Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-12
EXQUISITE OF COUNTRY LIFE.
Manner and Occupations I'm Neigh.
bOrhOOAs In Sumnaer.

| bOrh00As In Summer.
| THE CoUNrRY-rB nANAefxkNr OF TIE TABLE
ANUsEhRNrs-cARxIA0E RIDING AND RQuIPAGEs.
Copyrighted. 1881
Written for TIE EVENING STAR.
The country neighborhood In England Is q very
important phase. It means q collection OF Villas
neighbortng great houses, where hospitality goes
on all the time, and where there Is something near
which Is OF historical interest to see Perhaps life
never can assume more picturesque interest to
| an American than when catching glimpse OF
this stately living, which has birth, antiquity and
| wealth behind it Such condition OF things never
comes 10 US Americans Our country life must be
very simple in comparison, and 1t is for the most
part so lonely for the rch that they forsake their
country places and go to Newport or to Mount
Desert, where they ind company near at hand.
Half OF the once historic houses on the North
River are forsaken, and We all know OF more than
owners do not ma life agreeable In It.
Half OF this objection 10 living in the country
comes from the servant nuisance. The cook Is
always free TO decanp on Saturday night and the
guests who come down for Sunday may take care
or themselves as best they may.
and have their country neighborhoods at Law
renee, at Orange, at MorrtstOwn and In the neigh
6orhoOd OF all large cities They like to entertain
their city guests without much parade or expense
and certainly their city guests like to be enter
tanned
NOW, HOW TO 1KKD THEN,
That Is the question. Every country house.
holder should try to have vegetable garden, for
peas, beans, young turnips and salads freshly
gathered are very superior to those which can be
bought OF all the country luxuries fresh vege-
tables are the greatest Especially does the tired
the fresh strawberries The large family of salads
can make the plainest dinner delightful! Given
clear beef soup slice Of fresh fish, bit of spring
mo ooos nd Proc
potatoes salad OF lettuce or sliced tomatoes q
potato salad with onion, and one has a good din
ton can laugh at the caprices OF cooks An egg
salad Is very good dish for hungry company,
and cold ham on the side6oaTd viii iced null
vegetables for their dinner in summer.
That is not healthy. Let all the dinner be
day in summer, for the digestion is aided by the
caioric: It Is strange the inability to get good
meal on the centers OF travel In America. In the
Catskllls Two young men nearly starved to death
a few years ago In taking a walking tour, nothing
being obtainable at farin-houses or country tav-
erns but sodden pork fried in bad fat. The true
luxurteS OF the COMMITTEEMAN, tender chickens,
fresh eggs-are rarely to be procured in country
nelghborhoodS One must go to the cities for
these The broiled nsh, broiled chickens, broiled
steaks and chops are always satisfactory The
gridiron made SC: Lawrence mt for heaven and its
Qualities have been elevating and refining ever
since 10 our poor human nature
NEAR SEA AND CITY,
The housekeeper In a country neighbofhood near
the sea has an ample store to choose from in the
lobster and other crustace@ and the fresh fish, yet
these even at Newport are sent first to the city,
where we get always the best fresh fish. In the
ne1ghDOrhood OF cities, tranpS and burglars so
abound that only plated silver should Oe used.
Even at some Of the great houses, at Newport 1t
Is OstentaliOusly announced that there is not q
real silver spoon In the house-nothing to steal.
For deserts, one would think the country neighbour
hood would be peerless. Fresh berries and cream,
the fruit TART and with the advantages OF the pa
tent ice-cream freezer, good homemade cake also
sounds very appetlzing. And yet how often is
that unhealthy Accumulation, scanned peaches"
set before the visitor who has sighed for the wild
wood flavor OF fresh berry. AS for the orna-
mentatiOn OF her dinner, certainly the lady in q
country nelghborh0od has the very best. She has
wild-fOwers and grasses, clovers and buttercups,
niacS, and sweetpeaS
Il cannot bring these sweetpeas to perfection"
said pretty country lady, taking Sidney smith TO
"1hen let me bring perfection to the sweet
peas" said the gallant old fellow, Offering an arm.
country garden Is boon to a tired ct, par
tculaIly II It Is one OF the old-fashiOned gardens
with ltacs, hollyhOcks, m1gnonette, and v1Olets.
