F. E. THORP, Norwich, N. Y.
This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor.
I am so pleased, Katharine and Eleanor, to hear that you are going away on a week's visit—one to the city, and one to the country—and that you are both anticipating a very pleasant time. The date, I understand, is not yet absolutely fixed, but the visit is to be made before long, and you would like to know what to take with you in the way of clothes, and to have all the hints I can give about making such a visit successfully.
Well, we will begin at the beginning. When the note of invitation from your friend arrives, the first thing to do is to answer it, setting the day and the train when she may expect you. She probably mentioned the first in her invitation, and inclosed a time-table so that you might select your train. Having decided on this, keep your engagement. Do not allow a slight inconvenience, or an invitation elsewhere, or a caprice, to let you change your plan. Go when you are expected, and stay as long as you are asked to stay. An invitation usually mentions whether your friend would like you to come for a week, or ten days, or a fortnight, or it may read thus: "Please give us the great pleasure of a visit from you. Come on Friday afternoon and stay until Tuesday," or on "Monday, and help us celebrate Louise's birthday, which occurs on Tuesday; we will hope to keep you with us until Friday." It is very much pleasanter to know for how long you are invited than to have it left uncertain; but when no time is mentioned, one takes it for granted that a week will cover the period of the visit.
By all means, when you can do this easily, take a small trunk for your wardrobe for a week. If not a trunk, then take a large dress-suit case, or one of those handy bags called telescopes, which may be stretched out or compressed as occasion demands. You must not forget that in some places expressage is difficult, though this is probably not the case in any town or village near a railroad. There are localities in our country where luggage is difficult of transportation, and trunks have to wait on the chance of a neighborly lift, but this is understood by those who travel there, and they arrange accordingly. A small trunk gives a girl a chance to carry several pretty waists and skirts, and to dress with greater variety while at her friend's house. But one may pack a great many things in her brother's suit-case.
A girl will find her pretty travelling dress, which at this season is of rough cloth, dark brown or blue by preference, with a thick jacket and a neat little hat, suitable for walking, driving, and sight-seeing while away from home. She must be sure that her boots and gloves are in dainty order, without missing buttons, and, if she chooses, a fur collar or boa and a muff may complete her out-door costume. For use in company, afternoon teas, evenings, little gatherings of friends at dinner, or any fête to which she is invited, a pretty waist of silk or chiffon and a skirt of silk or fine wool will be appropriate. In packing waists use plenty of soft white tissue-paper, so that they will come out uninjured at the journey's end. Your mother will provide you with a simple evening gown, if she thinks it needful, and a girl never looks sweeter than in simple white muslin or in a white gown of some sort. With the white gown must be white shoes, and house gowns of all kinds need dainty foot-gear.