Evening star., 1936-06-07


also had notices made of strips of
quotations wrapped around clear
candy enclosed in fringed paper.
Every one praised the homelike
attractiveness of the studio. which
was informally gay with its print
curtains and slip covers (made by
Mary, of course). and many lighted
candles and pots of pink geraniums on
the window sills In fact, this and re-
peated parties were such success
that no invitations were more sought
after than theirs. In trying to find a
reason for the real charm of their
parties, can think of nothing except
that John and Mary themselves had
joyous "kindling" quality that seemed
to make every one bright and spar
king, just as kindling turns grey logs
into warming fire.
They were both so genuinely glad
you had come, and they had knack
of making their own gladness in some
way contagious. remember one eve
ming when certain brilliant man, who
was also a gourmet, found himself
placed next to one whom he considered
the stupidest woman in town. Mary
passed by. noticed his eye on clock,
and said: "If you want the best re-
ceipt in the world for Chinese curry
or creme brdlee, perhaps YOU can
persuade Mrs. Brown to give them to
you. though" - she added, with a
twinkle in her eye she has kept
them secret from every one elser
If it hadn't been for this quick
witted perception of Mary's, these
two might never have found a subject
of conversation congenial to both, and
Mary's party might have gone down
in their memories as deadly evening.
This knack of finding ground in
common between people of alien in
terests is by no means as easy to fol-
low as it may sound. Most people who
attempt it overdo it and sound like
the barkers of side shows at county
fair. John, too, had talent. He could,
for instance. adroitly unloose Mr..
Snobley from the side of Mrs. Tup-
pence, by fortuitously walking up
with Mr.. Hiborn, who he suspected
would find her the most charming
woman in the room. That left MIR.
Snobley free to be taken in the direc-
ton of Mrs. Minta Gold.
Throughout the years of the great
imitation, what one had seemed to
most people to count much more than
what one was, but not so to John and
Mary. 1t is true, they prospered. too,
and moved into a big house and gave
formal dinners. which began in the
drawing-room with caviar and pro-
gressed through terrapin and canvas
backs to a fine old brandy, served to
the gentlemen in the smoking room
at the end of dinner, in big soap
bubble glasses.
Today their parties are midway be-
tween, but their popularity has never
changed. Whether the food they prof
fered was bread. even with the crust
left on, and butter and tea, or whether
it might be terrapin, canvasback and
champagne. does not matter bit. 1t
is they themselves, and their warm
appreciative friendliness which draws
people to wherever they live, and to
whatever parties they happen to give.
The gift for people is much the same
as the gift for arranging flowers. In
each case it is a matter of arranging
them in such way as to present them
at their best. There is all the difference
between liking to select people as the
buyer for a shop selects goods to sell
to the public, and choosing a group
for this party or that because you
know that they will be agreeable to
one another.
The unsuccessful hostess gathers
lot of people exactly as they happen
to come; sunf1ower next to violet,