Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-04-22
Preferences Book a Big Aid.

No milk, but a slice of lemon with
my tea" | said, for | had just returned
from Russia with an amended taste
"Oh, / must jot you down in my prefer
ences book" retm led my hostess. My
interest was aroused at once, and l de-
manded explanations.
You see" she said Il have a
wretched memory, and | cannot trust it
with anything for longer than twenty
four hours. | am never really certain
which of my own sisters will drink only
China tea, and if my dearest friend sim
ply hated mayonnaise l should be bound
to forget it, and Dick made such a fuss
when | gave him veal outlets three times
in one month that | was simply forced
to systematic things
Now, Margaret is one of the most per
feet hOstesses on my visiting list-she
has the right topic for every one, knows
every ones failngs and fancies and has
the wonderful gift of making her guests
be at their best selves. "A woman who
never makes mistake l once heard
her described. Margaret with a treach-
erous memory
1T is sheer meJhodical hard work,
she assured me when protested. Here
IS the secret and she produced from a
Chippendale desk dainty vellum bound
volume
1T appeared, at first glance, to be
series of casts for plays. Name followed
name for page after page. each with
crisp little paragraph against it, This
is my preferences book, in which | iot
down the likes and dislik es-and the lat
ter are the more impOrtant-Of nearly
every one | know. Take this entry:
Mrs. Bailey Manners: Eau de co.
logne, iilleted soles with white wine
sauce, no game, no dogs, China tea, no
pastry, fruit except grapes, no oysters,
jagged hare, the Dr0u5aam, avoid do
nestle servants
It's as clear as daylight When Mrs
Bailey Manners stays here-and we love
the dear old thing-she has a bottle Of
eau de cologne in her room / respect
her little weakness for fileted sole with
her special sauce, and for jagged hare
(which her husband refuses 10 have Oh
his table, l send the brougham TO meet
her instead of a car, for she is scared
to death of any chauffeur except her own
ten mile an hour fossil; pastry is never
offered her (she is considering her
weight, and grapes are never put near
her since a grape pip nearly killed her
with appendicitis. The last item is the
topic TO avoid, and if any one else starts
it | have to steer the conversation away
with all speed. One of her gardeners
and a wretched faotHau robbed the old
dear. while her nephew married her
French maid"
Further on / saw: "Col D.-Remind
Dick not to press wine on him Govt
Hot water bottle No made dishes.
Ouiniue in ROOM Chutney (speciaD.
Whist. not bridge. Avoid politics" |
could almost visualize the colonel. with
his govt and malaria, his absent minded
ness in forgetting his own Quiniue. his
heated political partsanships, which if
given their vent. would make intelligent
conversation an impossibiity.
Again / noticed this: ''Mariorie-No
scent. lemon pudding golden roll. and
marrons glaces Windows open Roses.
Do not seat her near George :. or Maui
rice L. Avoid the suffrage and golf han
dicaps.'
Ii was not difHcult to coniure mp the
fresh air loving cousin, whose tastes in
sweets had not developed since she dis
carded nursery teas and govcrnesS"s. ]
had noticed her readiness 10 quarrel with
at least one Of the two men referred 10
befo!e-he can be most irritating ont Of
sheer perversity-aud was not surprised
ut the seating caution. Seeing that
she had once come peril8usly near q per
sonal encounter with her best friend over
.egual rights" ] could grasp the signjf-
canoe Of the suffrage han, for Marjorie
is q heated debater and would wreck any
drawing room when really warmed up
Many entries were brief. Mrs. b
China tea Mrs J.-''Well done meat
Or. Keep him of shop-gets too de-
scriptivc AT times are fair samples.
IT'S a wonderful help" said Margaret
~ make up my house party and then
spend n good morning with my prefer
ences book Ny mems are compare