Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1889 — Too Hospitable. [ARTICLE]

Too Hospitable.

“Your friend, Mrs. Ames, is charming, isn’t she ?” said one lady to another. “Charming, indeed,”,was the cordial reply. “I am very fond of her.” “And yet you never stay at her house, •when you come to the city. She spoke about it the other day, and seemed quite hurt.” “Well, to tell the truth, I haven’t time to go to Mrs. Ames’ when I come to town on a shopping expedition,” was the reply. “You know' she has a way of arranging everybody’s affairs for them, and though she does it from the best of motives, I find it very distracting. ” The accusation was literally true. If one proposes leaving Mrs. Ames’house at a certain time she inquires, “But, why must you go now?” “Because I want to take the threeforty train.” Instantly her time-table is produced, and she proves to you, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you could take an express train at four, and reach your destination only three minutes later. You may be able to convince *her that you would rather take the slower train and thus stop at Hemlock Point, for a word with Cousin John, but you have only switched her temporarily to a side track, for she presently resumes: “And if you take the three-forty you needn't start now. I only allow' myself twenty minutes to get to the station, and you could do it in twelve. So you needn’t go for ten minutes yet.” It doesn’t seem worth while to explain that you like to be leisurely; that you want to buy some oranges at the stand on one corner, and look into the windows of the Chinese laundry on another. You merely resign your brief bit of foolish pleasuring, and allow her to settle your affairs as she pleases. So “capable” is she that no point seems worth contesting, and you cliat with her until she bundles you out of doors, with a hearty “Good-by!” and then run for your train, to arrive at the station, hot, dusty and anxious. There is such a thing as being too hospitable. The perfect host is he or she who studies to find out what, a guest likes best to do, and helps him to do that, without suggesting that some thing else is better. It is well to have your advice and practical help always ready, and “on tap,” as it were, but they should never be obtrusively offered.— Youth's Companion.