Economical Hospitality.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 56

Economical Hospitality.

In nothing does the Frenchwoman show her economical spirit more than in the way of entertaining. She firmly refuses to have any promiscuous parties or even a promiscuous dinner guest. She does not proyide for more than the exact members of her family, and her larder seldom holds more than the day's provisions. She gives dinner parties at stated times and seasons, just as she gives tea parties or evening receptions, but an impromptu party in Paris is unheard of in a well-regulated French family. The house is not prepared for such a thing. The drawing room is swathed in striped cotton covers, and the shutters are closed, excepting only the reception days. The servants have something better to do than to serve afternorm tea and dust sitting rooms. The cook cleans and washes, the housemaid sews and irons, consequently two French women servants do the work of three English ones. Every “frill” of household life is done away with when there is no company, thereby great economy is practised both in wear and tear and service. A visitor in the house is even rarer than a party; for one thing, French people like to have each their own bedroom, and a spare bad room is a luxury only possible to rich people. Then, again, a stranger >3 not welcomed to the intimacy of family life, and y«t again resident visitors are not conducive to economy.—By M. E, Clarke, in the “Pall Mall Gazette."