Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-02-21
The State Dinn.r.

| INC hHAlo hOuse Will seat, Dy close
crowdlng, thirty six people. This. then,
Is the number invited, and usually there
are not less than thirty ON these occas-
ions. Where IL is convenient to do so.
as many ladies as gentlemen are invited,
though at diplomatic dinners, when all
the foreign Ministers here are to be
present, 1t Is found impossible to seat
as many at the table as this plan would
reqnire, so that the rule is not always
followed. The table is usually very
handsomely ornamented with flowers, a
huge floral design of some sort appear
ing as center piece, and smaller ones
near the ends. Two large golden can
delabra, or branching caIldlesticks,
holding perhaps dozen candles apiece
occupy places on the table, one at ell
ther end of the floral centrepiece. These
contain the finest of wax candles, which
are lighted Just before the dinner be-
gins. Near the ends of the table are
smaller candelabra, with perhaps half
dozen candles apiece, each having
little pink hned shade at the top sup
ported by silver rod which clasps the
candle near the bottom. The plates
are placed ''r1ght side up with care"
about thirty inches apart around the
table. On each plate the napkin is laid,
and on the napkin bouquet, for the
ladies' fiat corsage bouquet of rose
buds and sometimes lilies of the valley;
for the gentlemen usually single half
opened rose bud. Besides these Is laid
a card, one on each plate, and on it the
nf fha ln IN OF tp.s
place. Tue head of the table, on these
occasions, Is not at the end, but IN the
middle. The seat occupied by the
President is half way up the side Of the
table, at the side next the door at which
the guests enter. the lady whom he
escorts to dinner sits at his right and
the honored guest on the occasion sits
directly opposite the President, with
his lady on his right. Those who ar
range the table and the order III which |
the guests sit, of course arrange SO that |
gentleman and wife do not sit side by |
side under any circumstances.
When the arrangement for sea ting Is |
completed, and each person has been
assigned to his place, a card is prepared |
for each gentleman and placed in an en-
velope bearing his name. On one side
of this card is plan OF the table with /
each seat numbered. On the other side |
is the name of the lacy whom he Is to
escort to the table and the numbers OF |
the seats they are to occupy. These
envelopes are handed to the gentlemen
as they enter by a gentlemanly usher
named Alien, and as soon as the gentle
man has ''shed" his outer garments he
examines his card, curses or blesses the
fates which have consigned HIM to an
uncongenlal partner fer the evening,
and hies him TO the East Room, when,
after paying his respects to the Presi-
dent, he hunts up his lady and prepares
for tie evening. Meantime, the famous
Marine Band has taken its place il the
yestibule. After a half hour spent in
conversation IN the East Room, the
President gives the signal to an attend
ant, who passes 1t on totne baud, which
strikes up some appropriate selection.
and the President, giving his right arm
TO the lad whom he Is to escort to DIM
ner, leads the way to the diniDg-room.
The others follow, each gentleman CIV
ing his arm t. the lady designated by
his card. The President usually takes
to the table the wife of the Secretary
of State. The promenade down the
long hail to the dining-room is very
slow, and is striking and beautiful
spectacle. The ladies, of course, are
III evening costume, the handsomest
that money and ingenuity can provide,
and the gentlemen in dress suits,
the lights brilliant, the hall lined with
flowers and tropical plants, and the
music enhancing. Arriving at the.
table, the guests are seated III their or
der, and the dinner, which is usually in
twelve or fourteen courses, with half
dozen different wines, occupies fully
three hours, and, it may be added, Is
good.