St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-12

Il @X5& writer. A logical de-
W&SA ductiOn would prove
HEE to you that this was
I2SNEA the case, as the table
~ 49, is now set and wait
49, ~ ing for ten people
and only eight are in
vited, but fully half the world is not
logical and wants facts. Since last
weeks letter l have been asked what
should be done in the case of small
households resources refusing to fur
niSh so many changes of Silver-fOrkS
and spoons and knives? Unless one has
a treasure of cook who never is
ratified, it is most unwise to ask her to
take her attent ion from the serving and
garniShing of the different courses to
wash knives and forks, and the maid or
man servant whose duty it is to wait at
table certainly has no time, and you
know this little entertainment
is not grand enough to re-
quire more than two servants.
The wisest thing is to supply ones
needs of this kind in plated ware until
the time shall come when an abundance
course. Plated silver is not expensive; !;
enough for occasional use, but which, if
used regularly, would soon show the
metal foundation.
1t is nice to take pains, in the Selec-
tion of this, to find pattern not unlike
ones silver. The same advice applies
to china, and if the. households prop
eFty does not supply enough it would
render success much more sure to beg,
borrow, rent or buy all that the changes
demand. If stern necessity requires
that some must be used again, choose
the fish plates for the salad or Ice
cream, send them down to cook to wash,
as nearly an hour must elapSe between
those courses, and cook will secure
more intervals of leisure than the maid.
Some persons in this dilemma resort to
the eXpedient of a charwOman, hired
for diShwaShing, ETC., but the amount
of her hire frequently will soon supply
the needed articles.
With this explanation given let us
proceed from the point at which we had
arrived last week. The table spread all
arranged, the host and hostess are
IN A STATE OF EXPECTATIONS;
though, of course not kept waiting a
nOment, for Wh0 would commit that eX-
traordinary faux pas" of being late for
a tdinner?f At this time the hostess
makes her husband acquainted with the
lady whom she delights to honor with
the seat at the hosts right hand, and
whom he will therefore escort into the
dining rOom.. -.
AS Mr.. No. 2 comes in Mr.. No. 1, of
course, leaves the hostess, with whom
he is speaking, at which moment she
gives him, in quiet aside, the name of
the lady whom he is to take in, proceeds
as quietly to tell MI. No. and, in his
turn, Mr.. No. 3. MIR. No. may re-
main in ignorance, for at the mo-
ment when the servant steps quiz
city into the room and seeking the
mistress eye states simply: Dinner
is served" pointing the statement di-
rectly to the hostess, and rising and
looking at her husband. calling him by
name says: ''Wili you give your arm
to Mrs. SO-and-so." Then turning to
Mr.. No. asks him to take iler in. The
other gentlemen having had their hint,
now offer their attendance to the ladies,
and follow the host to the dining-room,
the hostess and her escort entering last.
Here, then, is very difficult problem to
solve: How. shall people find their
seats? 1t has been decided the only way
that this can be done without confusion
! is by name being attached to each
cover. This may be done in as simple
or in as elaborate manner as one pleases.
. There can be no arbitrary rule, only it
is advisable to do it i'll some way. =.
Ii there should be revolt against tho
edicts of society in this particular thing
(and perhaps in few OtherS), it would
, simplify matters most pleasantly. If
. the hostess, with her chosen escort,
could precede her guests, she would
then be in place to intelligibly guide
. those guests to their proper places with
out confusion and without hesitation.
All being seated it is now the duty of
the servant to place the soup plates at
. the left OF the host, the steaming tureen
in front of him; then standing at his
left, with tray in hand, she receives the
plates of soup and passes them to the
guests i'll turn, beginning with the lady
on the hosts right. 1t has been her last
duty just before announcing the dinner
to place in each napkin thick square
of bread, and to fill the glasses with
crushed ice and water. After serving
the soup, having nothing more to do
til the course is finished, unless there be
celery to pass on her tray, she retires
behind the hosts chair. This place of
standing should never be varied except
N the case of there being no hostess,
when the host may make his own plan
as suits his own fancy. Some persons
the house to have the servant always
behind him. No greater mistake was
ever conceived. The arrangement is
made entirely for the convenience of
the hostess, who should be playing a
dual role, that of carefully watching her
guests needs and making herself al
ways charming and entertaining.
AS the course iSfiniShed, she removes
the tureen first, the plates after, taking
each one out separately and placing it
Oh the longer shelves in her pantry
bared for this purpose. Never should
an attempt be made to pile dishes on the
dumb-walter and send down to the
Kitchen.
THE FISH PLATES ARE NEXT SET DOWN
the fish platter placed before the host,
and the service of this course carried
out as was the other, except that pickles
and bread should be also passed on the
tray. From now on the watchful eyes
of mistress and maid should see that no
person needs water, bread, salt, pepper,
forks or knives sometimes by mistake
more than one goes out as a course is re-
moved. The same order of removal
being proceeded with, the heavy meat
courseZis put on, and while the host is
tearving the servant passes salted
almonds, which are put In little pile OH
sthesSmall bone dish, whichstands beside
each cover until after the salad course.
|, Then If she have time she may 60 round
! with the olives and again the bread. The
sfilet de bGuf broiled having the mush-
srOOms spread over the top, the host
sserveS both together, after which, from
1.-THE side table, the servant takes the
|sdish OF mashed potatoes, Drowned, and
passes to each person OH her tray. Then
she goes round with the iellies. and