Miss Mary Allis]

The most ardent country advocate, however, cannot deny that in some respects such a life has certain expenses not entered in the budget of families living in town.  First and foremost, if father has his city job there is the monthly commutation book as well as the occasional railroad fares when other members of the family go to the city.  There is no argument about it.  These are added expenses but they are more than offset by reductions in the fixed charges.  Also by selecting where you will live, transportation costs can be controlled.

Expenditures incident to entertaining are another matter.  One of the pleasantest things about living out-of-town is the week-end.  From Friday night or Saturday noon until Monday morning the city is forgotten.  Of course, part of the time, you will want to share these days with friends still cooped in apartments.  Week-end guests vary the picture and are worth both the effort and money entertaining them involves.  But don’t think that will be all.  No country-living family is safe from either friends or casual acquaintances in these days of motor cars.  They will appear most unexpectedly and assume that you are as delighted to see them as they are to have you as an objective for a Sunday afternoon motor trip.

At first it is flattering to have people come so far just to see you.  Then the novelty of it wears a little thin and you begin to realize that frequently Monday morning finds the refrigerator swept bare.  In time it will dawn on you that part of the up-keep of a country home revolves around feeding your self-invited guests.  It would not be so bad if they would telephone ahead so that you could be prepared, but that is not one of the rules of the game.  Instead, it is taken for granted that living in the country, you have a never-failing pantry.  The solution lies in preparedness.  From early spring until about Thanksgiving time, have in reserve some simple supplies for an acceptable afternoon tea or Sunday night supper.

One household of my acquaintance always has large pitchers of milk, a supply of crackers, two or three kinds of cheese, a platter of sandwiches, home-made cake and a hot drink.  As many as wish are welcome to come at the last moment for this standard Sunday night supper.  Its simplicity has earned this repast a wide reputation and it is considered a great lark to go there.  Incidentally, this truly rural supper is so inexpensive that it matters little how many are on hand Sunday evenings.  Also the chore of washing dishes after the last guests have gone is reduced to lowest terms, likewise an item not to be overlooked.