The Washington herald., 1907-06-23
SOCIETY IN SUMMER NEGLLGE

court and then your social fortune is
made. That ceremony finished. you can
lay back on your lauTels and enjoy lfa"
A distinction must be made between
life az the summer hotels md life at the
cottages. as the magnificent villas af the
rich are sdil called. but even at the cot
tages there IS little Of the form and core-
mouy that marks city life during the
winter. At some houses men are allowed
% come Co dinner la tneIs HanneI- In
deed, there Is a beautiful little resort.
nestled among the bills near the foot OF
the White Mountains. frequented bv l.t-
erarv men and women. where evening
clothes are not allowed visitor. un-
acquainted with this unwrltten rule. in
Eitod 10 dinner AZ the house Of q we'll
known scientist appeared I'm a dinner
jacket when he was pounced upon 10y
the other men guests, denuded Of his coat
and made 20 don one belonging 10 rnr
host. The little scrap" caused an anus
ing diversion. and the story is told rs
warning to all new arrivals az that place
The tendency q the DAY Is toward sim
phcity Of life in summer. and it is an
excellent tendency and one that should
be encouraged. The less formal ef!quotta.
the more freedom during the summer
time, when all the world goes for a vaca-
tion. the better; but the lack Of etiquette
without order the freedom without self
restraint. that one sees at some Of the
fashionable watering places. which lead
- all fNVF4e RF
happy impression upon the l1okors-or.
and have a most unhappy effect upon
those who seek such a resort for rest and
recreation.
There gre many troublesome questions
with which a hostess If she entertains
extensively, has 10 deal, especially if she
is inexperienced. but even a woman who
has had a long training and broad expert !
euce is sometimes puzzled as % how a
dilemma should be met This is true. at
least in America IN Europe and on the
continent there are rules and traditions
that meet every emergency. The follow |
ing letter from a woman famous for her
entertaining on both sides the water. and
who employs a competent secretary. Illus /
trateS the embarrassment q hostess. no /
matter how we'll equipped and cultivated /
she is. may feel when she is forced to /
entertain those less versed in social |
affairs than herself:
Question: come PRAYING Won 20 establish school /
d manners and begging y0u 70 give especial in /
srctions 20 the duties and obligations of guests
My especial grievances Just is. that my whole /
SUMMER schedule is disaHanged because l cannot /
get those whom invite 20 come on the date set for
their reception IN 60 on the date set for their
leaving. Ny husbands wealth and his position in /
the literary world make il imperative fer rs 10 !
entertain constantly WhCn in America which |
is frr six months Of the vCar. We pass the whole (
period at our summer place. where We can very
conveniently accommodate twenty guests We want
naturally, 10 bring those together who are most Z
c1ngenial To simplify matters. long ago. in the
cary days Il my married life. adopted the sensible
English custom q asking people 20 come at
specified time and for specified time. For in
stance | write;
Dear Mrs. Smith; VIII you and Mr.. Smith be
50 Kind as 20 give rs the pleasure of your COMPANY
from the 10Th until the Dth cf June: The car
WI meet you nj tho wharf for the beat which ar.
-iTcs at O'Clock the 10th and you can leave by |
The early beat al Il O'Clock on the 20th Your lug
gage viii ba taken care #. &~
Now could there b. ANYTHING NOR explicit and
ichnitcf But this is the way all ny invitations /
urn out. We 80 on the 10Th for M. and Mrs
smith, but Alr and Mrs. Smith have not arrived /
There IS no wire, no letter. no telephone message
70 tell why the expected guests are DELAYED The
next morning telegram Is received, saying that
Mr. Smith was kept away by business but they
would come that day. We send 10 the boat for
hem-no ilr. and Mrs Smith and no explanation
AZ some unearthly hour in the evening We receive
telephone message begging rs 10 ssnd 70 the rail
'aY sto'iou, some six r eight miles distant for
dr. and Mrs. Smith. They arrive they exnlsiu
t any pleasure in their visit is rlined by tho an
loyance We have been put 70. Then iney oreTstav
heir tins two davs. and Mr. - and have 10
20 over TO the bachelor cottage by the wav We
ave found this bachelors cottage an excellent
dea swimming pool. gynlnf sium. and all that you
noyl. and stay for those -wo nights because other
nests invited 70 take the rooms to have been va
ated by the Smiths have arrived ] hate 70 sleep
n strange room my maid ia cross because She
liIst carry my things 20 and fro across the lawn
nd my hlsbsnd swears himself hlue at the incon-
enience 70 which he Is put This happens all the
inc. Hlst such instances tho above What TO I ,
o about Il don't believe ycu can ever make an |
american anenable to law ard crdcr but do tn |
o0 who are so convincing. 10 make thoss who I