Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-01
Some Of the Woes Of D;nner.u,vinp.

As general rule, we believe that an ap-
preaching dinner party is more agreeable to the
hostess than TO thehost To woman there is
something pleasant in the fuss which precedeS
her entertainments. She is mistress Of the
OCCASION, and her orders are Implicitly obeyed,
With man II is different What amuseS his
wife ii3.etS him. He Is restless and uneasy.
When he goes 10 his study for quiet hour
before dressing, he finds it has been taken
verted into temporary ladies' cloak-roo,n.
Ga the very altar stone OF his sanctum. right
In the center OF his writfng-table. stands n
looking glass. His precious hand-books and
dlcUonaI!eS his papers. te-hooks, ct cetera
are pf0faDely piled In the corner o: the room.
Finding his study desecrated, he wanders
aid to Others He is in a fidget because his wife
has rot yet returned from her drive and he
fears she may be late for dressing. He is him
SELF dressed far too soon, and finds nothing to
do In tie drawing room which is all prepared In
state Tor tie reception OF guests. He employs
himself In opening and shutting windows regll-
iatlbg lamps, and very possibly upSettias a
Hover vase. AS the party arrives. he begins 10
talh with each person, but he is too pre-occupied
with the grouping or his couples for dinner 20 be
aole TO give his mind to ANY contin uous CONVEX
Leryously looking at his watch When all have
come lie shyly walks from one man to another
VIII piece OF crumpled paper in his hand, at
il mysterious whisper whom they are to take
In TO dinner. with the air OF man who is doing
somethlrg OF which he Is ashamed. Arrived IN
the dining room, instead OF quietly directing his
guests 10 their allotted Seats he orders them TO
thelr places Ike a sergeant major. and, after
making an apclogetic grace, he sits down.
once seated at the table there is not much
lelt Tor Tie hest and hostess to do. They may
Try TO attract the attention OF the butler and
ask him TO open the windows wider; but, If
lLings go badly: all they can do is to look on
gl1mly. 1t might often be Well il hosts and
hostesseS We're to endeavor to make themselves
more agreeable at their own tables; but as a
rue. people are pieasanter companions In the
M 1ay tn hot
own entertainments they are apt to be too
much pre- occupied TO be able to give their
Mhole minds TO any subject which may be
nooted. They are frettiDg because the soup is
coo, Or because an entree Is over
tavorec; they are in agonies at long pause
which occurs between the courses; they are
observing that couple at the other end OF the
table are rot talking to each other: or they
peFceive that the best Judge OF Wine at the
table Is drinking light claret instead OF the best
champagne which has been produced for his
much pefturbed In spirit. She had provided
the best of meats and drinks; but SOME of the
guests failed to do justice to them. One gen
tleIran had taken up total abstinence; and, In
stead OF enjoying the excellent wines he LEG
turcd upon the subject of his favorite hobby
1t happened TO be a Friday, and two CT the
other guests who we're Roman Catholics. touched
neither soups, entrees joints, nor jellies TO the
great sorrow OF their hostess who did not per-
ceive that they made capital dinners on fish,
vegetables, sweets and Wine.
DREssMAKINC-tWnat it must come to with
the present taste tor '!real trimmings Mrs.
MillioI-''I am not at all satisfied with the
dress | wore last night. The palm leaves were
100 heavy and tie camellias faded before the
first dance. AS for that lattica-work covered
with jasmine you fixed up for me On my skirt.
Why, it was coming undone the whole evening. y
Madame BellerObes-"fery sorry, madame, but
you said you liked flowers better than fruit. It
Is the first complaint have had. and garden,
as you Know, some OF the best blood in town.
You VIII remember that gave you a refusal OF
the dress worn by Mrs Bill0rare, which made
such sensation Mrs. Miilion-"The grape
drapely with its vegetable marrows and par
SHIPS, was certainly pleasing. BY the way. the
sudden INTRODUCTION Of the artichoke5 In the
tunic was Ineffective" Madame Belerobes
Madame Is right. frankly admit that the
cucumber required toniDg down. We ought to
have scattered pint OF peaSe over the gatze
ard emphasized the buckles with kidney pota
toes. Madame is pleased with the dress she Is
going TO wear tonight 1t cost me seveaal
lours OF the most anxious thought. ] believe
fondly beltcve-the patch OF mushrooms worn
on the left arm will be thought masterpiece
AS for the vegetables, you may rely upon them
They came fresh this morning from market -
Mrs. M1llion-''it might be worse: The boquet5
OF carrots and Brussels sprouts are certainly
sweet