Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1906-12-28
HER DAY "AT HOME"
ADVANTAGES OF A REGULAR RE
cEPTloN TIME.
Plan Does Away with Annoyanees Of
lnopportune Calls and Allows
Hostess to BE Seen at
Her Best.

How on earth am | to make my,
duty calls If am going to be detained
IKE this every afternoon" Queried
young Mrs. b., resentfully, gazing
despairingly at her motherin.law as
the door closed on an lnopportune
caller. Every day this week I've
been Just on the point Of setting out
when a caller has been announced.
And there is another" she exclaimed
as the whirr Of the bell resounded
through the apartment.
The elder woman smiled at the
younger's comical expression Of dis.
may, hut said nothing until the second
caller had departed.
The only possible way to avoid an.
noyances Of that sort" she observed
men, rs To have a regular receiving
day and see everybody at once"
But that would be such a lot of
hoiher-and so ccrcmonlous. too" oh.
served Mrs g., ir, who was brought
up IN town where everybody who is
anybody knows everybody else
'Neremonious-perhaps but a lot
ot bothcr'-no In fact. II Is the one
ana only way Of avoiding mlsundcr.
standings and waste of time In n city
community, You simply set apart one
day In the wcek-possibly only one
day In month-for receiving your
friends and on that day you make a
point of being at homo. dressed IN
your dalntcst gown and with your
mouse a very model OF spick and.span
ness. For the rest OF the week, or
until the next reception day comes
around, YOU are at liberty 10 come and
80 as You please, and, incidentally, to
meet your own calling obligations"
That this is the only practicable
plan for coping with the formidable
question of social calls Is now gencr
ally conceded The modern woman
has so many interests clamoring for
her time and attention that she must
! needs systematic her social as well
rs her domestic affairs. The days
when people dropped In" on one an.
other informally whenever the spirit
moved them have gone by forever
Even intimate friends recognize the
| TACT that they can no longer follow
these unconventional methods without
| risk of intruding; consequently. the
adoption of receiving day, instead of
being frowucd down as an attempt to
put on airs Is regarded as a ncccs
sary concession to modern conditions
That there may be no mistake as To
ones Intentions 1t Is necessary to In
dicatc ones receiving day upon ones
visiting card. 1t may be either en-
srayed or written, but must invariably
appear In the lower left hand corner
Unless specific mention Is made &C.
the Dntrary It is inferred that one
will nc AT home during the entire
day which does not, of course, include
morning and 1t Is distinct breach
of etiquette to be out during the call
ing hours. It Is good plan TO state
/ wv ll'NA - No' h'NiiNcht!t - w " hAN
to H." II sounds rather business
like, but at least 1t leaves no loop
hole for Misunderstanding.
Most busy women receive only once
in two weeks. their cards being in
scribcd thus; First and third Wednes
days" or Second and fourth Tues
days" For some inexplicable reason
Wednesday seems to be the favorite
receiving day; hence, II every one
should receive weekly, there would be
! few left to make calls. To avoid u
conflict OF days" 1t Is not unusual for
women Of the same social set to con
fer together before completing their
arrangements Tor the season.
Refreshments are not expected at
an informal "at home" although some
hOstesses have adopted the pleasant
English custom OF having tea and
waferthin slices of bread and butter
and cake served in the drawing room
at 5 o'clock, whether callers are pres
Gnt or not.