The Carlisle independent., 1906-11-01
HER DAY AT HOME"
ADVANTAGES OF A REGULAR RE
 cEPTloN TIME.
Plan Does Away with Annoyances of lnopportune Calls end Allows Hostess to Be Seen at
 Her Best.

How on earth am l to make my duty calls if am going to be detained like this every afternoon?" queried young Mrs. B., resentfully, gazing despairingly at her mother-in-law as the door closed on an inopportune caller, Every day this week I've been just on the point of setting out when a caller has been announced And there is anothert" 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, but said nothing until the second caller had departed
 The only possible way to avoid an- royances of that sort, she observed then, lis to have regular receiving day and see everybody at once"
 But that would be such a lot of bother-and so ceremonious, too,' ob- served Mrs B., jr., who was brought up in a town where everybody who is anybody knows everybody else.
 eremonious-perhaps but a lot of bother-no. In fact, it is the one and only way of avoiding misunder- standings and waste of time in a city community. You simply set apart one day in the week-possibly only one day in month-for receiving your friends; and on that day you make a point of being at home, dressed in your daintiest gown and with your house 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 to come and go 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 gener- ally conceded. The modern woman has so many interests clamoring for her time and attention that she must needs systematize her social as well as 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 fact that they can no longer follow
 
 risk of intruding; consequently, the adoption of a receiving day, instead of being drowned down as an attempt to put on airs" is regarded as a neces- sary concession to modern conditions.
 That there may be no mistake as to ones intentions it is necessary to in- dicate ones receiving day upon ones visiting card. It may be either en- graved or written, but must invariably appear in the lower left hand corner. Unless specific mention is made to the contrary it i2 inferred that one will be 'at home" during the entire day which does not, of course, include morning; and it is a distinct breach of etiquette to be out during the call ing hours. It is good plan to state the hours, as: "Wednesday, to and 8 to H." It sounds rather business like, but at least it leaves no loop hole for misunderstanding.
 Most busy women receive only once in two weeks, their cards being in scribed 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, if every one should receive weekly, there would be few left to make calls. To avoid c conflict of days" it is not unusual for women of the same social set to con fer together before completing their arrangements for the season.
 Refreshments are not expected at an informal "at home" although some hostesses have adopted the pleasant English custom of having tea and wafer-thin slices of bread and butter and cake served in the drawing room at o'clock, whether callers are pres ent or not