CAN YOU ENTERTAIN MEN?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17230, 22 December 1923, Page 7 (Supplement)

CAN YOU ENTERTAIN MEN?

Many women pride themselves on their knowledge of men and their little ways, and grow quite indignant if you suggest that they have anything to learn on the subject. But in truth their boast is usually without very much foundation. Again and again, when women attempt to cater for men, they make the most glaring and obvious mistakes. Perhaps the most frequent mistake is to imagine, because a guest happens to be of the male persuasion, that he must necessarily be possessed of an enormous appetite. When a feminine household entertains a man to dinner, it will prepare a prodigious repast, and feel quite disappointed when he gazes aghast at the quantity of food he is expected to consume On the other hand, men are usually far more fond of wine and cigarettes than are women. But how many women, .unless they are inveterate smokers themselves, know a good brand of cigarettes or cigars from a bad one? How many know the difference between “ Port from the Wood ’’ and port of the vintage variety? Flow many know whether Graves is sweeter than Sautor.ne or vice versa ? Another common error is to imagine that a man. merelv because he is a man, must necessarily be bored unless very young girls are invited to keep him amused. Many a party has ended in a fiasco by reason of this anxiety on the part of the hostess. Unless tho girls are exceptionally attractive, men are likely t-o be bored to death with them, and to prefer the conversation of maturer women. And then, again-—but there is no end to the recital. The only women who can really entertain men are those who have taken the trouble to study at first hand their odd. perverse, piquant peculiarities. JOYCE COLMER.