Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03

they even venture to be witty. when
| am at the Davenports','' said the little
mousy woman in gray, II am a surprise
to myself. I can talk so easily and can
always think Of a reply or an apt story.
| come away so satisfied with myself,
feeling I am really clever In the prac-
tice of successful hospitality people are
judiciously let alone. Most women fuss
over their guests too much. If they
choose to talk WE'LL If they prefer to be
silent pray do not force them to talk.
If they want to depart allow them to 20
without those insistent efforts to detain
which many think a manifestation OF
hospitality, but which are really a great
bore, akin to the perils of blockade run
ming in the civil war.
One formidable obstacle in the way of
exercising hospitality arises from a false
notion that things are necessary; things
to eat. things to look at-carpets, furni-
ture, silver, glass. II can't invite any
one until get a new dining-room rug
Our parlor chairs are too shabby to
them. but I am not strong enough to
get up big dinner" Hospitality not
only does not depend upon these things,
but it is something far removed from
them. Indeed. its finest flavor is often
found amid the plainest surroundings
since they who have beautiful homes may
be filled with pride of possession ut
terly Incompatible with true hospitality.
No Elaborate Plans.
If one desires to make hospitality IA
nous it is not necessary to plan elab-
crate menus or conjure up novel dishes.
When people are away from the mad
ding crowd, where they dare to be honest
and natural, the majority will confess to
a fondness for plain. hearty food. You
know that dainty little Miss Spirituelle.
.,
wings and. humming-birds tongues Most
women bring on a nervous headache
when they are to entertain her by trying
to think up some dainty to tempt her
manifestly delicate appetite. Would you
guess that when l want to bring her to
our house have only to telephone that
we shall have beefsteak smothered in
onions? And did you know that when
Blank was a member of a not remote
friend who lived in a little box OF a
house on And-so-forth street: Harry, if
your wife can have a boiled dinner to-
morrow night I'd like to come out. 1
haven't had anything good to eat since
l was al your house last" If YOU are a.
woman longing to make your home a
popular place and not knowing quite how
to do 1t, can you not, by dint of patience
and Intelligent effort, learn to make
some one thing so we'll as to create a
reputation for it? 1t does not matter in
the least what it is-chcken pie. or
gingerbread, or baked beans, or corned-
beef hash. Any woman can so absolutely
master one thing that people will say:
IF you ever get an invitation to eat
Mrs. Baltimore's fried oysters don't let
such a trifle as a previous engagement
prevent you from accepting This phase
of the matter has been dwelt upon; not
because the pleasures of the table form
the chief element Of successful hospital
ity. but because. though a. woman may
put forth many other objections. her re-
luctance to establish a gracious open-door
policy arises mainly from wrong notions
and absurd standards as to what she will
give her guests to eat. II some women
could get an illumination on this one
point you and ! would be forthwith in.