Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-26


Pr drst-order dinner, ascertained by a
SrAR reporter, is not SO great in this city
rs might be supposed. For a company OF
eighteen, the host having his own house, and
including flowers, walters, wines, the bill
beed not exceed $500, and there are accom-
plished entertainers here who have given some
attention to the matter, not with the view so
much Of lessening cost as to obtaining the best
possible service, who put the figures at $500 or
S4OO FOR superb dinner. The first essential
then to a successful dinner is that the host
bave money and know how to lay il out to the
best advantage. The guests must be selected
With care, as endorsements are liable to occur
IL the congeniality of the list is not made
p matter of study, although it often
happens in this city that two people
who would not bow to each other upon the
street will appear in good companionship in
going out to dinner together in the house of a
mutual friend. Mr.. Oscar Wilde and Mr. Archi-
bald Forbes had a quarrel when both were in
this country upon lecturing tours and they
have never ceased to be hostile. They often
meet in London drawing-rooms, each with the
wife OF the other upon his arm going down to
dinner, but the courtesies Of mutual friends
has had no power to mitigate the hatred of one
for the other.
THE SEATING OF GUESTS
at official dinners in this city, where the court
rules Of precedence are obligatory, is a matter
of nice exactness. 1t is customary with people
who have favor there to send their dinner lists
TO the White House to be diagrammed when
knotty questions of precedence arise. Some
times instances occur in which the CONSUL
tation Of high authorities are necessary. The
man that knows it all in these grave points of
etiquette is said to be Mr. o. J.. Pruden, first
assistant secretary at the White House.
The ranking of the diplomat is still
an unsettled question and when
Recognized authority will settle it once and
forever BY laying down a specific law of prece-
denee among officials. the event will be a mat
ter OF sincere congratulation among hosts and
hostesses. Some ladies have adopted a rule of
precedence that obtains in their houses The
brilliant wife of present cabinet minister
holds that the President of the United States.
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States, the Speaker of the House and
the President of the Senate rank the represen-
tatives of any imperial court in the land at her
table. 1t is told of the well-known and clever
wife Of a foreign minister, that she threw her
napkin from her, rose in a great rage and alb
ruptly left the table and the house at a dinner
party in this city one night because she found
herself ranked in position by the wife of an
inferior official. The story may be true. for
the lady was brought up at court and honored
all the traditions, and besides she had the
courage of her opinions. A friendship of
several years growth between a lady of the
CABINET and the wife OF foreign minister was
brought TO a sudden termination last season.
because the foreign lady was not given the
place of honor az dinner given by the cab
met lady, that she considered due her position
These are some of the pitfalls that lie in the
path of sociahsuccesses for the unwary
Every lady has a commendable ambition to
have novelty in her menu. and so when the
COOK presents the proposed bill of fare, is
prompted to strike out the older dishes for new
compositions. tits, however, advisable to keep
TO the standard dishes that so to make the
dinner palatable to all guests.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF FLOWERS
is a matter in which great liberty of taste is
allowed, but the simple circle or oval of roses
in a low basket finds nothing to acceptably
supercede it, This winter the La France rose.
that realizes more than any other the perfume
of the Vale Of Cashmere, takes precedence. A
novel arrangement OF flowers was seen at a re-
cent dinner gwen by Senator and Mrs. STAN
ford The effect was that of rich roses pouring
forth from a clOth-Of-gold bag. and the sug-
gestiOn was of Oriental profusion. and was
very beautiful. Surprises in a menu never
come before the dessert. while il is now a
French fancy to serve flowers and fruits that
prove to be bOnbonniers opening UP to disclose
sweetmeats. A practical suggestion that may
not come amiss Is the pouring of a little violet
water into the finger-bowls where violets have
been introduced, and II insures the perfume.
THE DINING-RooMs
described to-day are all well known for their
hearty hospitality. and greater charm cannot
attach TO worldly possession.
The dining-room in the house of Senator and
Mrs. Palmer. of Mcpherson square, has been
the scene of many notable gatherings. The
room Is perfect oval in shape. and the floor,
high wainscot and ceiling. with its heavy cross
beams and panels, are of rich dark mahogany
that was imported by Senator Palmer in
the logs from Europe and was prepared and
polished to its present beauty by Detroit work
men, The man who interrupted Senator Pal
mer in speech on the tariff during the late
campaign TO ask about the imported lumber of
this dlnlng-rOOm had the matter explained to
him IN a way that cured his CURIOSITY for the
rest of the address. The mantel is high and
has bevel-edged mirror and over the CRATE is
the inscription in carving. Now good diges-
tOn wait on appetite. and health on all" The
buffet Is built in the wall. and its cleaning
mirrors are shaded by heavy curtains caught
back to the sides of the recess. Handsome
Japanese screens conceal the door that leads
into the buffers pantry, where are the dumb
walters that come down from the kitchen that
Is IN the fourth story of the house and not in
the basement. The visitor in the drawing
room never smells the preparing din
ner In this house. The dining-room chairs
are OF the kind that thoughtful hostesses
ind essential to a successful dinner entertain
ment. They have upholstered bands at the
back Tor support and arms that are found to be
most restful when person sits long time in
one position Mrs. Palmer has some beautiful
German napery of Frankfort linen that is most
arIistcally embroidered in gold and white
Six The china that is used on this table have
copies OF celebrated paintings upon the plates
and plstters. The salad set is of Japanese de-
signs, IN which are used the golden butterfly
in token OF the fact that in preparing this cpl
curean dish the butter is made to fiy effec-
lively. The game plates have paintings of
game birds and deer upon them. and those for
hsh are decorated with dainty designs in which
the various water beauties. aquatic moses and
ferns are used. and the drag net seems to have
been thrown over some of the pieces.
MRS. MAURYs DINING-RooM
The Assistant Acknowledgement and Mrs.
VIM. A. Msury have an artistic dining-room in
their new house at No. 1867 Massachusetts,
avenue. The room is 16 by "a feet and is
eliptical in shape and is decorated in the old
Colonial style, which is carried out in the high
walnscoting. the high mahogany mantel and
the furniture. The wan is covered with a rich
tapestry in an old English pattern of russell
festOons upon a gobelin blue ground The
ceiling Is dull gray white with a cornice of old
blue, and the portieres are of blue. The
sldeboard Is an exquisite antique in
mahogany with swell front and
brass handles to the drawers the mirror
y mounted on brass rods and is bevel-edged.
The mahogany chairs are upholstered in tapes
my and have brass feet, and the feet of the
table are heavily carved. Under the high
mantel the thing is of wine color contrasting
charmingly with the brass fender. The
Chandelier Is OF crystal and highly polished
prass, silver candelabra adorn the nlsntel. and