Our Dear Friends,
In her chapter called “Teas and Other Afternoon Parties,” Emily Post offers a good deal about what kind of cakes to serve and on what tier of the serving tray they ought to be placed. She ends abruptly though, by saying, as we may have come to expect by now, that all these cakes will be served in vain if one does not possess the gift of hospitality.
Post gives no advice on how to cultivate this gift. Not possessing the gift in the highest form ourselves, we have only this to offer. Greet your guests with sincerity and listen with care as they voice their joys and concerns. People long to have others laugh when they laugh and cry when they cry. Truly engage in the lives of others, and you’ll find they return to your home time and time again.
Yours,
Peter & Alexander