THE COUNTRY DINNER.
And for country dinner the table should be
near the window, or windows, If possible. In fine
weather 1t should be on the veranda, looking into
the garden And If one must dine in a small room
let the carving be done outside and all greasy
dishes kept out Of sight There should be q side
board and side tables, on which relays Of knives,
can stand the sOlled dishes should be carried out
OF sight. A maid servant should be taught how to
carve, and how to serve the dinner neatly. Soup
for a country dinner should be clear Julienne or
chicken, or some light affair. The heavy soups
are not In order. II the lady Of the house have
talent for cookery, she will have her soups made
the day before so they Will be free from grease
and she should season them herself, unless she
has good COOK. It Is better In a country house
to have some cold dish that will serve resource
II the cook should leave. Melton veal Is an admir-.
able thing to fall back upon. 1t can be made on a
Saturday and will last a week. It Is made OF alter.
nate layers OF veal and ham, highly seasoned and
baked In O pastry, and Is very nice. No lady should
attempt TO entertain much In the country, unless
II Is but slavery.
CHEERFUL DINING-Rooxs
There Is q curious lack In America. The dining
rooms OF country houses are generally small and
not cheerfully furnished The more modern houses
are improving in this respect, and we have lately
seen many large room with good outlook or
with hard wood floor or mating, or with India
rugs. The table should be round or oval TINE
chairs Of some hard wood, with cane. The table,
cloth OF fine damask, smelling OF lavender; colored
cloths are only permissible for dinner and tea
The matter OF lighting rooms troubles people who
i've 10 country negh60rhoods II there is no gas
wind blows the flame TO and fro, insects futter
into the flame, an unhappy moth seats himself on
the Wick, and, burning Into an unSightly cadayer
makes gutter down one side; the little red paper
shades take IRE, and there Is endless trouble Ke-
rosene smells abomlnably. However, a pretty
Is the best thing. And now they come with long
brass standards very convenient. People who
have q town house do not take their best China 10
the country. 1t Is well to have inexpensive seC
which can be left there Glass and tea CUPS should
be thin and fine. One does not like thothick edges
OF q tavern tea cup
AMUSEMENT OF GUESTS
Now, how to amuse a guest In the country is one
OF the questions which young hostess Will surely
ask. Lawn tennis seems to be the solvent, SO far
as the young are concerned. Every country place
should have lawn tennis court. Archery has
not yet become acclimated in America, but there
are clubs In certain circles which promise future
for this game. Yachting is a favorite summer en-
tertainment, and adds much to the ease OF cOun.
try neighbOrh0Ods near the sea, or perhaps we
should call 1t "gOing q sailing" The Opu!ent
young people near New York, who keep horses and
dogs who can offer everybody "mOuntn and
take them to the hunt have great facilities for en-
ever get on friends horse. An English writer has
said man Will forgive you for breaking his own
neck but not for breaking the neck bis fayOrite
hunter. But driving In carriage over u good road
Is Dy far the favorite amusement for ladies' cor
respondent writes 10 ask the etiquette OF carriage
riding. A gentleman always takes his seat with
his back TO the horses, opposite the ladies, unless
he ID requested TO sit by the lady. When he enters
the carriage he should put his left foot on the step
and enter the carriage with his right foot This "a
however, supposing he sits facing the horses; II he
sltS with his back TO the horses he rever5es this
process. When the carriage stops he must be the
frst TO alight and then assist the ladies' He must.
sit on the left hand.
LADIES SHOULD DRIVE.
Ladies who own country houses and who enter
tain, should learn to drive well. Indeed In these
days. when ladies' drive ponies In little carts, we