Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-21


cate blush on the face OF society this winter for
the pink chrysanthemum, the delicate 'I.s
France" paler pink rose, and pink plnks arr
the favorte decorations Pink dresses pink rib
bOns pink vases and pink menus ornament the
tables OF the luxurious lunchers, and the whole
aspect OF decoration is couie,tr de rose
| OF course the dominant mower Is the great pinl
rose, which, embedded in maidenhair fern, forms
the select, exquisite and fragrant nower OF the
feast Water-ices are concealed In a frozen sem
q lss beautiful 50 one Will
lies on plate amid real rose leaves, and nnds 9
delicious Roman punch hidden in this delicate icy
natural flowers with the real leaves attached has
long been afavorite luxury, but this freez ng an
would look as il Jack Frost had a spite at Flora
There is great Improvement In the fashionable
dinners They are less long; the menu is not SC
vail: and there Is a softening Of the light, and
| every effort TO keep the rooms cooler. We have
is IS either p drpuehty rom an
open window, or II Is too hot The latter Is the
chief fault No guest wishes TO be cooked as II he
| were the venison being heated up In q chaflng-
dish.
There should always be two or three dishes at a
dinner party which are perfectly simple and whole
some; the wise goOd-livers are DESTROYS OF one
plain piece OF mutton or chicken, and lady may
\ by all the great diners-out.
/ These dinners TO be enjoyable must be given
with genuine idea Of hospitality, and not merely
I
| the ball OF conversation can be tossed from hand
| TO hand; they must be led by hostess who can
there must be nothing OF the %huee feed" about sn
| them; nor should the table look as II 10 were a
| segment of siiversmith's window. There should
De enough silver TO brighten the table, not TO
| OVERLOAD Il.
Hostesses this winter are inclining to high dishes
OF flowers, very lightly and carelessly arranged,
and no formal bouquets; there is also less fancy
for things out OF seasOn-no sour strawberries at a
dollar apiece, no tssteess shad, no bad asparagus
4 n nar of fhsaF
| There are also fewer servants in the dining
| room. Two well-trained men can wait on a party
cumbersome than half-dozen tripping up each
| others heels.
There is great deal more attention paid to the
amusing OF guests during dinner and after dinner
| by means OF music. The mandolin IL played in an
adjoining chamber, giving much OF an Italian air
delicate, is very tiresOme IL played too long and
too much. The best music is the playful tourna-
| ment OF tongues, for the great dinner success
must ever De the conversation. The talk should
De lightly brilliant, and all severe discussions as
10 religion and politics, and also the more danger
Gus social dy Mantle, gossip, should be avoided.
Very clever people are not always the best din
ner.table takers; people should radiate talk at
a dinner, and not soliloquize. Women Of large
worldly knowledge are the best dinner takers;
men or inteiltg snce who know one thing well, and,
like American men, all things somewhat. are good
company at the dinner table. 1t is dreadful mis-
fortune to the hostess II she nds she has invited
professional joker and that there is one person
at table who cannot take joke. For a witty
woman 10 SIT next man who does not catch her
allusOns flying ruins her attempt at conversation.
There Is no harm done by having a dinner card
prepared with a conundruln, a Shakespeare quota
lion, or disputed question from Notes and
Queries, written out TO help one through such
emergencies. But no one can make host or
hostess, more than one can make an Elizabeth
Browning. IL one has not the genius OF entertain
lnent she had better not try TO give dinner. A
hostess OF tact lets her own powers of cOnversa-
ton lie perdn her guests are in full career with
out her The dinners break up early this winter,
and the gentlemen are only allowed half hour
over their cigars and chdsse.
No people are brighter or happier OF tongue than
the Americans That is what makes them popu-
lar In London. But beware OF scandal: IL Is Two
edged sword, q boomerang which always returns
on the one who throws IL.
