The Washington herald., 1917-07-02
A TIP TO THE SUMMER GUESTS
By DOROTHY DIX.
The world,s HIghest Paid Woman writer.

These are the days when the sum-
mer visitor is abroad in the land seek
ing whom she may devour, and for
her behoof and benefit l have COM
] piled the following list OF don'ts.
First don't: Never go anywhere
without you have a specific, definite
invitation for a certain time, and
never invite yourself. II you have
met a woman during the winter who
| casually remarked that she wanted
you to come over to her summer
place sometime, don't write and re-
mind her of it, and ask IL it will
| be convenient for you to come next
| week. Such invitations are merely
the small change of conversation that
no one expects to have to pay over
! the counter. II anyone wants you
to come to visit her she will have no
| hesitation in letting you know the
| fact, and to offer yourself as an un-
| solicited guest Is nothing short of
highway robbery.
| Second don't: Never surprise any
| body by going unexpectedly to see
them, unless you are desirous of &C
\ Qulring enemies. 4 surprise visit is
| boomerang that invariably destroys
the individual who hurls it at her
defenceless friends. There are cir
4, cumstances continually arising In
every household that make it afflict-
| ing to have the most agreeable per-
| son on earth, or the best-beloved,
drop in suddenly and Unexpectedly.
Third don't: Bear in mind that in
vitations are not transferable, not
subject to imitation. When a hostess
| invites you she doesn't mean your
sister or your grandmother, and the
| invitation is not a family ticket,
| though there are people who seem
| to think so.
Fourth don't: Remember that every
| invitation has strict time limit,
and that you extend 1t at your peril.
| OF course when the time comes for
YOU to leave, your hostess will eN-
press a polite regret that you can
| not stay longer. Never do 1t. There
| is nothing SO easy as to wear out
, a welcome, and it is better to have
people weep because you are leaving
| than to have them moan because
they can't get rid OF you. A post
/ script to a visit is like a second
plate Of ice cream-it clogs on the
palate and never has the flavor that
the first helping did.
Fifth don't: Don't upset the house
hold YOU visit by indulging in per-
sonal idiosyncrasies. II you are not
willing to conform to the ways and
habits of the family, go to a hotel
where you can pay for the trouble
\ you make.
sixth don't: Don't be one OF the
dilatory guests who are never on time
for a single meal In novels break
| fast is always a movable feast, and
dinner appears as if by magic, al
ways perfectly cooked at any old
hour, but in real life 1t takes time
and trouble and forethought to get
meals together, and If you can come
down to breakfast until couple OF
hours after the ordinary time, ana
| IL you keep dinner waiting until the
soup Is burned and the roast Is drled
out, and the Hostess husband Is say
ing things, you may be very certain
| that it's a sure sign you Will new
visit at that house again.
Seventh don't. Don't be a wet
blanket As a general thing you
know beforehand pretty well what
YOU are letting yourself in for when
you go to a place, and so, If your
hostess Is a golf fiend, don't go unless
you mean to play golf; If she's keen
on cards, keep away unless you play
a rood game of bridge; IL she's ad-
dicted to picnics, stay at home. unless
/ you have a fondness for eating
mushy pies and have bugs crawl
over you out in the woods; If she is
automobile mad say, mo" IL motor
ing gives you the neuralgia. When
you accept an invitation, you are in
honor bound to do whatever you are
asked to do, and do 1t joyously and
look pleasant. No one has right
to pose as the skeleton of the feast.
Eighth don't. And for pity sake,
don't draw invidious comparisons. If
YOU are invited to sail on cat boat
don't discourse upon what a per-
fectly grand yacht the Croesus' have.
If a hay ride is arranged. don't
beguile the moments by recalling a
drive you once took on the box seat
Of a four in hand. II a beer and
sandwich supper is offered you, don't
speak Of your preference for terrapin
and champagne. Make the people
who are trying to entertain and amuse
you feel that you are having the
time of your life. That's how you pay
your way.
Ninth don't. Be sure not to give
your hostess too much of your society.
The conversation Of any human being
alive is best when put in small
packages. Go to your room and take
a nap. Read. Take solitary rambles.
Do anything that takes you out of
sight Of those whom you are visiting.
Tenth don't Don't sponge. Pro-
fvide yourself with the things you are
liable to need before you leave home.
There are no other xtIesta An the