[Manners and social customs 711]

The Invitation.—­One may write to her friend:  “Won’t you give us the pleasure of entertaining you from Friday afternoon to Monday?  The 3:45 train will bring you here in time for tea.  There is to be a musical in the evening; an automobile ride is planned for Saturday afternoon, to show you the beauties of our vicinity, and there is to be the usual Saturday evening dance at the hotel.  A train leaves here at 10:30 Monday morning, which will take you back to the city in ample time for lunch.  Hoping to have the happiness of seeing you on Friday, I am,” etc., etc.

This not only suggests to your friend at what time she is expected to arrive and depart, but gives her an idea of what she should bring with her in the way of clothes.  One should always take her prettiest gowns that will be suitable to the entertainments proposed for her pleasure—­for a hostess naturally wishes to have her guests make a good appearance.  From four to six is the number generally asked to a small house-party, since the usual summer cottage has few guest rooms.  The guests are, if possible, evenly divided as to sex, and a hostess may, with perfect propriety, arrange that the men of the party shall be lodged at a hotel, coming over to breakfast with their entertainer.

Amusements.—­Some amusements are always provided for the visitors at a house-party.  Often a dinner-party is planned for Sunday, in which several other guests are included.  Men who cannot leave business for even a week-end often come out Sunday for a dinner and a breath of country air.  Now that automobiles are as plenty as black-berries the railroad train can be ignored.  Young people living in the country should take advantage of this method of entertaining their city friends, who will find the change delightful in summer, and will gladly reciprocate by inviting them to the city during the social season.  Remember that a hearty hospitality, a sincere joy in seeing your friends, and the fresh milk, eggs and fruits you can offer will do much toward counterbalancing your lack of “city conveniences.”

The Hostess’s Arrangements.—­The hostess should arrange to have the guests met at the station.  She will naturally try to have them arrive by the same train, is possible; but she must see that their baggage arrives at the house nearly as soon as they do, that they may at once remove the soil of travel and dress for the evening meal.  She may or she may not meet them at the station, according to her own convenience, but she must be ready to receive them when they arrive at the home.  If the journey has been long, a cup of tea may be offered; otherwise they are at once shown to their rooms.  The hostess does this for her women guests, the host or a servant for the men.

If a visitor is so unfortunate as to miss her train she should immediately telegraph or telephone her hostess, explaining the accident, and saying she will arrange to have herself conveyed from the station to the house on her arrival by a later train.  Of course, the hostess will not permit this, but will send some vehicle to meet the next train.