low the standard he set for himself in making his most cogent
appeal. Consequently he should continue through the years to be scrupulous
about his personal appearance and his clothes, remembering the adage that
the most successful marriages are those in which both parties to the
contract succeed in "keeping up the illusion." It is of importance also
that he refrain from burdening his wife with the cares and worries of his
business day. Many writers insist that the wife should be ready to receive
a complete consignment of all his troubles when the husband comes home at
the end of the day. It is a sounder practise for him to save her as much
as possible from the trials of his business hours; and, incidentally, it
is the best kind of mental training for him to put all business cares
behind him as he closes the door of his office and goes home. When it is
said that a husband should not fling all the day's trifling annoyances
into the lap of his wife without reflecting that she may have some cares
of her own, there is no intention to indicate that a wife should not have
a thorough understanding of her husband's affairs. Complete acquaintance
and sympathy with his work is one of the foundation stones of the domestic
edifice.

=THE FAMILY AT TABLE=

Whether "there is company" or whether the family is alone, the linen must
be as spotless, the silver as clean, and the table as carefully set as
though twenty were coming for dinner. Sloppy service is no more to be
tolerated every day at home than at a dinner party, and in so far as
etiquette is concerned, you should live in exactly the same way whether
there is company or none. "Company manners" and "every-day manners" must
be identical in service as well as family behavior. You may not be able to
afford quantities of flowers in your house and on your table, or perhaps
any, but there is no excuse for wilted flowers or an empty vase that
merely accentuates your table's flowerlessness. There are plenty of table
ornaments that need no flowers. In the same way the compotiers can be
filled with candies or conserves of the "everlasting" variety;
silver-foiled chocolates or nougat, or gum drops or crystalized ginger or
conserved fruits--will keep for months! But the table must be decorated
and a certain form observed at the dinner hour; otherwise gray flannel
wrapper habits become imminent. Letters, newspapers, books have no place
at a dinner table. Reading at table is allowable at bre