Evening star., 1940-05-29
to
Overnight
Guests
Giving Own Room
Is Never Expected
OF Any Hostess
BY EMILY POST.

Etiquette may at times seem un-
reasonably severe in some Of Its ex-
actions Of courtesy, but 1t would
never go to the extreme suggested
in the following letter: "1n our
apartment we have only one bed
room and sofa in the living room
which can be converted into a
double bed. It is only on rare oc-
casions that we ever have overnight
guests, but when we do, should we
offer to put them up in our bedroom
and ourselves take the living room
bed, or is it sufficiently hospitabie
to take for granted that the living
room is our only guest room and
make no pretense Of giving up our
room to them?"
AS I have said above, giving up
her own room is something that no
hostess is ever expected to do. 1t is
not question of courtesy but OF
sharing used things. Your hairbrush,
your bed, the apple you are eating
it just isn't done! And certainly 1t
could never be expected, and very
rarely accepted, should you offer it.
AS a matter Of fact, having any
one stay with you must be an ex-
ceptional situation, because you
couldn't very well ask any one to
come as a real visitor without hav-
ing a spare room.
Dear Mrs. Post: I am only 20
but have been working In an Office
for the past few years. would like
to take a cruise for my first real
vacation. This would be for two
weeks, and mother thinks it is
wrong for a young woman OF my
age to go alone like this. can't
find any other friend who can get
away the same two weeks. and feel
sure there will be others also taking
their vacations alone. At least I've
gotten mother to the point OF agree
ing to let me do whatever you
think.
Answer: There is nothing unusual
about young woman-a young
business woman especially-going
alone on a personally conducted"
cruise, and since you certainly sound
like self-reliant young woman, l
am taking it for granted that you
are going to be perfectly well be-
haved and your own best chaperon.
AS matter of fact, most Of the
steamship lines provide cruise host
esses whose particular duty is to
look after just such young people,
to see that they meet other young
people on board, and that they have
a chance to join these others in
whatever amusements are provided.
Dear Mrs. Post: One of the men
in our office, a superior Of mine, left
our company recently to take a
position in another city. When he
came to my desk to say good-by,
there was the awkward moment OF
not knowing what to do about
shaking hands. I thought he should
have offered his hand. He didn't.
viii you tell me If this was an error
on my part? Ordinarily know that
a woman extends her hand to man,
but as this man was my business su-
perior hesitated to 60 by the social
rules.
Answer: You are quite right. even
though he may have expected you
to offer your hand. 1t Is better In
a case like this to be over reserved
than assuming.
Mrs. Post is sorry she can no
longer answer personal letters.
She is glad, however, to have
many printed slips on a variety
of subjects to offer to her readers.
Today's slip is "Names and Sig
natures" Be sure to send
3-cent stamped, self addressed
envelope with your request to
Mrs. Post, in care of The Evening
90