Plutarch, in his life of Marcus Cato, relates of that great man that, when he made feasts for his friends and col- leagues in oflBce, as soon as supper was over he used to go with a leathern thong and scourge those who had waited or dressed the meat carelessly. This practice was not a common one in his day, and is, very likely, unknown in our own ; but many a mortified 94 HOUSEHOLD HINTS. feast-giver has felt very much like following the example set by the illustrious Koman censor. Servants, like children, do not ^^show off" well, and for the same reason. Different manners are expected of chil- dren when company is present, and they can not as a general thing rise to the occasion. So, in many instances, with servants. Unless good serving is required when the family are alone, awkwardness will be manifested in the presence of strangers, and, so far as the enjoyment of the host and hostess is concerned, the dinner will be a failure. No woman can be said to be happy when she sits trembling at the ap- pearance of each cup of coffee for fear a dress will be ruined or a guest be scalded. There is no other way to insure good serving than by giving the waiter the every-day practice which alone will impart ease to her manner. Another fruitful cause of acci- dents at feasts is the great and confusing difference which is sometimes made in the appointments of the table. It is a charming courtesy to one's guests to treat them to the very best the home affords, or to have something brought out to brighten the table and give to it a holiday appear- ance ; but too great a contrast to the usual manner of life is not desirable, and often reacts unfavorably upon the younger members of the family. Of course, there are things which can not be used every day, which possibly you could not replace without difficulty or great expense, but clean linen, bright silver, whole napkins, and pretty dishes, can always be provided for one's family. To revolutionize a whole house on the coming of a few visitors betrays not only poor taste, but an absolute lack of character. L^t your friends come into your life ; let them see you as you are, and not find you trying to be somebody else. The best hospitality is that which seems to say : ^^ Sit at our fireside ; we only widen the circle for you." As the most interesting parts of a house are the private TALKfi UPON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. 95 rooms where individual taste is expressed, so those enter- tainments are most enjoyed where glimpses are seen of the real life of the family who gives them, and whose at- mosphere of cordial welcome is like that which Maurice de Guerin describes in that charming home at Le Val ; it was, he says, like a cloud of invisible incense which he breathed continually. THE OLD-FASHIONED PARLOR. A great deal has been said and written against the old- fashioned parlor. Indeed, people generally have come to look upon it as a failure, and to speak slightingly of the taste which rendered it possible. Whatever may have been its defects, there is a question in the minds of some people whether the modem parlor is a great improvement upon the ancient one, and, in fact, whether there is sufficient reason for its existence. It is true that this modem room is not kept hermetically sealed, as is alleged of the older one. There are more feast days upon which it is opened, and children are al- lowed to sit upon its handsome chairs, and look out into the street through its lace curtains. The furniture is ar- ranged more artistically, still it is not a room to be happy in, and it too often absorbs into itself the best there is in the house, not only in the way of the best furniture, the easiest chairs, but also of pictures and books, leaving the living room of the family bare as a desert so far as anything refining and educating is concerned.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Plutarch, in his life of Marcus Cato, relates of that great man that, when he made feasts for his friends and colleagues in office, as soon as supper was over he used to go with a leathern thong and scourge those who had waited or dressed the meat carelessly. This practice was not a common one in his day, and is, very likely, unknown in our own ; but many a mortified feast-giver has felt very much like following the example set by the illustrious Roman censor. Servants, like children, do not ^^"show off" well, and for the same reason. Different manners are expected of children when company is present, and they can not as a general thing rise to the occasion. So, in many instances, with servants. Unless good serving is required when the family are alone, awkwardness will be manifested in the presence of strangers, and, so far as the enjoyment of the host and hostess is concerned, the dinner will be a failure. No woman can be said to be happy when she sits trembling at the appearance of each cup of coffee for fear a dress will be ruined or a guest be scalded. There is no other way to insure good serving than by giving the waiter the every-day practice which alone will impart ease to her manner. Another fruitful cause of accidents at feasts is the great and confusing difference which is sometimes made in the appointments of the table. It is a charming courtesy to one's guests to treat them to the very best the home affords, or to have something brought out to brighten the table and give to it a holiday appearance ; but too great a contrast to the usual manner of life is not desirable, and often reacts unfavorably upon the younger members of the family. Of course, there are things which can not be used every day, which possibly you could not replace without difficulty or great expense, but clean linen, bright silver, whole napkins, and pretty dishes, can always be provided for one's family. To revolutionize a whole house on the coming of a few visitors betrays not only poor taste, but an absolute lack of character. Let your friends come into your life ; let them see you as you are, and not find you trying to be somebody else. The best hospitality is that which seems to say : ^^ Sit at our fireside ; we only widen the circle for you." As the most interesting parts of a house are the private rooms where individual taste is expressed, so those entertainments are most enjoyed where glimpses are seen of the real life of the family who gives them, and whose atmosphere of cordial welcome is like that which Maurice de Guerin describes in that charming home at Le Val ; it was, he says, like a cloud of invisible incense which he breathed continually. THE OLD-FASHIONED PARLOR. A great deal has been said and written against the oldfashioned parlor. Indeed, people generally have come to look upon it as a failure, and to speak slightingly of the taste which rendered it possible. Whatever may have been its defects, there is a question in the minds of some people whether the modem parlor is a great improvement upon the ancient one, and, in fact, whether there is sufficient reason for its existence. It is true that this modem room is not kept hermetically sealed, as is alleged of the older one. There are more feast days upon which it is opened, and children are allowed to sit upon its handsome chairs, and look out into the street through its lace curtains. The furniture is arranged more artistically, still it is not a room to be happy in, and it too often absorbs into itself the best there is in the house, not only in the way of the best furniture, the easiest chairs, but also of pictures and books, leaving the living room of the family bare as a desert so far as anything refining and educating is concerned.

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