The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-11
CITY WAYS CARRIED INTO COUNTRY HOMES
Old Fashioned Sociaby No Longer Rules Among Nshbors7he
Up to Date Attitude Both Exclusive and Informal

A country clergyman who some years
ago accepted call to a city church was
asked soon after his arrival in town how
he liked the change. He replied with a
sigh Of relief that there was one feature
which afforded him much satisfaction
he was no longer obliged to receive visitors
at his back door.
For years the good man had patiently
endured visitations from Pensioners who,
In an excess Of friendliness which scorned
ceremony and the front door bell, pene-
trated to his living rooms via the rear
door.
Not at home" was a formula not vet
come into fashion, and even if it had been
In fashion there would not have been the
smallest chance to practise it in that village
in the days when country social etiquette
was good deal simpler and more informal
chan 1t Is now, and when even the city great
lady, stepped to the eyelids in formalities,
was moro or less at the mercy Of her neigh
bors once she took possession OF her country
house. Amid natures environment it was
not easy she found. to maintain the stately
fashion Of the town, and the guests at
many Of her entertainments included
country folk whose names never were
and probably never would be enrolled in
the social register.
The city great lady manages differently
now, for the reason that country methods
Of entertaining have changed; whether for
the better or worse depends on the point
Of view.
when was first married, and we used
to spend our summers at country place
near New York, remember that always
gave a series Of receptions every year.
sending out cards to practically all the
neighborhood. said New York woman
the other day, in speaking Of the new wrinkle
In country entertaining. 1t was ex
pected Of one.
1T was also expected that one would
keep open house, as it were; be ready, that is,
to receive and entertain guests at all hours
Of the day, especially of an afternoon.
To be In the house or seated on a hack
piazza and yet to excuse oneself to callers
was out Of the question without giving
serious offense.
Country homes Of city folks wore not
90 thick then as now, SO naturally the divid-
ing line between the natives, the all the
year around residents, and the summer
residents was not so marked as OF present
In several OF the best known summer cot
tage resorts much patronized by New
Workers. the line is now drawn 80 care
fully that it Is almost unheard of to meet
In drawing room, or even at a garden
party, half a dozen real country folks in q
season.
"This is a mistake, ! think. Neverthe-
less, it is true, and the country folks know
letter than any one else.
There was time when we'll to do country
residents, persons who we're looked up
to in the community and whose ancestors
before them we're Of more or less impor-
lance, would, acting from sense Of duty
II for no other reason, hasten to call on any
one renting house in their locality, whether
the tenant came from New York or Okla
homa, and their call was likely to be ap-
preciated. 1t is not that way now.
Last summer I went for a drive with a
friend who remarked. I must take 70 a
roundabout route, for / want to leave cards
At certain house. We were seated In a low
surrey with only the coachman on the box
and when We stopped near an old iashione d
country house with nothing smart to recon-
mend it, my hostess took the reins and
asked the coachman to deliver her cards
which he did.
That was her way Of returning the call
q the PEOPLE who lived there and whose