192 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the house, made a great drawing room out of all proportion to the 

 rest of the house, spent all his money, upset his household. Alas ! 

 the end of the empire came, but the emperor never ! Surely the 

 world does need well-tried individuals, each oi whom has his own 

 value, his own trademark which distinguishes him from every 

 other person, and that, joined to the distinctive qualities of others, 

 make the wealth and strength of the community. 



The individual draws this unique something which dis- 

 tinguishes him from others from the ''assemblage oi memories and 

 practices which constitute the home where emanates an atmos- 

 phere in miniature." Destroy all this, as Mr. Wagner says, "and 

 we indeed dry up the sources of character and sap the strength of 

 public spirit." Each home gives its own moral imprint, has a 

 unique personality which no other home nor place has. To give 

 a share of this unique quality and individuality of the home to 

 guests is to> bestow rare and real value. O, the wearying same- 

 ness of the modern city houses ! You may tell before the door 

 is open the appearance of the hall and reception room and almost 

 of any piece of furniture in them. It is impossible to give genuine 

 hospitality where nO' gift of individuality is given. True hospi- 

 tality admits to the soul of the house. "Everything that a true home 

 contains is bathed in an ether of personality." That personality of 

 the home, true hospitality shares with its guests. 



The spirit of true hospitality has also simplicity as a cardinal 

 principle. Simplicity consists in putting aside non-essentials and 

 emphasizing the essentials. The absence of non-essentials in the 

 home may make a beautiful simplicity and be an aid in hospitality. 



An elegant home, fine furniture, costly china and glass, super- 

 fine linen, non-essentials of hospitality, and which are always the 

 shell for the real soul, often interfere with true hospitality. Joy 

 is the purpose of hospitality, to give pleasure, and ostentation is its 

 great foe. 



To invite guests in order that they may admire ourselves or 

 our possessions is a sin against hospitality ; while preparations may 

 be necessary to^ make guests comfortable and that the skill of the 

 housekeeper may not be discredited, the charm of hospitality lies 

 in the fact that it is no burden and that the ordinary family life 

 is not toO' much disturbed. 



The principle of simplicity covers also the supply of food for 

 guests. Food is a symbol as well as a nourishment. In hos- 

 pitality it is a means and should never be an end, a means of getting 

 together upon the plane of natural appetite, that great equalizer. 

 All are equal at the table, 3'et every meal given in hospitality is a 



