or weeks at your house, and expecting her at a certain time,
meet her on arrival, or, if that be impracticable, send a servant
to secure a conveyance and attend to her luggage. It is to be
supposed that before her arrival you have inspected the cham-
ber of your guest, to see that none of the articles that are in all
genteel and well-furnished houses are wanting — fha.^. *here are
ETIQUETTE. 25
two ewers of fresh water on the stand, and three towels on the
rail (two fine and one coarse), a foot-bath, and other requisites.
On the mantel-piece a candle or lamp, with a box of lucifer
matches beside it — the candle to be replaced by a new one
every morning when the chamber-maid arranges the room, or
the lamp to be trimmed daily; so that the visitor may have a
light at hand whenever she pleases, without ringing the bell and
waiting till a servant brings one up.
The room should have an easy chair with a foot cushion
before it; a low chair also, to sit on when shoes and stockings
are to be changed, &c.
Let the centre table be furnished with a writing-desk, well
supplied with all that is necessary; also some books, such as
you think your friend would like. Let her find, at least, one
bureau vacant, all the drawers empty, so that she may be able
to unpack her muslins, &c., and arrange them at once.
Arriving at your house, have your guest's baggage taken at
once to the apartment prepared for her, and, when she goes
upstairs, send a servant with her to unstrap her trunks. Then
let her be left alone to arrange her dress.
Every morning after the chamber-maid has done her duty
(the room of the visitor is the first to be put in order), the hos-
tess should go in to see that all is right. This done, no further
inspection is necessary. It is very kind and considerate to in-
quire of your guest if there is any dish or article of food that
she particularly likes, so that you may have it on the table
while she stays, and, also, if there is anything peculiarly disa-
greeable to her, so that you^may refrain from having it during
her visit.
For such deficiencies as may be avoided or remedied, re-
frain from making the absurd apology that you consider her
"no stranger," and that you regard her "just as one of the fam-
ily." If you invite her at all, it is your duty for your own sake
as well as hers to treat her well in everything.
If she desires to assist you in sewing, and has brought no
work of her own, you may avail yourself of the offer, and em-
ploy her in moderation — ^but let it be in moderation only, and
when sitting in the family circle. When alone in her own room
she, of course, would much rather read, write, or occupy her-
self in some way for her own benefit or amusement.
2« ETIQUETTE.
Page 14
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
or weeks at your house, and expecting her at a certain time, meet her on arrival, or, if that be impracticable, send a servant to secure a conveyance and attend to her luggage. It is to be supposed that before her arrival you have inspected the chamber of your guest, to see that none of the articles that are in all genteel and well-furnished houses are wanting — that there are
two ewers of fresh water on the stand, and three towels on the rail (two fine and one coarse), a foot-bath, and other requisites. On the mantel-piece a candle or lamp, with a box of lucifer matches beside it — the candle to be replaced by a new one every morning when the chamber-maid arranges the room, or the lamp to be trimmed daily; so that the visitor may have a light at hand whenever she pleases, without ringing the bell and waiting till a servant brings one up.
The room should have an easy chair with a foot cushion before it; a low chair also, to sit on when shoes and stockings are to be changed, &c.
Let the centre table be furnished with a writing-desk, well supplied with all that is necessary; also some books, such as you think your friend would like. Let her find, at least, one bureau vacant, all the drawers empty, so that she may be able to unpack her muslins, &c., and arrange them at once.
Arriving at your house, have your guest's baggage taken at once to the apartment prepared for her, and, when she goes upstairs, send a servant with her to unstrap her trunks. Then let her be left alone to arrange her dress.
Every morning after the chamber-maid has done her duty (the room of the visitor is the first to be put in order), the hostess should go in to see that all is right. This done, no further inspection is necessary. It is very kind and considerate to inquire of your guest if there is any dish or article of food that she particularly likes, so that you may have it on the table while she stays, and, also, if there is anything peculiarly disagreeable to her, so that you may refrain from having it during her visit.
For such deficiencies as may be avoided or remedied, refrain from making the absurd apology that you consider her "no stranger," and that you regard her "just as one of the family." If you invite her at all, it is your duty for your own sake as well as hers to treat her well in everything.
If she desires to assist you in sewing, and has brought no work of her own, you may avail yourself of the offer, and employ her in moderation — but let it be in moderation only, and when sitting in the family circle. When alone in her own room she, of course, would much rather read, write, or occupy herself in some way for her own benefit or amusement.