What to do and what to avoid when visiting


WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO AVOID WHEN VISITING.

Hints to the Host and Hostess

Hill's Manual, issue unknown.

From The Gingerbread Age: A View of Victorian America by John Maas, 1982, p. 19.

 

     "Take the baggage-checks, and give personal attention to having the trunks conveyed to your residence, relieving the guest of all care in the matter.

     "Having received intelligence of the expected arrival of a guest, if possible have a carriage at the depot to meet the friend.  Various members of the family being with the carriage will make the welcome more pleasant.

     "Have a warm, pleasant room especially prepared for the guest, the dressing-table being supplied with water, soap, towel, comb, hair-brush, brush-broom, hat-brush, pomade, cologne, matches, needles and pins.  The wardrobe should be conveniently arranged for the reception of wearing apparel.  The bed should be supplied with plenty of clothing, a side-table should contain writing materials, and the center-table should be furnished with a variety of entertaining reading matter.

     "Arrange to give as much time as possible to the comfort of the guest, visiting places of amusement and interest in the vicinity.  This should all be done without apparent effort on your part.  Let your friends feel that the visit is a source of real enjoyment to you; that through their presence and company you have the pleasure of amusements and recreation that would, perhaps, not have been enjoyed had they not come.  Treat them with such kindness as you would like to have bestowed upon yourself under similar circumstances.

     "At the close of their stay, if you would be happy to have the visitors remain longer, you will frankly tell them so.  If they insist upon going, you will aid them in every way possible in their departure.  See that their baggage is promptly conveyed to the train.  Examine the rooms to find whether they have forgotten any article that they would wish to take.  Prepare a lunch for them to partake of on their journey.  Go with them to the depot.  Treat them with such kindness and cordiality to the close that the recollection of their visit will ever be a bright spot in their memory.  Remain with them until the train arrives.  They would be very lonely waiting without you.  You will ever remember with pleasure the fact you made the last hours of their visit pleasant.  And thus, with the last hand-shaking, and the last waving of adieu, as the train speeds away, keep up the warmth of hospitality with your guests to the very end.  It is, perhaps, the last time you will ever see them."