The "house-party," as the week-end visit is now often styled, is a
comparatively recent addition to social entertainments. It is a fashion
imported from England, and a very good one. It is the "from Saturday to
Monday" visit, and so universally recognized that during the summer extra
trolley cars and railroad trains are in use to convey resorters and their
guests to summer homes in the country.
Invitations to a house-party are given several weeks in advance, and great
care should be taken to invite those who are congenial and will "mix
well," since where a few are thrown together congeniality is absolutely
essential to success. The invitations are informal; the length of the
visit definitely fixed; even the train by which the visitor is expected to
arrive and leave is mentioned, that there may be no misunderstanding.
[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.
The matter of guest rooms and their conveniences, proper furnishings,
etc., will be taken up in a later section.
[712 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
What Is Expected of Guests.--One does not invite guests to make them
uncomfortable, therefore it is best not to expect them to rise for an
early breakfast. If they are expected to present themselves, as late an
hour as possible should be named. But they may be served with coffee,
rolls, fruit and any other easily prepared breakfast dish whenever they
please to arise, being given to understand that a substantial breakfast is
the price of the extra "forty winks." Guests at a house-party are expected
to entertain themselves, among themselves, to a considerable extent. They
may walk, or row, or play croquet or tennis, or read or gossip or play
cards, while the hostess attends to her domestic duties. If the party is
large, or if but one or no servants are kept, the women should quietly
attend to their own rooms, making up the bed and picking up their own
belongings. Whether they may do this or not depends upon circumstances of
which they must judge.
The most enjoyable house-parties are given in these roomy old houses with
broad verandas, surrounded with lawn and garden. But this need not deter
those having less delightful surroundings from offering their best to
their friends. It is not so much the elegance of what we offer as the
manner in which it is offered that makes our friends remember their visit
with pleasure.
Dress at Week-End Visits.--Women wear a simple tailored suit while
traveling, with white waist or silk skirt to match. If the weather is
warm, white duck, pique or linen skirts with white shirts are worn
mornings; afternoons, foulard, or some of the fine and dainty fabrics
suited to the season. For evening, nothing is prettier than white for the
young--and, indeed, "everybody wears white." By change of accessories, the
same white gown may be made to do for the two evenings. If an automobile
trip is part of the entertainment, one should take an ulster or long loose
coat and veil.
The woman's greatest trouble is to carry a second hat--something she may
need under some circumstances, though the fashion of going bareheaded
helps considerably. But if the entertainment includes a garden party, a
tea or reception, she must have a hat. The trunk is uncalled for, and the
suitcase is disobliging. What shall she do?
Her best plan will be to have a becoming shape covered with black tulle or
malines, and a made bow attached to it to travel in. On arrival, she will
detach the bow and pin on a couple of plumes, an aigrette, or flowers,
converting it into a dress hat.
Men's Wear.--The man wears the ordinary business suit for travelling, sack
or cutaway. He wears in the country in the morning a suit of flannel,
tweed or cheviot, a straw hat and tan shoes. His shirt may be of striped
madras or linen, with a white collar. The cutaway coat is correct for
ordinary afternoon wear, with a white waistcoat, white shirt and
four-in-hand tie. This takes the place in summer of the frock coat, which
is the formal day wear. He will seldom, if ever, have occasion for a dress
suit at a week-end visit in summer. Of course, the size of the party and
the gayeties in which one will participate have a bearing on the dress
question, but the tendency is for men's dress to be more comfortable and
less formal in summer, especially in the country.
[MANNERS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 713]