The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-02
ENTERTAINING
YOUR GUESTS
When Unexpected Visitors Arrive
Do Not Embanass by Obvious
Efforts to Impress Them With
Your Hospitality.


nation and confusion Should
two or three friends from out
OF town write 10 say that they will
stop in for luncheon on certain day.
or should Il relative drop in without
announcement it has in most homes
about the same effect that mild cy-
clone might have The housewife racks
her brain 10 coniure up nice menu.
the maid flies tEithcr and hither get
ting out the best china ana silver. and
In the kitchen the cook Is i'm state Of
excitement which merits the small
boys comparison Of her with ~ hen
on II hot griddle"
While the maid is polishing up the
silver and the housewife is comforting
with the cook the daughter OF the
house is taking stock of the flowers
available for the table or running out
to purchase something for the purpose
Even the small folks of the household
are worked up over the visitor. for
after they have been dispatched on
numerous errands they are scrubbed
and combed and inserted into stiflly
starchcd company clothes, in which
their misery is obvious and pathetic.
When ut last the guests arrive they
find every one hustercd and tired and
scarcely i'm Il state 10 enjoy their com.
pany. They are waited on by u nerv-
Gus, weary looking maid. their hostess
wears n preoccupied air and is obvi-
ouSly eXertng herself 10 entertain
them
Puzzled, then annoyed. they end by
giving the house Il wide berth the next
time they come 10 town.
Then there is the week end visitor.
who is asked to come for an informal
visit, taking-oh. mendacious phrase
pot luck" When she arrives the
house is found to be in the spic ana
span condition of the proyerbial new
pin. The most elaborate meals are
served, and the servants are con
stantly in attendance. Being mod
erately wise woman. she knows the
household has toifed for week to
achieve this effect. She is not hum.
plugged in the least ana resents the
idea that you should think she might
be SO easily taken in.
Even if one has only moderate means
it is possible TO entertain without IN
necessary fuss. system in conducting
the daily affairs of the house makes
this possible
Recently in visiting some friends |
had an opportunity Of seeing how well
this will work out" remarked an oh
serving woman i'm discussing this sub
ject.
"The very morning after | arrived
at the Blanks telegram came from
their youngest son (who was staying
with college friend i'm the next town
saying that he and his friend were
motoring over and would turn up, with
another man. at 1870.
"'What lucky thing that we have
that large piece Of cold beef said Mrs
Blank. placidly going on with her SOW
ing. Girls. will one of you make the
salad for cook. as she is rather busy
this morning.
"'All right, I'll 90 ana get the green
stuff too I've done the flowers al
ready said the elder daughter cheer
fully. ana rs she went through the
house | heard her telling the maid to
lay three extra places. ANA. so far rs
could see. that was all the extra
preparation they made.
when the three men arrived i'm high
spirits and with tremendous appetitcS
they found n hearty welcome and
good plain meal awaiting them
when saw how heartily they on
ioyed the simple fare-cold meat salad
from the garden. fruit. plain cake
and bread and cheese. with the most
delicious chocolate. | could not help
wondering whether one Of our prCtcn
tiouS luncheons would have been eaten
with so much gusto.
~ can't afford elaborate meals Mrs.
Blank said to me afterwards; but.
though the food is plain, there is al
ways plenty And every day, no mat
ter whether we have visitors or not. !
Il 4