of both the hostess and her housemaids. While cooperative
housekeeping is still an undeveloped scheme, things seem to be trending
that way.

The multiplication of huge apartment houses (and diminutive apartments)
is the other prime factor in the case. While the hotel dinner may have
come into fashion first as the dire necessity of the "cliff dwellers,"
its convenience appeals to many householders who formerly would not
have dreamed of offering their guests the hospitality of a _cafe_.
Many conservative people still deplore the innovation; but fashion
approves, and the custom grows.

Entertaining at one's club is governed by the rules of that particular
club. When entertaining at tea rooms, or _cafes_, one has simply to
arrange with the superintendent or the head waiter, for tables or
private dining-room, for the date chosen; to choose the _menu_, and
order the decorations. This done, the entertainers and their friends
have but to appear at the stated hour and play their respective roles
with care-free grace. These dinners may be given by a bachelor, to a
mixed company, or to a bevy of the debutantes, with the co-operation of
a society matron or a married couple to chaperone the affair. This is
a very pleasant way for a bachelor to make return for the social
attentions showered on himself.

This way of entertaining may be lavishly expensive, but it is not
necessarily so; all things considered, it may not greatly exceed the
cost of similar entertaining at home. In this land of the free, any
one who will may give a tea room luncheon. But the semi-publicity of
these functions invites criticism; and people of moderate income
discreetly forbear attempting anything too ambitious for their obvious
means. Elegant simplicity is always good form.

The universal use of the telephone is another factor in the
modification of social customs. Among familiar friends, the little
chat over the 'phone largely takes the place of the informal call.
Also, invitations to any but strictly formal functions are now sent by
telephone, if agreeable to both parties; though it is still considered
better to adhere to the more respectful written form if there is any
doubt about the new way being acceptable to the party of the second
part. While I counsel conservatism in these changes, I am convinced
that the new dynasty of wire and wireless is destined to dominate us;
and as discovery continues and inventions multiply, the time is nea