South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-03
ARE YOUR GUESTS
|NCONS|DERATE /?
Many Summer Entertainers
Find ThOughtIeSS Friends
Are Real Burdens When Wis.,
iting-"Never Again." Say
HoSteSSeS.
BY ADA PATTERSON.

Summer vacation visits are over and
the stage of talking about them has
begun. Upon the conclusions formed
in the last stage depends whether the
crop OF invitations fer next summer
will be large or small. Also whether
we will receive many or few for the
winter holidays.
A visit isn't of the same family of
events as a stay at a hotel, though
many persons so regard IL. Those so
regarding iC are the guests, not the
host or hostess, as some of these con-
versational aftermaths of summer
visits prove.
Last summer at a house party in
one Of the hospitable country homes
half way between New York and Bos-
ton, l heard frank man and a can
did woman congratulate each other
that this time they were the entertain
ed instead OF entertainers. Said the
woman: I'm going to sell my place
on Long Island I've been driven out
of II by my thoughtless friends I
think l have the most inconsiderate
circle Of friends that ever camped on
woman. | invite them TO my cot
tage for a week END, expecting them
TO arrive with a dress suit case or a
telescope bag to hold a change of
linen ond perhaps evening clothes, but
every one OF them brings a trunk.
That means the cost of paying an ex-
pressman and long delay before din
ner. for trunks always take their own
time TO arrive. But this is what
| made me make up my mind to move.
Charges Ride to Hostess.
"A man friend came out for the
! Sunday. I don't keep a horse, nor yet
an automobile. If my friends want
the air they they have to do as l do
walk. My man guest didn't relish
the idea of walking. Twice I sug-
! gested it and twice he postponed the
! pleasure. AT last he said: Wouldn't
you like to take a drive?' l thanked
! to direct him to the livery stable and
he came back in gay little cart with
a high stopper. 1 enjoyed the drive
very much, and the memory Of it,
until l got the bill from the livery
stable. He had charged the horse and
! carriage hire to me-"
Strange he walked to the stable"
said the man who was having vaia-
ton from entertaining. MY guests
telephone everywhere. II seems to
me they visit me to telephone long
distance messages. Not one of them
ever offers to pay the toll"
A popular hostess complained that
her guests were lazy about rising.
They Inconvenience her and each
other because the hathtub in this
country house, being the only one.
| must be used in rotation. II shall
never invite one Of them again." she
said. IF they have millionaire friends
who have a bathroom for each bed
room they may go there and get up at
kany hour they choose. Or if there are
none of these wealthy friends they
nay go to a hotel and pay for their
accommodations, IL they can"
"Never Again for Her.
l.
pftality said, as she flowed out of
the Grand Central station in New
York With the rest of the stream of
returning humanity:
I'm all tired out. I've never given
an invitation in my life that wasn't ac-
cepted."
Unpleasant aftermaths Of a pleasant
summer. these criticisms, and they've
a moral to past and prospective
guests. Remember that you are not
| at a hotel. You are not paying for
your large room with the field scented
breeze billowing the curtains. your
fresh country food. and your maps on
the .piazzas or long spins on country
roads. You pay for them only APP
proximately and that in the coin Of
consideration.
Consideration Il Appreciated.
| Consideration involves a hearty ap-
probation of what is offered you, and
an exact conforming TO the routine OF
the house. If the family rises at five.
and ii is your habit to rise at nine,
you must leave your wooing sheets at
five. II the family dimes at twelve
| and you are accustomed to dining at
J seven. you must eat your midday din
| ner with a smiling face even though
with a protesting stomach. II you
don't wish to do this there Is an easy
| alternative. Decline the next invita-
ton. Their disappointment may not
be as overwhelming as you fancy. And
that brings me TO the second moral
for guests. Don't think that you are
always wanted when you are asked.
| The tired hostess grumbling her way
| out of the Grand Central station is not
| an uncommon type. She is sister Of
the woman who gives Christmas pres
| ents' because she has to-, a wicked
dissertation OF a beautiful day and per-
version Of a tender custom.
And for the hostess, she has COM
mand Of the situation. The moral for
her is, Be not insincere. If you don't
! want to entertain a guest don't invite
him. Unwelcome bread is as bitter as
a grulging holiday gift is undesired.
Don't fill your house with people. and
| then complain that you are keeping a
hotel. They wouldn't be there If you
| hadn't asked them Don't speak a
word that makes parasites of them
and a hypocrite OF you.