Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-13
LUNCHEONS AND TEAS.
Fashionable Features OF After
noon Entertainments.
Hsrper's Bazaar.


Hsrper's Bazaar.
Round tables, holdlsg twenty.e'ght,
at which the company seated can see
each other and "talk across" have been
hastily improvised this winter. Inc
table is brought in two pieces by the
caterer and fastened together in the
house. 1t is then laid on top OF the or
binary extension table and covered with
red cloth. Over this is thrown "a white
damssk cover, or one OF the new open
work momie-cloth table-covers or
Dresden-made cloth criss-crossed with
open insertion OF lace or embroidery.
This allows the red TO show through the
interstices and has beautiful effect, such
rs we see in the pictures OF banquets by
Gerome and Vibert, who devote much
attention TO elaborate table-cloths IN
their pictures, The table is then LAID
with all the best china and glass and sill
YER and with magnificent flowers as a
centre piece; also with a bouquet Tor
each lady, with long ribbon attached,
on which Is painted her name in full,
with little reticules OF silk. highly orna-
mented, containing bonbons, and often
with fans; or little Japanese caskets, also
holding bOnbons, are added. Ihese
gifts are TO be taken home and are Lard
at each plate. Oysters on the hall shell,
followed by bouillon, are served; then
crab or lobster croquettes, bouchees Ia
refine, sweetbreads, Glet de bguf, mush-
rooms on toast, or kindred luxuTles, iol-
lowed by delicious sorbet or Roman
punch, which IS served in little pink
slippers or boats, or roses, made OF china.
These are sometimes given to the guests
as well as the fans and bouquets; they
have TO be taken out and washed hrst,
however, and brought back. Canvas
back duck or some sort OF game follows
the sorbet; then salad, cheese, ices and
fruits, always including Strawberries IN
early spring il they can he bought. Col
fee is served in the drawingroOm. The
wines, which are freely poured out, are
Chateau Iquem with the fish; cham
payne and claret and sherry. These are
seldom drank. AS women cannot drink
much wine. particularly in the middle OF
the day, no doubt the wine which is
poured generally becomes the perouls'
lite of the walters.
The meal thus becomes a dinner in
the middle OF the day and is very heavy
and luxurious. The luncheon occupies
from one o'clock to half-past three, and
ladies vie with each other as TO which
shall give the handsOmest favors and
flowers. One or two ladies this winter
presented baskets OF field flowers, clover,
daisies, lilies OF the valley, grasses and
dafiOdils, which was the height OF lux
ury in February. The daisy now ranks
as an exotic, although it is the pest OF
the farmer in July. However, it must
be observed that the splendid roses OF
the present, JacquemiAOt, Cornelia
Cook, Marshal Neil aud Gloire de Paris,
are very favorite offerings. Nothing
can exceed the luxury OF New York
winter flowers. A one luncheon la
DIV offered the old.iashiOned palm.leai
ian, with roses fastened on the flat sur
face. Every ilrt Of the fan brought a
breeze laden with perfume. Bands are
often stationed in the halls to play Tor
these luncheon eaters, so that every
sense is gratitied.
Ladies wear always bOnnets and
street dresses, and generally dark ones,
at these lunches. The brOcaded velvets
have been a favorite luncheon dress
this winter. The lady OF the house
wears very handsome dark dress, high
in the throat, with long sleeves. There
is no limit as to expense in dress, but
light silks would be in bad taste, and
white bOnnets have not been much in
favor at these morning parties, although
so fashionable last winter. Jewelry oil
a sober pa,tern alone is admissible. Dia-
mODd solitaircs only Of the diamond
tribe are considered in order in the day
time.