frankly sincere, a good friend will not feel any unreasonable resentment,
but will, in fact, be pleased to serve.

SIMPLE DINNERS

The simple dinner, perfectly achieved, is as admirable a feat as the
elaborate dinner, perfectly achieved. The hostess who has attained the
art of giving perfect dinners, though they are small, may well be proud
of her attainment.

If the cook knows how to cook; if the maid is well trained, and correctly
attired in white cap and apron and black dress; if the table is laid
according to the rules of dinner etiquette; if the welcome is cordial and
the company congenial--the simple dinner may rank with the most
extravagant and elaborate formal dinner. The cover may contain fewer
pieces and the menu may contain fewer courses, the setting may be less
fashionable, though not less harmonious, and still the dinner may be
extremely tempting and enjoyable.

INVITING CONGENIAL GUESTS

Perhaps it is more important to select the guests wisely at a small
informal dinner than it is at a formal one. As there are usually only
four or six guests, they will undoubtedly become well acquainted by the
time the dinner is over, and in order to have agreeable conversation it
is necessary that they be congenial.

In a week or two, one generally forgets just what food was eaten at a
certain dinner--but if the guests were all amiable and pleasing, the
memory of conversation with them will linger and be constantly associated