Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-31
Private Dinners.


occasionally at private tables, when dinner,
somewhat larger or more extensive than usual
Is given, and that is having printed bills of fare
no means partakes Of the character of a pubic
one. II musical sOfree Is given, when friends
are invited to hear amateur performers it
would be In the worst possible taste to have
ance. Such placing in prominence Of very
commonplace event gives it an appearance of
r. Which is quite the to
mated menus has come into play because sta
TONERS have furnished rather trashy cards, and
tne ne,., When engraved on them, allows some
to day comic, musical, tragic, Japanese, Orien-
tai, and other styles OF cards on which invita-
lions are printed Such engraved or embossed
that the dinner is to be paid for by the guests
at so much head. Simplicity In q private
feast stutes one Of Its greatest charms
manners or habits OF grand banquet given
at f1rstclass restaurant, then the show char
aeter Of the feast comes too much to the front.
If there could be some kind Of system employed
In the composition OF menu at private house
there never could be felt any want for printed
list: The sensible diner-out who knows what
ought to be coming, waits his opportunity, and
eaIS most Of that dish for which he has been
waiting. OF course, this is a talent, for as Bril-
lat Savarin says, "Les aninaa@r &c repa sent;
FhODne mango; th01n9ne d'esprit seuL salt man
ger" There Is one aphOrtsm OF this charming
writer, Brillat Savarin, which Is worthy of COM
ment.. He says: "Whoever receives friends
and gives no personal care to the repast which
they are to partake, is unworthy OF having any
friends at ALL" OF course, 1t is the first duty cf
hospitality to see that dinner is worthy OF the
guests. Any lady or gentleman may have at
the head of house cook who is excellent IN
every way, with a butler, to whom all the du
ties of lay ing out the table may be confded. But
single omission, q dish, which If bad, might
have been rendered palatabe by word from
the mistress; some ludicrous mistake as to
wine bottle OF # catsup put up IN de-
s s Of the feast, and mar 'u a rep s
feet. It is the duty of both the man and wife
If they give a dinner, to attend not only to the
necessities. but the elegances OF the table. Cooks
sure to turn up at the very worst time. That
perfection OF equanimity which lady ought to
feel when she is well-dressed and seated at the
anx1eties as to the fate of her dinner There
ought to be no contretemps. AS in a battle,
every possible contingency should have been
looked for. Having done her best, easy In her
mind, with consciousness of duty performed,
she ought to be free from all troubles, and per-
fectly able to direct and maintain conversation
at the table with her guests. Just watch good
an occasion. Before the servant has placed
dish on the table. or uncovered one, she is un-
easy as to its contents. "What If the cook had
dozen quail? Didn't she say six were enough,
but did not my husband suddenly invite five
more people! Goodness gracious, suppose those
Wretched birds did not go round! Dear
me, what is that man talking about?
Was 1t music Or pictures? Horrible:
there - are IRE, only six birds and such small
at me. They never will 60 round! Was it cooks
fault or mine?" Savar1n has another maxim,
which Is charming and worth repeating-an
adJunct, as 1t were, OF the preceding one: "La
ni1itresse de la 9aais0 dot t0njours sdssurer que
lie cafe est e1celtent ct le naaitre que LEI iueurs
sont de premier choir" 1t was the perfection OF
old Holland manners when the lady of the house
made both tea and coffee at the table, At
small dinner, when the lady presides, nothing
can be more agreeable for the guests than to
see the hostess quickly and deity make the
coffee There Is something more than pleasant
to receive ones after-dlnner coffee In this way,
and 1t Is among the most delightful of the many
episodes OF well-bred hospitality. Referring
back to the duties Of the g1vers Of the feast,
how many good dinner ends with cup OF
coffee, which would be put to shame by the
poorest efforts Of even an Oshkosh hosiery! A
few minutes attention before dinner to the
making Of the coffee might have remedied it
all. AS to the duties OF the husbands, the selec-
ton OF the wines, it may be generally stated
that neglect on their part Is quite rare, and that
the generality of mlsfOrtunes, accidents, and
catastrophes which occur at dinners may be
put on the partners Of their joys, who have
either forgotten something or neglected to at
tend to what were their duties-[NY. Times.