Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-01
DfSSEE GIVING

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nne dinner that hOusekespers abandoned
them In despair, and gentlemen formed the
habit OF dining their friends at the clubs
rather than at their own houses. or Iate-
however, houses have been built adapted 10
hOspltaDle uses. Instead Of barn-like re-
ception rooms and a dining room in the base
menf, the dining room is made one Of a noble
suit Of apartments connected with q system
Of service in the shape Of fre-prO0f pantries
safes and heaters, as perfect IS that OF anv
club house In these houses dinner giving has
become nne-art. and even Ia lesser establish
ments @nttle" dinners IN honor OF = friend are
considered the most elegant and accountable
form that hospitality can take. and certainly
the most enjoyable Nothing can be imagined
more delightful in the way OF social cOmpan-
lonship than the gathering Of few well
chosen persons N charming house which has
not been bereft Of the special signs Of house
occupation as for 8 crowded reception but
where hOWers add their charm 10 the books
and pictures sad artistic finish. and the bright
talk hOws freely between persons whose tastes,
habits, and modes OF thought run in the same
channels. IL Is possible noW-a-days to give
dinner without making il a burden upon the
household. or source OF embarrassment
10 the hostess a caterer can be engaged
who VIII come IN quietly st q certain
hour, accompanied by an experienced waiter.
II necessary; set the table and serve the din
ner IN courses, quite perfect in its style and
proportions, that would not be suspected Of
an origin outside Of the family kitchen, ex-
cept, perhaps, from the exactness of its
methods and the absence Of unnecessary and
incongruous elements. Where the merage is
limited. this Is by lar the best mode Of giving
. formal dinner, small or large, as il saves an
immense amount Of wear and tear on the part
Of the household machinery, and makes the
affair an enjoyment instead Of an anxiety 10
the mistress Of the house, while the cost is not
appreciably greater. There is not the least
jar, and NO fear Of the Intrusion OF unweleOme
elements upon modern dinner. The guests
limited to eight OF ten. Upon
card receiver in the hail or
vestibule are card envelopes addressed to each
one OF the gentlemen guests, which the at
tendant hands 20 him as he removes his over
coat or takes charge Of hat and cane. This
envelope contains the name Of the lady he is
10 take into dinner, and 50 the couples are
paired on silently and without the somewhat
embarrassing necessity on the part OF the
hostess Of assigning each gentleman TO each
lady IN person. II follows naturally that
there Is a certain process Of selection which
renders the invitation to a dinner much more
hattering than an invitation to reception,
and brings together on these occasions only
the choicest spirits, the good takers and the
life.
Young people naturally do not care for din
neFs. They like the excitement, the variety
and even the confusion of a crowd. The
pleasure in dinnergiving and dinner taking
Is one of the cOmpensatiOn5 for the loss OF
youth and beauty Ter a brilliant woman who
has travelled and read and thought Is a far
more eligible dinner companion than the
pretty debutante who has neither knowledge
nor appreciation Of menu. Ii follows that
dinner toilets are the most carefully studied
of any costumes that are worn. A dinner
toilet is the last opportunity of expiring CO.
quetry. Ii is the elimination OF the expert
enced taste ana adaptability to circumstance
and individuality. Gentlemen complain, and
perhaps with reason, that ladies wear black
too much at dinner, and that the influence is
depressing, all black making a funeral in
stead of a dinner. But black with many
ladies is a measure Of economy; il is their al
hrhfQF a a~I aff faz nf
the ball or evening dress. 4 very successful
dinner dress worn recently consisted of net
work Of steel forming the basque, aLd paniers
over steel gray satin. The cOrsage bouquet
was a great bunch of red provence roses.
Another exhibited coat of ruby red satin
over white silk skirt ru filed upon the front
with lace. The coat was open and had an
outstanding collar, not very high, above
which was full ruffe of lace, which was car
ried down upon the outside and formed q
jabot in which were small white curled feath-
ers held by diamond stars, a larger one being
employed as pendant to a pearl necklace,
great point in dinner dress Il 20 make
an effective bodice. \ plain TRAINED skirt is
better than any other, for il is graceful and
easily disposed of, but the upper part of the
dress should present an appearance at once
modest and picturesque.
ANEW DEPARTURE FOR BRIDESMAIDS.
