Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-14
The Household.
CHINA FOR TABLE, USR.


AS the standard used for estimating the ordt-
nary expenses Of family In procuring an out
ut for the table has been taken as composed of
THERE'S no exact limit as to outlay. A Dresden
plate, SevreS cup,may cost much more than
whole service OF ordinary china. The entire
d1n1ng-roOm could be furnished SumptuouSly for
the price paid for single vase painted p Ite sur
pate by Scion. AS we have commenced with
the strict necessaire, the ordinary stone china
will be taken, which is quite good enough for
common use. For six persons dozen aud a
half dinner Plates costing $l.40, will be just
sufficient; a dozen soup plates viii cost 81 co.
dozen breakfasts, s1.2O; the same OF tea states,
81; fruit plates, IS cents; dozen cups and sau-
GERS for tea SLIGO; coffee cups, S19o. Four COW
cred vegetables will cost 80 cents each, and the
same without covers IS cents. Soup tureea,
dishes would be worth 80 cents. Two china
leaves for pickles will cost 35 cents, gravy
boat about the same. Four platterS OF differ
to the cO sobes a are 1 Worth 81
dozen; casters, 81; salt-cellarS. 25 cents each a
celery stand. so cents. For preserves and stewed
cents, or two smaller ones to cost 25 cents each.
viii suffice. Total sum, $50. II French china
is used. the expense viii increase 100 per cent.
or II gilt china is wanted, the additional cost
VIII De about twice and half that OF stone
ware. AS TO the durability Of these various
wares, there is no difference. as the resistance
to breakage is the same. When fancy or deco
rated china, such as complete sets, is required,
as has been before mentioned, there is no limit
as to price, though quite large and serviceable
sets Of good ware can be bought at from $40 to
$50. though very handsome ones mount into the
hundreds. The advantage OF purchasing set
OF china with small gold border is quite mani
fest. 1t Is alwaysin vogue, and when piece is
broken 1t can always be replaced. OF course,
true Chinese china willow pattern is always
very handsome, but OF late years, when
pieces are broken, it is difficult to match
be made, with the exception that very
ornate glass, such as was in vogue fifty years
ago, has gone very much out of use. The for
made 1t very uncomfortable to handle, and the
risk Of spelling 1T was very great. Engraved
glass, unless the pattern is very minute, is
are ample, can be INDUCED IN glass which is
simple and graceful in form, and which is bril-
liant In material, thin and light. Referring
has shown this fact, that the cost Of two or four
vegetable dishes In plated ware will be say ten
times as much as those made out OF china or
china twenty times. When the breakage of
table ware is thoroughly understood and eSti-
mated, 1t will be found to entail quite heavy
hands, and 'slet us break this day our daily
plate or cup" seems to be positive tenet of the
cooks or waitress creed. 1t is rarely that ac-
tuai usage at the table causes fictile crash.
It mostly arises from want Of care In removing
plates or dishes from table, and when the wash
Ing IS done In good old times the Lady
OF the house old not disdain to wash
To-day, such goodly care is unfortunately
obsolete. In washing china, a zinc waiter
In the kitchen to place the china on Is Of great
help. and saves much breakage. The use OF q
rack through carelessness often induces whole
sale smashing. Common brown soap is good
enough, but plenty OF water should be used
afterWard, in order to insure a thorough
cleansing. A wooden handle, with cotton
wick ends. Is excellent for cleansing cups and
saucers The heavy cup as used In France in
In vogue. It's extreme thickness renders it OBJ
jectonable to handle, and It's apparent strength
does not make 1t resist accident. Nothing
as good outlay OF what old fashioned people
used TO call "elbow-grease." The cook should
always be provided with good towels for
little soda In the water helps the thorough
cleansing OF the china. Some time ago cor
respondent gave some good advice to smokers,
china it removed the gliding Riai Th es ashes
OF tobacco containing both silica and
potash, the latter In very large proper
lion. the alkali acts as a ready solvent. Some
late experiments with cigar ashes showed that
In a very short time, and with but slight
friction, all the gold could be removed from a
plate. A cook should be encouraged to make a
display OF her china in her pantry or kitchen
Nothing is better than an old bookcase with
glass windows for this. The china is then
always in view. Thrifty housekeepers, even
when their store OF china is ample, should make
a habit OF counting all the pieces at least twice
month. This Is the only way In which break
age or mysterious disappearances can be dis
covered or accounted for. Plates which are
used at table should never be relegated to the
cook for kitchen purposes. II baking has to be
done In plate, suitable ware should be pro-
vided. Nothing is more disagreeable than to
have on table, mixed up with the white ware. a
plate which shows crackle, the glaze having
been saturated with greases which have been
burned black. There are always, besides, plates
enough which are Clipped which can be used to
do kitchen service. A word should be said in
excellent OF its kind, both as to shape and quail
ity, for very few people know that our home
products In flctile ware, are quite equal to the
English and French china,-TN Y Times