New-York tribune., 1912-03-13
ONE Of THE FAMILY
This Fiction Is Not Always Ap-
preCiated by the Guest.

I'm, sure | don't see why" observed the
,,,nau who goes a-visiting. 1T is consid-
- compliment TO be treated as 'one
:, the family / am convinced that many
,os,sSs adopts that attitude toward the
..ranger within her gates merely as cloak
- cover her own laziness. l am sure that
nv spirits always fall when am assured
co,neldent with my entrance within the
,oTtsls that we aren't going to make any
e,ss for YOU we believe IN treating com
any lust like home folks For I know
,hsn lust what to expect.
"Nov. most Of my life is spent among my
am people, where | am treated as one of
,bs family. because l am one. But when
% a-vIsiting I like a change; boldly con-
tsss that ! like to have a fuss made over
,ne like 10 have my preterences-my
;aiosvperasies, IL you will-consulted when
NV hostess plans the menu. l am over
,,ysd when the housekeeper remembers my
Aversion to onions, likewise my weakness
for raised biscuit l am not at all averse
n feeling that my arrival has been looked
,o,,vard 10 I'm the nature of gala occa-
sion. that the guest room has been cleaned
and swept i'm my honor, and fresh bunch
AZ flowers is ornamentng the bureau. es-
rec,slly Tor myself. l know 1t is trouble
10 nv hostess TO take her party dresses out
a, the closet, likewise the baby's layette
tror the bureau drawers, but II fiatters me
a think that the pleasure OF my society
,s considered worthy the extra thought.
oI like 10 have the children arrayed IN
e,ean dresses as the hour of my approach
comes nigh II is also gratifying to Hnow
that my hostess has planned her time dur
,ng nv stay to be as far as possible at
INV disposal: that she has arranged for
few choice spirits to meet me, as if | were
IL, truth somewhat of a parsonage, instead
Of merely an old school friend, for whom
one doesn't have to bother.
NOW. when / am in truth in my own
home I don't expect people to be looking
ont for me; on my own ground / can look
out for myself. If the food on the table
doesn't suit me I can mention it and order
something else. If have an overwhelming
desire TO spend the afternoon indoors, out
doors, at a concert or even home in bed
can do so, with no questions asked. But
when one is under some one else's roof,
even though that some one else be an old
familiar friend. one must silently bow ones
will To that of the hostess and follow her
lead. In consequence the hostess who
treats her guest like one Of the family
meanwhile pursuing the even tenor of her
way amid housekeeping, marketing. super
yising the dressmaker and attending 20 her
own engagements. is very likely 10 make
the poor guest feel herself but super
numerary. who might just as we'll have
stayed at home Be she bored at any par
tcular moment, she is not at liberty 10
suggest that the chauffeur take her out for
spin. Though she be assured that the
place is Liberty Hall and she is free TO do
exactly as she likes, she must tread ever
so gingerly lest inadvertently she interfere
with some cherished tradition Of the house
hold
7 rAs a matter Of fact when a hostess is
eomplacently fattering herself that she con-
fers an honor by treating the guest as one
Of the family let her ask herself II she is
not In erect freeing herself from the bur
dens of hospitality, meanwhile leaving the
helpless visitor enthralled In the letters of
Euesthood, although deprived Of its de-
lightfuI compensations."