VISITING AND VISITORS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

VISITING AND VISITORS

HINTS TOR HOSTESSES. No matter whether you are a guest or a hostess, you have one thing in common—probably more but certainly one. You both examine the guest-room with care. The first consid 'ration is the bed itself; does it sag? Is it too severely straight? Seldom indeed does a hostess sleep in her own sp- bed; therefore she may, quite unwittingly, bo condemning her best friend to hours of discomfort. A weary-eyed guest who murmurs tha she never does sleep well the first ngh in a strange bed may be politely telling her hostess that rhe has not much expectation of sleeping well the second night. So let the hostess test the bed before the guests arrive, seeing that the springs are . ither too tight nor too slack for comfort. A pair of blankets is sufficient, parif an eiderdown is provided, but an extra blar 7 -ot may bo placed in a conspicuous place in the room in case the guest feels chilly. Then conics that important matter, the book shelf or rack, without which the guestroom is indeed incomplete. It does not take much time to change the books to the tastes of the guests, but it gives to each person much pleasure to find something that he or she could enjoy. When a man guest is expected add a detective story to the shelf; never mind if your guest is a university professor of profound solemnity or a gay young man ab ‘own. No man can resist the temptation of following the career of a criminal. Remove the rather modern novels of Michael Arlen placed for the delight of an ultra-modern Miss before Aunt May comes—substitute for them a novel of Stratton Porter’s or O. Douglas. But there are stock voluinop an anthology of verse, a book of essays, a copy of a'ffiovel of Victorian days, and your "uests will enjoy renewing the acquaintance of old friends. Cigarettes and matches are welcomed by all except Aunt May, but even she likes to find a gay tin containing sweets. Another addition to the guest-room is a sewing box well stocked with needles and cotton, darning needles, and a t rd or two of darning silk, and do not forget a vase of fresh flowers.