Last week I shared the Snowflake Quilt pattern from the Nancy Page Quilt Club circa 1932. Nancy Page was the pen name of the prolific Florence La Ganke. The Nancy Page columns were mostly about quilts and other handcrafts but many other domestic topics were explored. Here's one from 1934 about Lois, The Perfect Hostess.
It's hard to tell whether is Betty is a welcome guest or otherwise. My favourite part is the list of accessories necessary for Betty's comfort.
Lois Proves She Knows How to Be a Perfect Hostess
When Betty arrived to stay at Lois’ home for a week both Lois and Roger were a bit dubious as to how things would work out. “You know, Lois, you aren’t any too strong and with the two children you will find your hands more than full. Don’t you want to get a maid while Betty is here. We can afford it and it will make work easier.”
“I don’t think I’ll try a maid because I would have to break her in and that might be hard work and then too the children might not get along with her. We would feel strange and rather unsure of ourselves, too. No, I think I’ll try to get the cleaning woman for an extra day and I may send Ann over to Nancy’s for a day or so. But we’ll mange.”
Lois found things went easily. She did not try to put on airs, nor do things more elaborately while the guest was there.
She did take Betty’s breakfast up to her room every morning. This allowed Lois to get Ann dressed and breakfasted, to give John David his early breakfast without upsetting his routine. She straightened up the living room and arranged the porch. Then when Betty came downstairs at nine o’clock the day was well started.
Lois was a thoughtful hostess in more ways than one. Before Betty arrived she had prepared the guest room and seen to it that certain accessories were in the room. She had aspirin, soda bicarbonate, sunburn lotion, dusting powder, absorbent gauze and cotton, safety pins, needles and thread, thimble, ink, stationery, new pen points, flashlight, two or three recent books, stamps, telegraph blanks, lambs’ wool shoe shiner, garment bag, hangers, extra blanket. But more important than any of these accessories was her intention which she carried out, of keeping the family living simple and unaffected while her guest was there.
Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg Pennsylvania July 11, 1934
We have houseguests all the time and I try to get the cleaning lady in before guests arrive. I have the beds made up fresh and extra food in the fridge, but we do not serve breakfast in bed to anyone. Ever. The guests are invited to become part of the family while they are here and can help set out meals and do dishes. Never turn down that offer. Daily routines are always disrupted with guests, but that is what happens.
ReplyDeleteOur house guests are almost always children and grandchildren, so no special treatment needed. Just each others' company.
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