Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-03-28
FASHIONABLE DINNERS.
Elaborate Costumes Which Increase
the Guests Pleasure and the Hosts
ENpense

Expense.
Philadelphia Press.
With the spread of wealth and refine
ment greater attention is now directe
to the dclicacieS of the table, and every
seas n in Philadelphia sees something
added to the elegance of dining. If
matters keep Oh. this countrv-not to
mention England will he able to ont
rival i'll sumptuous repasts the CASTRO
nomic eXtravagances of the most luxu-
riouS age of France. Philip le Bet
used to have at his dinners fountain
of real champagne, which flowed from
the mouths of leopard5 and lions. Not
only Francis but good many other
monarchs INDUCED in the feature of a
piece of mechanism in the ceiling OF
the banqueting hall which let down
magnificent cooked shes and i'll dong
so scattered shower of roses and
swer;meats over the guests. Similarly,
Lou XVIII at his elaborate b IN ,uets
Wa, accustomed to have ortolans with
truiics cooked inside of partridges
and on one occasion had a dinner OF
100 different dishes.
In novelties and in elaboration OF
caisinc the nineteenth century is not
far behind these examples. Some O
the dinners Mrs. Mackey has been CIV
ing in Paris have been on a scale OF
mAgniiicence almost incredible. Two
weeks ago the Countess kessler, in
Paris, gave dinner for Miss Mac&ey
at which. on account of the nationality
OF the lady. besides the full orchestra
which Is now usual accompaniment
at large private dinners in Europe,
there WIS introduced score of banjo
players, who sang and played some
national American airs, such rs Yankee
Doc lie" AMI "Di les Land" Speech.
making at Il nnerS, vocal AMI Instru
mental music-SO netimes behind the
scenes, "a it Were. hidden by shrubberv
surprises, presents. and ever so ma ~
more incidental features, have for q
long time been part OF the programme
at elegant repasts in the fashionable
society o: this and other cites
To Philadelphia. which has origin
at"d so many curious and interesting
dinner customs, as Will rs novelties III
dinner decorations and in dinner cook
ing, belongs the credit of Originlti le
what may be describ> Il as dinner theat
ricaiS. Beginning last season with a
few small AMI select repasts and now
branching out into more general fash.
ion, the idea has b. en- started of serving
parts of the dinner or ban luet by sub
dued light or in total darkness. in order
to make them more effective. The
fashion started with punch, and has
now extended to ice cream.
The first time the thing was done in
Philadelphia the effect was startling
1t WAS at farewell bachelors dinner,
given by Il yolng man on the eve of his
wedding. The bachelors, who were
'lemn anyway, as betting the occa
sion, We're SEATED i'll solemn black
around the solemn board Suddenly in
the midst of the meal the lights mvs-
terlously went out, and to slow music q
dozen or more spectral waters entered
from different ends of the room. Be
fore ca III guest was set small punch.
bowl, in and around which the spirit
was tlaring and burnng in fantastic
b'ue coils of flame. The effect of thi,
light on sIch an assemblage can be
ina incd. But it took. AMI there has
not been bachelors dinner since al
which this episode has not been re
Oeatel