essential part
of preparation involves no large expense,
and is within the means of most people
who posses an ordinarily comfortable in
come.
When one invites friends for an after
noon or an evening. simplicity again