THE "AT HOME" DAY. HAT TO DO AND HOW TO

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1672, 16 December 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE "AT HOME" DAY. HAT TO DO AND HOW TO

12 pleasant courtesies of social ire sometimes in danger of beargotten in the storm and stress c present-day existence. 3re are many little points which mly learnt by experience, but l are important to us all if we to show that we desire to retain riendship of those we love and lr. tie entertainments, within reach ist peorJe, are of great omportsometimes" in bringing about extremely happy state of things n as doing a good turn. i "At Home" day is a form of tainment which is useful in households —in fact, it is inble' if a circle of friends is to ;pt up, and there is a general nt only to do all the work. 3 mistress of a house is the perno matter in what class of life nay be) who should see to all ittle refinements of the home, er should fall the duty of seethe flowers are arranged with rtistic touch which a true lover wers alone can give, that, morethey are not put into the water leaves left on the stalks in the •, thereby creating, almost at an unpleasant odour of decaying vegetation. Then arrange the room, whether large or small, so that, if a number af people are called at the same time, the space at your disposal \h Dot filled up with little tables or stands of plants, but plenty of seats,

so arranged as to make conversation between two people possible, but not placed round the room, as if there was someone expected shortly to address the meeting. On the "At Home" day, in small households, it is well, if possible, to have no cooking for the early dinner, as this leaves the maid free to make dainty little dishes of rock cakes, scones, and home-made cake. The hostess, having seen that h e r drawing-room is looking its very best, her silver rubbed up to perfection point, her flowers disposed about the apartments to th e greatest advantage, can then feel she is giving of her best, and can await the arrival of her guests with equanimity. I may now, perhaps, without wandering too far from my original subject, allude to what is perhaps the most difficult point in the "At Home" day —that is, the question of introductions. "Introductions," it has been wisely said, "are a great power in social life; they are the basis upon which all acquaintances are founded." Now, we all have probably come across certain difficulties on this point. A person may come to your house whom you may like and esteem personally, but you know that another friend, who may happen to call at the same, time, particularly wishes not to be introduced to him or her. Personally, I think that is one of the drawbacks to an "At Home" day, as you naturally do not wish either to be rude to friend No. 1 or to force an acquaintance which is not desired by friend No. 2. I think, in a case like this (and I have known some extremely awkward cases of the kind), 1 should advise what may be termed "a policy of masterly inactivity," or, in plain English", do nothing. Entertain both as courteously as you can, but do not make the introduction. On "'At Home" days there is almost a necessity to make introduction Tin the case of new arrivals, and if it is a small "At Home" days ,(not a large "At Home," where it is not customary to make the hostess introduces her guests either directly or indirectly, (as They otherwise would have, a very tnill time of it.