Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-30


This form OF hospitality had fallen on with the
march OF civilization and the necessity for in
creased luxury and ceremony in the conduct OF q
state banquet SO few people are equal to the
preparation and serving OF a really fine dinner
that housekeepers abandoned them In despair and
gentlemen formed the habit of dining their friends
at the clubs rather than at their own houses OF
late however, houses have been built adapted to
hospitable uses Instead OF barn-like reception
rooms and dining-room in the basement. the
dning-room Is made one OF a noble suite Of apart
mentS, connected with a system OF service I'm the
shape OF nre-proef pantres, safes and heaters, as
perfect as that or any club house. In these houses
dinner-gtvtny has become fine art and even In
lesser establishments ''litte" dinners in honor of
ri nd are considered the most elegant and accept
able form that hospitality can take, and certainly
the most enjoyable. Nothing can be Imagined
more delightful In the way OF social companion-
snip than the gathering OF a few well-chosen
persons In charming house which has not been
bereft OF It's special signs OF house occupation as
their charm to the books and pictures and artistic
finish, and the bright talk flows freely between
pers ms whose tastes habits and modes OF thought
run In The same channels 1t Is possible now
a-dayS to give dinner without making 1t
burden upon the household or source OF embar-
rassInc1t to the hostess. A caterer can be en-
gagged who viii come In quietly at certain
hour, accompanied by an experienced waiter IL
necessary; set the table and serve a dinner in
courses quite perfect in It's style and proportions,
that would not be suspected OF an origin outside
the family kitchen, except perhaps from the ex-
actness OF its methods and the absence OF unneces-
sary ana homogeneous elements. Where the
menaGa is limited this is by far the best mode OF
giving formal dinner small or large as 1t saves
an immense amount OF wear ana tear on the part
or the household machinery, and makes the AT air
an enjoyment instead of an anxiety to the mis-
treSs OF the house while the cost Is not apprecia-
Dly greater. There is not the least jar, and no
fear OF the intrusion OF unwelcOme elements upon
a modern dinner. The guests do not exceed
Upon card receiver In the hall or yestibuIe ara
card envelopes addressed to each one OF the gem
temcn guests which the attendant hands to him
as he removes his Overcoat takes charge OF hat
and cane. This envelope Contains the name OF the
lady he Is to take in to dinner and so the cO,DleS
are paired off silently and without the somewhat
embarrassing necessity on the part OF the hostess
o. assigning each gentleman TO each lady in per-
son. 1t follows naturally that there is certain
to dinner much more f1attering than an invita-
ton to a reception and brings together on these
occasions only the choicest spirits, the good
takers and the experienced In the ways OF a re-
hne1 social life.
ny, Young people naturally do not care for dinners.
They like the excitement the variety and even
the confusion of crowd The pleasure in dinner
giving and dinner taking Is one OF the compensa-
tons Tor the loss OF youth and beauty; bril-
llant woman Who has travelled and read and
thought is far more eligible dinner companion
than the pretty de5utante who has neither knowl-
dinner toilets are the most carefully studied of any
costumes that are worn. dinner toilet is the
laSt opportunity OF expiring coquetry; 1t IS the
elimination of the experienced taste and adapta-
Dll1ty 10 circumstances and Individuality. Gentle
men complain, and perhaps with reason. that
ladies' Wear black too much at dinner, and that the
Influence Is depressing. all black making funeral
instead OF dinner. But black with many ladies
Is a measure Of economy; it is their alternative
from the lighter Oh racteriSticS OF the ball
ing dress very successful dinner dress worn re-
Gently consisted OF network or steel forming the
basque, and pan1erS over steel gray satin. The
corSage bouquet was q great bunch OF red prov
ence roses.
Another exhibited coat OF ruby red satin over
white SILK sk RI ruffed upon the front with lace
lad n1inp
lar, not very high, above which was fun rufie of
lace, which Was carried down upon the outside,
ana formed Il jabot, in which We're small white,
CURED feathers. held by diamond stars. a larger
one being employed as pendant to pearl neck
lace.
great point In dinner dress Is to make an eff
rectiTe bodice. plain, trained skirt is better
IMAM any other, for Ii is graceful and easily dis
posed OF, but the upper part OF the dress should
present an appearance at once modest and pic
tureSque.