The introduction of color into dresses for
bridesmaids strikes the majority as quite
new departure from the time -hOnOred custom
OF robing them IN white with only the differ
ence 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
brldesmalds-ln fact their costumes are made
as bright, as picturesque, as original and a.
varied as possible from the conyentionallty of
the bride, and more in accordance with the
sentiment OF youth, its gayety and its freedom
English ideas have been copied in many re-
cent weddings, and in the construction, for ex-
ample, of an evergreen and floral arch with
which haaef fEaf oil
cally and carrying baskets Of flowers, open
for the bridal procession 10 pass through. This
little ceremony performed by village girls,
members or the school or of the class which
the bride conducts, and whom she hes known
all her life, has some significance in q cOIIn-
try church wedding in England. Here it has
none. 1t Is simply part OF the decorative Ell
feet, and the little girls are usually careful to
keep their costly flowers instead Of scattering
them IN the pathway tof the bride; also OF
pages IN court or historical costume
10 hold up the train of the brides There is a
certain fitness, or at least T,aisOn d'etre when
the dresses are copied from family pOrtFat and
recall past hOnors, or the story ngen Which
the family name is Worthiiy built but if
there is no such motive, the historical pages
are better left out, or fools in cap and bells
substituted. OF course an honorable Puritan
or other ancestry has just as much right and
reason 10 be cOmmemOrated; but i j. where
there is no reason that the copying of a piece
of display like this becomes mere affectation
and from afectatlon and insincerity the most
as far as possible be separated
Color in bridesmaids dresses is, however,
perfectly natural and charming idea. and is
susceptible of much delicate suggestion and
from the limits of a dress which
is costly because so completely de-
pendent apon the completeness Of its
aCcessi0ns and only suitable for occasions
Doubtless white has been retained because il
Is considered safe, If color is allowed care
must be exercised in its selection and arrange
ment. Tones must be preserved, or al any
rate, not too violently contrasted, and alterna-
tlens effected where repetition would produce
either mOnOtonY or absurdity. The cOlors
too, selected tor such purposes are very deli
cate ana combined with lace in alternate
panels upon the front, or in masses Of dainty
ruthing, or folds about the neek subdues the
effect into the gentlest of ha,f tints, and l,Si,
ders It capable Of ths finest and mosl subtle
Infections, D'''
At wedding recently some of the brides-
maids wore shrimp-pink Ottoman silk
made up with lace, and some pale green with
white lace. Both wore white flowers. The
enect was very good, indeed. The brides
aress was OF very rich brocade and satin, the
latter forming the train. The veil was of
BRUSSELS lace, and was fastened back from the |
race, which is much better than covering it,
and can be arranged once for all, AS another
wedding the bridesmaids wore yellaw with |
boquets OF violets, This was good enough !
but yellow il not a favorable |
a group of dainty. fower-lilxe cOlors. Neither |
Is blue! 1t Is too cold for the day time and too
and illusive for the evening. Pale
green; the charming tint which is fashion /
able this season s much better, and is specially
suited to blondes. a group Of three brown |
and bronze h2iled bridesmaids were lately m 4
light green satin surah, with white lace and /
scarlet geranium for garniture. Ivory Indian
six embroidered with gold, the liberty silk !
.MysOre, it is called). makez charming dresses
Tor bridesmaids, trimmed with gold embroid- /
ed lace, ana worn with small marabout feather
OOnnets, the marabout plumes tipped with 4
vogue for bridesmaids. They are made of 4
silk or plush, of a color 70 match the costume. |
and trimmed with an Alsatian bow and one /
wide long ostrich plume,
PATTERNS IN PRINTED cOTroNs,
Mr.. William Morris, the English art lecora.
OF, complained, IN recent address. that uoIy I
DIlnIs sou - Wen, or Better, than pretty ones
ino argued Irec..n that fact that the common 1
lcople we're utterly deficient in taste and aid /
not know how to distinguish a pretty design /
rom one that was not pretty. But that is NOT /
4 fair or true inference. The lives of the moor
OF those who buy printed cOttons mainly
in England-is disassoeiated from
all ideas of taste. ''Prettiness" is to them as
'ociated with flmsiness, and in cottons with |
,olors that will not Hwaah. - The aesthetic idea
n the mind Of the hard worked woman of
mail means Is combined with utility. II
print viii not " wash " she knows that
.hOugh 1t may be pretty for a while n
VIII be faded and shabby very soon. And she
'ejoices IN something that viii come out from
lnder the hat-iron as fresh as when She
)ought 1t, and the color, dull though il may !
De, in an equally good state Of preservafionf !
'Prettlness" i for those who can afford il: I
md il 10 the fault OF manufacturers IL fhev2
nave made the common, the ugly or the
ordinary lives. The range OF coffops
8 necessarily limited, There is NOTHING f,ref-