s_

The country hostess should make her entertaining distinctive from that
of the city. Every one should, at times, return to the country, for
both physical and mental well-being. So when he is there, it is of
great importance that he get country fare and country life, rather
than make a fruitless attempt to live in the country as he does in the
city.

The country hostess should not attempt to entertain unless she can
depend upon her servants. Her relations with them should be such that
there is no likelihood of having a houseful of guests and the servants
thereupon suddenly weary of the quiet of the country, or for any other
trivial reason promptly departing. The country hostess will, however,
fit herself to meet any emergency which may arise, both on her own and
her family's account, as well as on that of her guests.

Therefore, housekeeping and entertaining should be simplified as much
as possible, and the most unexpected of emergencies should be
anticipated and provided for, as far as may be. Unless the country
hostess is herself competent to cook and to tend the fires, she will
never be safe in the sending out of invitations. For the same reason,
other members of the family should be trained in helpfulness, so that
an emergency will simply mean the adoption of emergency tactics
previously agreed upon and practiced to the point of efficiency.

The country hostess should remember that to her guests the charm and
novelty of the fresh air and outdoor life are perhaps the greatest
attractions of her home. So she should see to it that guests are left
untrammeled, to go and wander where they may wish; and also that the
guest chambers and all other rooms are kept filled with fresh air even
in the coldest of weather.

Often the change to the invigorating country air makes the guest feel
colder than the actual temperature of the room warrants. The hostess
should remember this, and should provide that at all times the
living-rooms and guest chambers be warmed as well as ventilated. The
open fireplace is needed in addition to steam or furnace heat in an
isolated country house.

"Simple things need to be excellent." The hostess should provide
fresh fruit, chickens, eggs, vegetables, cream, and milk, the products
of the country, rather than the elaborate dishes of the city.

The hostess should enjoy the country and teach her guests to enjoy it.
She should know the attractive walks and drives, the places of real
interest