Richland beacon., 1888-10-20
Table GarnItures.

Garniture in town suggests parsley.
varied occasionally with crosses, as for
beef steak, but this is wholly conven.
tional and in multitude of ways NAV
be varied bv the dweller amid green
helds and pastures gay. The garden
and the woods present constant and
eyer-changing market from which to
Gull the garniture.
From the French. who never serve
their fruits, no matter on how exquis
lte plate. without delicate napkin
OF green leaves under the luscious
masses of color, we should learn a les
son of art, OF beauty. Of WAYS and
means.
Lettuce is always available for meat
salads. but is not the thing to gar
nish those made Of other vegetables.
except tomatoes, but crosses, many
kinds of mint and the crinkled leaves
Of chicory are resources enough for all
such dishes as these.
No flower in the garden is so easily
cultivated as the nasturtium, and in
these days when bright yellow is a ia
vorlte color none other is more pleas
ing about the house, while the leav. s
and vine make the prettiest sort of
garniture for any kinds of cold meats.
salad, or fish. and the little seed pods
are so much appreciated for their
spicy flavor that picked they are more
OF an addition to salads than the
capers which caterer invariably uses.
Indeed, some persons use the leaves
and flowers from this nasturtlum vine
as part of meat salad, liking much
the strange, sharp spice.
For O'Clock tea service the deli
cate piles of thin bread and butter
should be eDcircled with q feathery
wreath of fragrant lemon verbena, and
II the hostess drop sprig of this into
each cup ere she pour the boiling tea
delicate foreign flavor will be infused
into the decoctlon. Indeed. this sim
pie addition, without even a wave of
the hands and a mysterious "presto.
change" transforms an everyday Gun
of tea into an old and much .prized
spanish drink.
Wreaths of lemon verbena or rose.
geranum are the prettiest decoration
for finger bowls, although when thev
are unobtainable delicate ferns. trail
ing vines, feathery grasses. ivy leaves,
horseshoe geraniums and even many
shaded rose leaves are not to be de-
spised.
Sweet-eented and spicy herbs, too.
may be used about the finger bowls if
nothing else is available, when they
would not be at all agreeable surround.
ing something to be eaten.
At a country dinner, game-usullIv
small roasted birds-ls sometimes
served, rolled in beautiful smooth
pieces of birch bark. lined with leaves
of freshly lined spear mint, and tied
around with some long ribbon grass.
Scarlet fuchsias are used to decorate
any cold meats or salads which are
deep pink or red in color, Holsters, !
schrimps, boiled ham or tongue, etc.
Grape leaves and their twining ten
drills are the most suitable choice on !
which to arrange fru t, although there
are many kinds of which the fol age
itself forms a pleasing cushion.
Extreme neatness should be the 4,
prominent feature in the household !
which permits itself to become decor
alive. Mt only because until that is
obtained all the time should be spent
10 gain the exguisiteness Of house
keeping. but because everyone is con.
;c:ous Of the insect life among which
plants unfold their loyeliness, and
perfect confidence in ones hostess is
necessary to make a table much orna.
nented with foliage a delight to the
;harer. ?
1t should be the habit Of anyone
having the table decoration in charge
% cut the blossoms or foliage an hour
Or two before using, to dip them care
'ully in fresh water or sprinkle them,
citing the water run through a colan-
ler. then placing the stems in water,
ct them stand in cold, dark place
Until every leaf shall lift itself upright
md fresh.