The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-14

4 T ALL seasons of the year. but In A summer especially. the weekend ( party has become a popular form of entertainment.
 True. We may not all call 1t by that somewhat formal name: with many It Is just inviting few friends out to our country or seashore home to spend Sum- day. But the principle Is the same. and the duties devolving on hostess or guest identical
 Naturally, every hostess desires to be a popular one. She wants her friends to have good time. but somehow, though she goes to untold trouble, even ex- pense. they never do. There may be a certain stiffness that never quite wears off. or, perhaps-and this is more prob- able-the guests are SO overburdened with kindness that they are physically worn out and mentally satiated.
 Though we are told a hostess Is born. not made. this is far from being true always. Of course, inborn tact Is a big factor in success. but tact may be cul- tivated. and knowledge of little points that make or mar a guests comfort can only be acquired by experience or sug- gestion.
 As the first Is a somewhat painful teacher. 1t may prove helpful to have little talk on what makes the dif- ference between successful or un- successful hostess.
 The former will. in tho first place. choose her guests wisely. If you do not wish explosions do not mix dis cordant elements in a house party ba ;,,
 Not long ago a rather clevef maga- zine story told of a hostess with a malapropos faculty of ignoring family feuds, who scheduled two members of warning factions as dim ner partners. The fiction end was matrimony and general reconcilia- tion; in real life it would have un- doubtedly been an uncomfortable din ner hour for two if not more of the guests.
 Then limit the time one Is expected to s'c..-. This once was considered the greatest breach of hospitality, but now is recognized as the sign of hostess conversant with the ways of the world. It Is well to inclose in the note of invitation railroad time- table. or a trolley car schedule If the station is at distance 1t is bet ter to say what trains will be met.
 By the way. in meeting guests 1t is not at all necessary for the host or hostess to go to the station-unless, of course. they must walk to the house, when some member of the family should be on hand. Usually the carriage is sent with just the coachman, though if L. t. for one of the family to go in it.
 The host. or his representative, should ask for the checks at the station and arrange Tor all baggage being taken to the house.
 In most country house parties. espe- cially informal ones. we have not yet adopted the foreign custom of having the guests ushered into the drawing room. Instead. the hostess is very apt to be al the door when the carriage drives up, with cheery, cordial Well come for all
 In the same way. it is quite GUS tomary for her to show her guests to the rooms assigned to them, instead of delegatinS 1t to servants. as is the more formal habit.
 This assigning of rooms requires much thought. It is well, if possible. to give each one separate room but this is rarely practicable. except with the very rich. In doubling up. however, aim 10 put friends together Also. if part of the company may be allowed to room alone, let it be the men of the party. This is a reversal of the universal rule place aux dames," but most men dis like roommate, and are much more apt to make their dislike felt by their hostess than are women.
 A guest room need not be handsome. but it should have the little convent ences that mean so much to ones ink, writing paper, and a card telling when the mail goes out on the desk (some hostesses even furnish supply of stamps), bureau drawers spotlessly clean and cleared of all personal be- longings, few interesting books, in Al,,dins short stories and volume of