In Livonia and Courland what gentleman or lady values time ? The whole day is made up of leisure. Their business is attended to by the steward, the merchant, and the advocate. No one looks at the clock, except to know when it will be dinner-time, or whether tea may be soon ordered up ; no one looks at the almanac, except to learn how long it is till Christmas, or when Easter will be, or how many weeks it wants of the sea-bathing season, or when the next birthday is to be celebrated.
The landowners of the Baltic provinces are independent sovereigns. No one interferes with or controls them. Eyery Saturday they examine the lists of the dead and sick peasants, which are brought them by the physician ; settle accounts with their stewards, secretaries, foresters, and magistrates ; give audience to their peasants ; issue such and such decrees, to execute which a hundred willing hands are immediately ready ; and perhaps make a tour of their estate, to admire and enjoy the bounties of nature.
None of these duties, however, are so urgent that they may not be postponed, if necessary ; and they are often attended to, in the presence, and with the assistance, of the guests. Even those who have something to do, as merchants, physicians, pastors, &:c., carry on their affairs much more leisurely, and con amove, than with us. Every thing is taken easily, and plenty of serviceable subordinate hands are always ready to supply deficiencies ; so that in the houses of the pastors, merchants, and citizens, as in the palaces of the nobility, leisure and scope for the exercise of hospitality are not wanting.
With us, and still more with the English, a stranger is always in some measure a suspicious personage. People do not know where he comes from ; they are afraid he wants something of them ; they incpiiro after his family, his connexions, his purse, his standing in society, and till satisfied on all these points, every one keeps aloof from him. It is very different in the north. Every stranger, without exception, is welcome there. His situation, his rank, his origin, are touched vipon with more than Homeric delicacy. If he needs help, he Avill be helped; and if he is pei-sonally an agreeable man, he will find a thousand sympathetic, bountiful, kindheaited beijigs, anxious to assist and oblige him. To be friendly and obliging to strangers, is considered by every one as the first of duties, and the reputation of an " agreeable host" Is one most anxiously sought for by all.
The master of the house puts aside his occupations, to be at leisure for the entertainment of his guests. The lady of the house conquers her indisposition to perform the duties of a kuid hostess, and is justly praised and admired in proportion as, in spite of her delicate health, she exerts and sacrifices herself for strangers. Nay, if even in this country there are a few who perform less cheerfully and gracefully the duties of hospitality, there are none who do not acknowledge the sacredness of those duties, and endeavoiuto perform them with as good a grace as they can.
With us visits are often made, during which both host and guest appear to be sitting on thorns, because it is easy to see that the visit is not welltimed. " Excuse me, I disturb you." " If you will do me the honour another time. But pray stay a little longer, at least."
Such phrases are never heard in the north ; visits there are always welltimed, and always in the highest degree welcome.
In Germany people thank a friend very politely for an invitation, and repay it by a visit of acknowledgment. People thank God that a call which lasted half an hour is over, and rejoice when an unavoidable entertainment is done with.
In the north, on the contrary, a guest receives a thousand thanks for the visit he pays, and it would be thought very absurd for him to profess gratitude for his food. There is no more certain w^ay of obliging people, than by paying them plenty of visits.