"The Blue Book of Social Usage"

Etiquette, by Emily Post. Revised edition, 1945. Inherited from my Grandmother, and by the looks of it, a fairly well-used copy. Since I'm hosting a Sunday engagement lunch/barbeque for my brother, I dove into the hospitality portion.

Apparently, there are different types of hostesses. One must make great pains to avoid becoming "The Anxious Hostess" or the "The Energetic Hostess." Instead, it is suggested, let us all strive for "The Perfect Hostess." Naturally, there are rules to abide by to achieve this hostessing nirvana. Thank goodness for Mrs. Post. And, in case match-making is on the horizon, here are a few words of wisdom:

"Never try to make any two people like each other. If they do, they do; if they don't, they don't, and that is all there is to it. But it is of vital importance to your own success as hostess to find out which is the case and collect or separate them accordingly."

Well, then. That's that, I suppose. At the moment, I'm feeling quite thankful my brother took care of his own match-making. I think I'll just shoot for "The Generally Competent Hostess."