HOSPITALITY, 193 



symbol, a sacrament and ought not to be degraded to the pamper- 

 ing- of the palate. Not irreverently we may say as does Paul of 

 the most sacred sacrament; "Have ye not houses to eat and drink- 

 in?" A few dishes perfectly cooked and daintily served, not ex- 

 ceeding in variety or number what can easily be made ready, this 

 is elegance — which means only that which is carefully chosen — as 

 well as simplicity ; the simple supper ol one kind of whatever is 

 oflFered, so simple that it does not differ materially from the ordi- 

 nary family meal, gives more pleasure to sensible guests than elab- 

 orate menus can give, and their simplicity would make hospitality 

 more frequent. 



Wanted, women who give such hospitality as a regular part 

 of the privilege of life ! One such woman I count among my 

 friends. In feeble health, never without pain, with shattered nerves, 

 she keeps one maid of all-work, who cannot, however, be of such 

 service as a daughter, denied to her, might be in the house. She 

 believes in simplicity and practices it— as she has had at her supper 

 table in groups of from two to eight, for the most part, a hundred 

 and forty-eight guests in the ten months of this year in which 

 she has been at home. She has had these guests without weari- 

 ness to herself and without a sense of burden to her guests, be- 

 cause her aim has been to have her table served with only the few 

 dishes which the family would have had and have each dish per- 

 fect of its kind, and to have the table service perfect in its spot- 

 lessness and in the one spray of flowers or potted plant which 

 has been its decorations. The test of her hospitality has been not: 

 Did they like my cooking or my housekeeping, but has there been 

 good talk? Did we draw near together and feel the touch of 

 human sympathy? Did I give myself freely for the joy of my 

 guests? Such has hospitality been to her, and it has strengthened 

 the friendly bonds of an entire community. 



Superfluity and superabundance are a burden to hostess and 

 guest and in bad taste. Mrs. Ogden Goelet rightly reproved a girl 

 who excused a gross extravagance by saying: "Well, you know, 

 I can afford it," by replying, "That principle would excuse your 

 cook for oversalting the omelet because salt is cheap." 



Wanted, more women who can hear as calmly as one hostess 

 did the remark of an evening guest: "Oh, I could have company 

 often, too, if I were only willing to put them off with chocolate 

 or coffee and cake !" 



But even simple refreshments are unnecessary on many occa- 

 sions where they are usually served. We need most in social in- 

 tercourse mental stimulus, conversation upon the great subjects of 



