The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-12
How state Dinners nre Conducted under
N. Grant.
Pom ne n ess.

II Is the evening Of the Presidents state din
ner lite guosts are not only invited, hui expected
TO be punctually In their places at o'clock T. NJ
President and Mrs. Grnnt IRE nlreadv In the Red
Room awaiting the company. The l9dics lave dis
rrpcerri wins thew ssII sowIy mo The rre.enes
MRS. drant IL In iull evening dresA-Jewels, laces
aud AL the etceteras 10 match Her lady guests are
Mt ired as handsomely rs herself, aud the gentlemen
are expecte to ear black swalloUtnil coats and
white neck ties.
President Grant loads the way. with The wife Of
TIE Cdest Senator present On his armDut the oldest
senator In years. but the one whO uJs enjoyed The
longest term o. onice Tue President Is iollo ,ed by
the other guests, while Mrs. Grant istcd by the
husband OF the woman wno honOrs the President by
her exc usive attention, brinEs up the rear, and
torlably seated. Wren no parson IL present the
Divine blessing IL omitted, uness II be tie Quaker
charlottesville silence Of the heart. In tue be-
ginning OF the teast, fruits. flowers aud sveetments
grace the table, ~aie bread and butter only give a
Spartan eimplicity to the "hrst course" which 10
comnoeel OF n French vegetable soup, and accord
ing 10 the description BY those who have Ia ted It,
no snuo, foreiga or domestic, has ever been known
to equal H. II Is snid 10 be little smoother than
peacocks brains but not quite eIquisely favored
as a dish OF nigh,n gales tongues.
The ambr'eial soup is followed by a French GRO
qust " meat -Four sdnirablytrained servants re =
move the plates between each course, and their
motions are 10 perfect NJ elock.work. These SER
wants sre clad IN garments OF fau,le-- cut. which
serve to heigheu TO tre las. degrse their sable
pieIions w, ito kid gloves add tue finishing touch
TO this part OF the entertain nent. The third
course" Of the dinner IL COMPOSED Of a hot OF
tee hanked on each side by potstues the size OF a
walnul, with plenty 1T mushrooms to keep them
company. The next course is niy in the estre re.
II l. made up entirely or the luscious legs OF ar.
t"idgcs, aud baptized BY French name entii ely
beyond comprehension. IL = III be r. ILL., seen
LAT iul DESCRIPTION of tho twenty nine courses
would Oe q TO- ether too much, 20 We pass to the
des.ert, not emitting 70 say that the meridian OF
noon OF tie least 10 marked by the guests leng
served beautifully with frozo punch. As u general
rule, wine IL 10 yod about every third course. Six
vine glAsses OF different size-, aad a boQuet o.
flowers, are plAeed before eaed guest at toe begin.
ming
rice pudding bat not the Kind which prompted the
little b'y 10 run away 70 the North Piie because his
mother would have nee padding tor dinner" II
Is not the same dish which our Chinese brethren
swallow with tue aid OF cnop-sticks, but n IL such
padding as would make out great grandmothers clnp
their hands in loy. This Presidential dish cannot be
described except b. the pen OF genius, Therefore IL
can only De added tnst no pleUeian pies or other
pastry are allowed TO Hsep It company. After the
rice padding, c1Hu ed peaches pears and ounces are
served. then follow confec ionery mus. ice cream
cinee and chocolate aud It'll Ihese warm, soothing
end tie host and us guests repair TO the Rel Room
ana AFTER hteen minutes spent In conversation the
actors H. a st1te dinner rapidly disappear.
oWhilo We are discussing state dinners II NAV a.
well DO remembered that pri gato citizens In New
York, Boston and Philadelphia, in Eoms resnocts
I've equllcd II not sur asseI the White House Ia
tLeAeleg q ol their entertainments. la New Yorg
per uSued fountains exhe their liquid delights IN
tho eentye o the table, and this Ia rs far ahead OF
nat Old Girror arrangement as the genuine sur.
Uls.es the mutation. No iault bow ever SHOULD be
,ound Nth Professor Meah. for, as fir rs lie roes
Onicer of the Government performs his DUTY bet.
TER. Al tue same ume II wuulJ DO well Tor tho Pro.
ies,or 10 remember tnot az an entertainment Ion
ufed Oy = c presence VI wnmen, something be. iles
Ito sense .lsis aud vision should be gr tilted
lie should initiate l. Japanese in the perfection
his surprises. he must ulake pastries out ui which
I'VE birds will spring. sSGl a. alsh rs THIS T.
note too dainty TO- set before etesident Grant and
his friends.