The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-08
ORDER AT TABLE.
How Family Meal-Times Can BE Made
Veritable Household Festivals.

!
yeritable Household Festivals.
Nothing contributes more to the COM
fort and attractiveness of home than 4
neat and orderly manner of serving the
family meals. The furnishing of the
house may be plain TO baroness, and
the food of the simplest quality. But
if, twice or thrice a day, the family is in
vited to repast that is in itself an in
vitatiOn, by reason of its pleasing ar
rangement of dishes. its clean linen,
and its general air of brightness and
good cheer, the absence of other things
which might help to make the home
delightful is not so deeply felt. And if,
in addition to its agreeable appearance,
the meal is served with order, and the
''prOprieties" are observed by young
and old, it needs only the pervading
spirit of mutual goodwill and the
piquant sauce of lively conversation to
elevate the family teetin9-tinse into a
delightful household festival.
1t is wise, then, for the good ''hOuse-
mother" bothered and weary though
she be, to make point of providing
stitI kCItfC HiCdiS IOi HCl lSlllIilN. 1hl
the husband-thc h0uSe-bGnd-shOuld
feel that he, too, has share in the re-
sponsibility. for he can do much to
make or mar the pleasure of the feast.
The boys and girls will be very likely
to follow the example of their elders
in respect to table manners; but they can
also, especially as they grow older, con-
tribute their quota to the general en-
joyment. And the intention of this
article is to suggest few hints rs to
how this may be done, even though
there be little to do with.
One of the first conditions of an at
tractive meal is an attractive place to
eat in. If possible, the dining-room
should be separate from the cooking
room, so that neither the odors nor the
''clutter" of the kitchen may offend the
sense of the feasters. At any rate, the
room should be as bright and CHEEKY as
it is possible to make it-cooi
in summer, warm and ''cOzy'
in winter. Aud the linen should
be clean-to say "spotless " would
no doubt be to say too much, at
least after a day or two of use; but it
should not be used so long as to become
untidy. A clean cloth will itself help
children-and careless elders, toto
soil it as little as possible, while an oc-
caSional word of pleasant rebuke from
mother for undue heedlessness will as
sist the youngsters in learning to be
neat in table habits. As for the dishes,
they may not be of Sevres or Limoges,
vet if whole and clean. they may be so
placed upon the table rs to have
pleasing effect. If the season of flow
erS, vase of them in the center of the
table will lend an added grace, and to
provide these should be the special
Office of the girls.
In serving, it should be the aim of
all concerned to avoid clattcr and noise,
to do every thing quietly and without
haste, to make. in word. as little
fuss" as possible. A family meal
should not partake of the hustle and
confusion of public table at fourth
rate hotel. Let every thing-here as
clseWhere--be done decently and in
order.
1t is not well to crowd the table with
too many dishes at once. If there is
second course, it should not be put on
until the first is finished and the dishes
cleared away. even if one of the family
must act as waitress. No one should
be served with dessert until all have
finished the first course. The interval,
while the table is cleared, can be pleas
antly and proiitably occupied with con-
verSation: it will not be time wasted.
And beyond all these orderly ways
which we have simply outlined Gin the
rough are little courtesies
which ought to be carefully observed
between members of the same family
as between trangerS-cOurtesies of lip
and eye and hand, the polite ''thank
you," the quick notice of a want, and
the ready hand to supply it-all of
which. small in themselves, ''conven-
tional' if you will, add much to the
comfort and attractiveness of the
family meal. The observance of them
costs nothing; tie absence of them takes
away no small part of the grace of life.
". y Examiner.