|
A book on entertaining must consider a guest's responsibilities. Anyone who entertains
will sometimes be a guest. And a good host is an imaginative guest in his turn. Guests can make or break a party, even under the aegis of the most practiced hosts. Being a good guest is a fine art which can be analyzed and studied.
have a good time
No one should accept an invitation to a party unless he has some reason for wanting to go. The reason may not always be pleasure; it will sometimes be duty. But whatever the reason, you have accepted the responsibility of contributing as much to the entertaining as you possibly can.
This does not mean that you must do a song and dance or recite poetry. It means, basically, that you must prepare yourself to have a good time by suppressing your tepid feelings about your hosts, by remembering that presumably they asked you to come because they wanted you. You will join in conversation or games and concentrate on what is attractive about your hosts. You do this because you know
that, while it may not be a pleasure, you have not ruined the party for everyone else. You have accepted your role gallantly.
week-end guests
It is unnecessary as well as impossible to try to point out all the ways a guest can be cooperative at a party; but some of the specific ways a week-end guest can show his thoughtfulness and his gratitude to his hosts may be of use.
gifts
For a week-end guest, there is always the question of presents: should you bring a present or is it better to send it as a token of your thanks after you've gone home? It is of course proper to make a gift to your hosts, and whether you prefer to give or to send it is entirely up to you. Presenting a gift is more personal, but if you choose to be less personal, or if you wish not to clutter your luggage, send the gift with your card later.
what sort of hostess present?
There are several choices in the matter of the present itself. A couple visiting for the week end may decide to bring both the host and the hostess a present. A bottle of the host's favorite whiskey is always welcome. Or you may want to give him something useful for the sport or hobby he pursues: golf, fishing, hunting, photography. Perhaps he's an expert cook and likes gadgets. In any event, if you use a little ingenuity and imagination, you can be reasonably sure he'll like it. The same is true for the hostess.
|
