The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-12-08
1)aluaiialt 6azFtte.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER ., 1850.


The passing season has introduced q few
novelties in the way Of arranging the flowers
on the dining table. and cursory glance at
what has been done will not be amiss. Quite
an innovation has been carried ont in two or
three houses lately Of separating the guests by
laying Two round tables in the same room, and
il certainly proves n very successful plan.
Round tables are proverbially more sociable
than long one reaching from end TO end.
The host presdes at one and the hostess at
the other. Decorations, too, can be arranged
mo re effectively, and this was essentially the
case at large dinner given by Mr.. and Mr.
Brassy in the past month. The centre II
the l. ble had been cut away and sunk several
inches below the height OF the surrounding
boards, and was lined with looking-glass.
Round its edge, and reaching to within few
inches of the plates and glasses. was thick
bed Of Iycopodinm moss in the centre OF the
glass n grotto Of pure white coral was built up,
in and around which the lyeopodium and mai
deil-har twined its tender shoots, while ut
intervals several specimens of perfect nautilus
shells stood filled with some lovely orcEids,
for which the Conservatives at Normanhurst
are famed. At another dinner close wreath
of white marguerites was arranged round the
base of each candlestick or vase stood on the
table, while large shallow bowl in the centre
was filed with white flowers and ferns. Ia
this instance the decorations were kept very
low, which is pleasing arrangement, and
less common than the usual plan of high centre
pieces. Again, the table at the Ranelagh Club,
prepared for their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Wales, was most artistic and
effective and the introduction of broad band
of color down the centre is an effective addition.
forming rich background for flowers, Sc.
We have seen some curious old Eastern scarves
with gold embroidery used in this way. AT
Ranelagh some blossoms of the small water
lily were introduced in the shallow bowls
which were placed down the table, as upon
this occasion no color was admitted save the
bright pink Of the satin. Pots of growing
fruit sunk in wine coolers or large slvt tubs,
have been used. Patterns laid fatty on the
table, with single blossoms and common ferns
or leaves, are pretty, though We think are
more suitable in late autumn and winter than
in summer. An excellent arrangement can
be carried out by hoops, made of thick wire
and embedded in sand and moss. Around the
hoops long sprays Of beautiful creepers. with
their hanging blossoms, are carefully twined,
while roses nestle in the moss. The centre
arch ought to be higher than the two others,
and have only. stephano,is blossoms around it
ard at the foot At another dinner the whole
was sloping bank OF moss from the base OF
the lamp, which was in the centre, and this
was filled with choice blossoms of pelargoniums
of varied shades, divided by one band of gar
denias, and the effect was a ribbon BORDER
the edge, resting upon the tablecloth, was
bordered by fronds OF maidenhair fern.
The old-fashioned glass trays, with which
many patterns can be made, are getting out of
date; and yet during the preses season no
prettier table was seen than one in which roses
Of every shade filled these trays, and circles
which surrounded the dessert dishes, the
lamps, sc. We think much remains to be done
in decorating the table linen itself, of which
more another day.-The Queen.