There Is much TO be sad In defense of gentlenen
III Ihey are silent during dinner. Their days are
occupied with more serious business: they may be
Iatiguei, and most men care more for eating
ana drinking than women do. Many men In this
country look upon society simply female
recreation. Dut 1t Il TO be hoped that every year
VIII nnd men more willing TO 90 their
clai duties. since IL Is now the habit 70 pass ali
the dishes, 10 have no carving done on the table,
there should be no pressing OF hospitality, nor
should guest ever ask To he helped twice. il oc-
cLsons great awkwardness 10 the butler il a guest
asks 10 have his plate replenished as probably
Their Is no more OF that particular plat elt iii the
kltcnen-
There is no Introducing OF guests In a modern
draSing-rooIn before dinner. The host simply says
Mr.. Brown, you are 10 take Mrs. Joues In TO din,
ner and II the parties do not know each other the
host may present this one gentleman; but even
lhis Is not necessary; the roof Is sufficient intro
duction.
In America two ladies will meet in a friends
parlor, and II not Introduced. will sit and gaze az
each other II they belonged " hOstt e tribes OF
Indians and were seeking each Others scalp IL is
relic or oaroarism, and shows that the Indian Is
still coming out OF the ground In this native land
Of the reskins; moreover, 10 is dreadfully ignor-
ant and illbred IL Is proper In your friends par
Tor To exchange the Commonplace OF courtesy.
IL you go down the front steps without SPEAK,
ing. Have good manners Tor ten miuutes I'M yOnr
friends house. II Is the least repayment you can
make Tor the privilege OF being there.
lnxl staf drxazs She ole.
rigueuT In England for dinner. IL Is not always
worn In America, although always proper; but
ladies should remember that dress Was made TO
dignity the human body and TO corer IL. Elderly
women sometimes dress too young, and should re-
member he Die OF the OK that stroye 10 gambol
ike the gazelie. and that received the reproof OF
Jupiter.
Truly fascinating women have no need Of effort
TO appear what they are not either young or old.
They are not Called on 10 trumpet their own
charms or conquestS, or TO touch themselves 10
Ike an Old pastei-the world gives them alteration
Fascination Is gift OF the gods, AMI TO do Amer-
can women Justice they almost all have an int III
ton OF dress.
One q the laneies q the winter, and one very
agreeable 70 record, Is the fashion or enter aiming
young girls not yet out by asking bevy OF them
10 listen 10 tue best elOcutionlsts the best must
clans, and the best readers and singers who can
be brought together Young girls from ten 10
eighteen are difficult people 10 entertain. They
are the most receptive and YET the most critical OF
people. As late hours are forbidden, they have
not the distraction OF balls Is the wise mother
tempted 10 allow them fine Clothes; they are
dAlihs ou lev III THESE OF au-
yanced female training the little girl OF thirteen
plays her piano very well she Is being taught the
languages; II she Is an OmnlvOrOus reader She
knows all about the poets, and something OF the
romance writers; her little brain full OF romance
she Is deyoured by curiosity. BY all means give
her an afternoon Tea, wnere she can hear the best
singing, the best piano-piaying the best eocution.
IL Will give her something 10 think Of and II viii
help her 10 grow up little lady.
As gloves are worn with IOw-nccRed. short
seeved dresses reaching nearly up TO the shoulders
Ladies' 90 not take Oh the whole glove but simply
hrs1NE off hal and and
the glove during dinner, leaving The arm covered.
Ladies IuncheOns are more gorgeous. more fasn-
ionabe, more personally fiatterlng, than any other
attention. II Is one OF the IancieS 10 say: Shau
/ luncheon with you:" 81 tuncheoaed with him.,
instead or saying al tuached with him" One
hostess OF the winter gave large luncheon OF nifty
or sixty, having small groups around the
would De from a supper-table, from one
large buffet at the end OF the room.
This was delightfully."- social and pleasant; negro
miuStFe!S-real negroes from the plantation-Sang
the real plantation melodies Now such lunc. Icon
as this has great advantages. II enables lady
TO invite more than she can 10 Shutdown lunch;"
II Is useful Institution, enabling hOste - to
show a considerable amount OF ciyiity TO great
number at comparatively little trouue 10 herself.
She can have young Ladies', single ladies, married
ladies, OH LADIES' all OF whom ike 10 meet eacn
other. She can have persons at such a luncheon
u Is always pleasant way OF entertaining
stranger. She Can oier 10 them all the same deli
cdcies-Salads, pates, boDed turkey oysters, ices
1eiiles-tnat she would cfier at a dinner, begin
ming, OF course, with bouilIon In cups.
( LADIES' do not remove their bonnets at a lunch
remove In the outer room, because the TACT OF eat
Il Ing In a crowded rom makes them very much fO0