NEW DEPARTURE FOR BRIDESMAIDS
The Introduction OF color into dresses for brides
maids strikes the majority as quite new Depart
ure from the time-honOred custom OF robing them
In white, with only the difference In flowers to
distinguish them from the bride. There seems to
be no reason why they should be dressed in white
except custom In England white is not at all
obligatory for bridesmaids; in fact their costumes
are made as bright, as picturesque, as original
and as varied as possible from the conventIonalty
or the BRIDE and more In accordance with the SEN
timent or youth. It's gayety and its freedom
English IDEAS have been copied In many recent
Weddings-in the construction, for example, of an
evergreen and floral arch with gate, which two
TITLE girls, dressed esthetcally and carrying bas-
kets OF flowers, open for the bridal procession to
pass through. This little ceremony, performed by
village girls, members OF the school or OF the class
which the bride conducts, AMI whom she has
known all her lre has some significance In coun-
Try church wedding In England Here it has none
II Is simply part OF the decorative effect, and the
little girls are usually careful to keep their costly
flowers instead OF scattering them ia the pathway
n nrh nri
cal costume to hold up the train or the bride.
Ihere IS certain htnesso Or at least, rasOn dete,
and recall past hOnors, the story upon which
the family name is WOrthily built but il there is
no such motive the historical pages better left
out-or fools in cap and bells substituted OF
course, an honorable Puritan, OF other ancestry
has just as much right and reason to be comment
Grated but 1t Is where there IS no reason that the
copying or a piece OF display like this becomes
mere affectatlon-and from affectatIon and insln-
cerlty tne mot solemn and important OF all cere-
Color In bridesmaids dresses is, however
perfectly natural and charming idea. stlscept1.
grouping, and releasing them from the limits OF a
dress which is costly because so completely de-
pendent upon the completeness OF its accessories
aid only suitable for occasions. Doubtless white
has been retained because 1t Is considered safe: II
color Is allowed, care must be exercised in itS
selection and arrangement Tones must he
preserved, or at any rate not too violently con-
trasted. and alterations effected where repeti-
ton would produce either nonotOny or absurd.ty.
very delicate and combined with lace in alternate
panels upon the front, or IN masses OF dainty
Iuflng, or folds about the neck subues the effect
into the gentlest OF haftintS and renders it cap
abie OF the finest and most subtle infections
AT welding recently some OF the bridesmaids
wore shrimp pink ottoman silk, made up with
lace. and some pale green with white lace Both
wore white flowers. The effect was very good
indeed The brides dress was OF very rich rr-
cade and satin, the latter forming the train The
veil Was OF Brussels lace, and was fastened back
from the face which Is much better than Covering
IL, because 1t Is less embarrassing to the wearer
and can be arranged once for all. At another
wedding the bridesmaids wore yellow with
bouquets OF vloietS. This was yoo1 enough
combination. bat yellow Is not a favorable color
unless II Is introduced as one tone in a group OF
dainty, hower-ke colorS Neither IS blue: it Is
too cold Tor the daytime, and too uncertain and
iliuelve for the evening Pale green. the charm
ing Tint which Is fashionable this season. is much
better, and Is specially suited to blondes A
group OF three brown and demonstrated brides
maids were lately in light green satin surah.
with white lace and scarlet geranium for garni-
tune. Ivory Indian silk embroi 1ered with gold
the Liberty silk (MysOre IL Is called, makes Charm
Ing dresses for bridesmaids, trimmed with gold
embroidered lace, and worn with small marabout
leather DOnnetS, the marSbOut plumes tipped
Win eOd. Charlotte COrday bOnnetS are In great
vogue ior bridesmaids. They are made OF six or
plush, OF color to match the costume and
trimmed with an Alsatian bow and one wide long
ostrich plume. -Ae