hould 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.