THE GOOD HOSTESS.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 98, 23 August 1933, Page 2

THE GOOD HOSTESS.

"BE A GOOD LsSTE^ER." How is il that a visit to some homos is a delight: to others it is more of a ■ inly? it is usually because of the hostess, it is her personality thai makes the vif-il a. pleasure. Sim does no! require <;•!'<•;;! ;rif!s nor a fine room. A irroup nf women meetinp; for afternoon lea in an expensively and beautifully fiu'iiislied hm-jifi may not enjoy il half as much as ;in afternoon tea parly in a humbler horn" if that home boasts a happy woman at die lira.l of it. The hostess do -s nol require to ho a fine conversationalist—in fact, the really

successful hostess is oflen more of a good listener than a good speaker—!hi| she must be prepared to take trouble and see that her quests enjoy the afternoon. if Ihey are ail very old friends her task is simpler: if I'ierc are sonic strangers who are per., hops making [heir first call her task is more difficult. But whether she knows them well or is just meeting them for the first time she must guide Hie conversation. Tf she has five or six visilors the natural thing is for them to talk in groups: she must see Ihal Ihey do not slay in the same groups all the afternoon. A visitor may he very anxious to talk to another, hut unless she knows her well

it is difficult for her to make Hie move: Hie hostess can either move round herself to break the group, or she can suggest a change. She can do fiat quite simply and naturally, ft is really better for a parly to talk in groups than to have just one spokeswoman

while the rest listen or feel called upon to make comment. But it is restful if now and again the hostess ran direct conversation so that only one person is talking at a time, for Hie sound of too many voices in the one room becomes tiring. Natu-.alJy the hostess sees that prickly subjects i are avoided. It often happens that some one subject may cause embarrassment to a vis. tor; <f the hostess knows of tin's she can sec that the conversation keeps away from that topic, hut should sho njure that so mj member has unwittingly hurt another

fby a remark—and this can happen, as every woman knows —then the liosj tess is put to the test, for she must j cover up that embarrassment. This may sound difficult, but if the hostess i will but be natural—so often hostcsI ses show signs of nervousness, ami that quickly puts their quests ill at ease—talk simply, show an obvious pleasure in having her guests, be a fiood listener, and remember that for thai afternoon success aepends upon her, then her par'y ,s bound to give pleasure.